Do I Need a Visa for Vietnam? Guide by Nationality 2026
As of 01/10/2026, French citizens enter Vietnam without a visa for up to 45 days. Belgian, Swiss, Canadian and Moroccan citizens must apply for an e-visa before departure, regardless of duration. In all cases, the passport must be valid 6 months after entry, and proof of onward travel may be required.
Vietnam's entry rules have changed several times in recent years, notably with the reintroduction of visa exemption for French citizens in 2023, then its extension to 45 days in 2024. It is therefore essential to check current conditions before each trip, as exemptions and permitted durations vary by nationality and can change.
Visa exemption and e-visa: table by nationality
Here are the entry rules to Vietnam for the main French-speaking nationalities, according to the official portal evisa.gov.vn and the relevant embassies, consulted in October 2026:
| Nationality | Visa exemption | Maximum duration without visa | E-visa available | E-visa duration | Official e-visa fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Yes | 45 days | Yes | 90 days, multiple entries | 25 USD |
| Belgium | No | — | Yes | 90 days, multiple entries | 25 USD |
| Switzerland | No | — | Yes | 90 days, multiple entries | 25 USD |
| Canada | No | — | Yes | 90 days, multiple entries | 25 USD |
| Morocco | No | — | Yes | 90 days, multiple entries | 25 USD |
French citizens can therefore stay 45 consecutive days in Vietnam without a visa, provided they have not used this exemption in the previous 30 days. If you return to Vietnam less than 30 days after a first stay, or if you stay longer than 45 days, you must apply for an e-visa.
For Belgian, Swiss, Canadian and Moroccan citizens, an e-visa is mandatory from day one, regardless of stay duration. The Vietnamese e-visa allows stays of up to 90 days with multiple entries, which means you can leave Vietnam and return during the visa validity period.
Entry requirements for Vietnam: passport and onward ticket
Beyond the visa question, entering Vietnam requires meeting several conditions, checked by airlines at boarding and by immigration services on arrival.
Your passport must be valid at least 6 months after your Vietnam entry date. This rule applies to all nationalities, whether you travel with a visa exemption or an e-visa. A passport expiring in 5 months will prevent you from boarding.
Vietnamese authorities may also require proof of onward travel: return flight ticket or to a third country, bus ticket to Cambodia, Laos or China. This requirement is not systematically checked, but it appears in the official entry conditions published by Vietnam's Immigration Department (xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn). Airlines often verify this point before boarding, as they are liable in case of entry refusal.
If you travel without a return ticket, prepare proof of exit: international bus booking, flexible flight ticket or temporary booking service. The risk of control is higher for travelers on one-way tickets or with a long planned stay.
Applying for a Vietnam e-visa: process and timeframes
The e-visa application is done exclusively online, on the official portal evisa.gov.vn. The form requires your personal information, your stay dates, your entry point to Vietnam (airport or land border post), and a digital passport photo.
The official processing time is 3 working days, but it can reach 5 to 7 days during high demand periods or if your application requires verification. Payment is made by international credit card (Visa, Mastercard) directly on the official site. The official fee is 25 USD as of 01/10/2026, plus variable bank charges depending on your bank.
Once approved, the e-visa is sent by email in PDF format. You must print it and present it at boarding and on arrival in Vietnam. No stamp or additional document is needed: the e-visa is registered in the Vietnamese immigration system.
The complete application guide, with screenshots and tips to avoid refusals, is available at /blog/e-visa-vietnam-demande-en-ligne. You will also find common errors and solutions in case of problems.
Entry rules depend on your nationality; the official portal is evisa.gov.vn. If you prefer someone to handle the application, visa-vietnam.app can do it. visa-vietnam.app is run by the same publisher as this site.
Special cases: 45-day exemption for French citizens
The 45-day visa exemption for French citizens came into effect on 15 August 2023, then was extended from 15 to 45 days in August 2024. It applies to tourist stays, family visits and short business trips (meetings, conferences), but not to paid work in Vietnam.
This exemption can be used once every 30 days. If you leave Vietnam after 20 days, you must wait 30 days before you can return without a visa. If you return before this period, you must apply for an e-visa, even for a stay of a few days.
For stays longer than 45 days, French citizens must apply for a 90-day e-visa. There is no exemption for long stays, regardless of nationality. Visas longer than 90 days (business visa, work visa, temporary residence card) require a different procedure, detailed at /visa-vietnam.
Entry by land: border posts and e-visa
Vietnam shares land borders with China, Laos and Cambodia. The e-visa is accepted at most international border posts, but not all. When applying, you must select your entry point from a drop-down list: if your border post does not appear, the e-visa is not valid there.
The main border posts open to e-visa in 2026 are, according to evisa.gov.vn:
- With Cambodia: Moc Bai (Phnom Penh – Ho Chi Minh City route), Tinh Bien, Xa Mat, Vinh Xuong.
- With Laos: Lao Bao (Savannakhet – Hue route), Nam Can, Cau Treo, Tay Trang.
- With China: Mong Cai (Dongxing), Huu Nghi (Friendship Gate, Pingxiang), Lao Cai (Hekou).
If you enter through an unlisted border post, you must apply for a visa at the Vietnamese embassy in your country or in the neighboring country. The 45-day visa exemption for French citizens is also valid at listed land border posts.
What to do in case of overstay
Overstaying your visa or visa exemption is a serious offense in Vietnam. Penalties range from fines (approximately 25 USD per day of overstay, about 675,000 VND) to entry bans for several years, depending on the overstay duration and circumstances.
If you realize you will overstay your visa, do not leave without regularizing. Contact the Immigration Department of your province (in Da Nang: 96 Lê Duẩn, Hải Châu 1 ward) to request an extension or status change. Tourist visa extensions are possible in some cases, but they are not guaranteed and require several days of processing.
If you overstay your visa and are checked, or if you show up at the airport with an expired visa, you will have to pay the fine and risk boarding refusal until regularization. Airlines may also charge you ticket modification fees.
Travel insurance and health requirements
Vietnam does not require mandatory travel insurance to enter the territory, unlike some Asian countries. However, insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation is strongly recommended: healthcare in Vietnam is paid, and international hospitals in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang charge several hundred euros for a specialized consultation.
As of 01/10/2026, no vaccination is mandatory to enter Vietnam from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada or Morocco. Vaccinations recommended by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (diplomatie.gouv.fr) include hepatitis A and B, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis for rural stays, and rabies in case of contact with animals.
The page /blog/assurance-sante-vietnam-expatrie compares travel and health insurance suitable for short and long stays in Vietnam.
Preparing your arrival in Vietnam: documents to print
At boarding and on arrival in Vietnam, have with you, in paper version:
- Your passport valid for at least 6 months.
- Your printed e-visa (if you are not French or if you stay longer than 45 days).
- Your return or exit ticket from Vietnam.
- Proof of accommodation for the first days: hotel booking, Airbnb confirmation, or invitation letter if you are staying with someone.
- Your travel insurance, if you have taken one out.
Immigration officers do not systematically ask for all these documents, but airlines may refuse boarding if you cannot prove you meet entry requirements.
Once in Vietnam, keep a digital copy of your passport and visa in an online storage service (Google Drive, Dropbox): in case of loss or theft, you can present this copy to consular authorities.
Key takeaways
French citizens enter Vietnam without a visa for up to 45 days, provided they have not returned there in the previous 30 days. Belgian, Swiss, Canadian and Moroccan citizens must apply for an e-visa before departure, valid 90 days with multiple entries, at the official rate of 25 USD.
In all cases, your passport must be valid 6 months after entry, and you must be able to present proof of onward travel. The e-visa application is done on evisa.gov.vn, with a 3 to 7 day processing time.
If you plan a stay longer than 90 days, consult /visa-vietnam to learn about long-term visa and temporary residence options. To prepare your relocation, the complete checklist lists all administrative steps before and after arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Jérémie Chiari
Author, based in Da Nang
A French entrepreneur living in Da Nang, Jérémie writes these guides from first-hand experience and official sources, cited and dated.
About the author
