The Vietnamese authorities have announced that the visa waiver for citizens of a series of countries will be extended until 2028. This is good news for travellers for the UK and other European countries such as Spain, France, Germany or Italy. Travellers from other countries, such as Belgium or the Netherlands, still need a visa to travel to Vietnam.
Visa exemption for Vietnam
Currently, travellers from the UK and some European countries, such as Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Czech Republic and Poland, can stay in Vietnam without a visa. Travellers with a passport from one of these countries can travel in Vietnam for 40 days without a visa. Only if they wish to travel to Vietnam for more than 45 days, will the citizens of these countries require a visa.
Not all European travellers are eligible for visa-free travel. Dutch, Belgian, Austrian, Irish, Austrian and other European travellers do need a visa to enter Vietnam. They can easily apply for a Vietnam visa online.
Visa Waiver Extension
In August 2023, the Vietnamese authorities issued a visa waiver resolution for nationals of the UK and the following countries: Spain, Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Japan, South Korea, Russia and Belarus. The decision stated that travellers from these countries could benefit of a visa waiver for a maximum of 45 days.
Recently, the Vietnamese government has extended this regulation until 14 March 2028. This means that, for the next three years, travellers from these countries will still be able to enjoy a visa-free stay in Vietnam.
End of the visa waiver for Belarus
The Vietnamese authorities have extended this regulation for 12 of the 13 countries that, since 2023, could travel to Vietnam without visa. In the case of Belarus, however, the visa waiver has not been extended, which means that, from 15 March 2025, Belarusian citizens will need a visa to travel to Vietnam again.
Different rules for Switzerland, Czech Republic and Poland
In the case of the citizens of Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Poland, different regulations apply. As of 1 March 2025, these travellers will also be able to travel visa-free to Vietnam. However, stricter requirements will apply for these travellers. The visa exemption for travellers holding a passport of one of these three countries will only be valid when travelling to Vietnam with a tour operator.
Nationals of Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Poland will be able to travel to Vietnam without a visa until 31 December 2025, but not until 15 March 2028, unlike other European travellers. It is not yet known whether the regulations will also be extended for these three countries.
Apply easily online for a Vietnam visa
Unlike UK citizens, Dutch or Belgian citizens need to apply for a visa to travel to Vietnam. In most cases, it is not necessary to go to the embassy. Tourists and business travellers can easily apply for their visa via the online form on this website. Once approved, they will receive their visa by email. They will need to print it out and carry it with them you during their trip.
The e-visa allows a stay of a maximum of 90 days. It is possible to choose between a visa for single entry into the country (single-entry) or a visa with a validity period of 90 days, which allows to enter the country an unlimited number of times (multiple entry).