Visa Exemption

General instructions:

  • The certificate of visa exemption is granted for Vietnamese residing abroad and holders of foreign passport who are spouses or children of a Vietnamese citizens or Vietnamese residing abroad.
  • The visa exemption certificate is valid for up to 05 years and will be expired six months before the expiry date of the passport attached.
  • Maximum duration of each stay in Vietnam is up to 6 months depending on the decision from the Immigration of Vietnam.
  • The visa exemption certificate can be applied for by mail or in person at the Embassy of Vietnam in Canada (55 Mackay street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1M2B2).
  • Processing time: 05 to 07 working days since the receipt of complete required documents.

Required documents to apply for visa exemption certificate

1. For Vietnamese people residing abroad, application dossier comprises of:

  • 01 application form for visa exemption certificate (to be filled online – click here for online form). In case you can not access the online form, you can download the form from Here.
  • 02 recent passport-sized colour picture with white background, straight face, bare head, no colored glasses.
  • Valid passport or equivalent documents with validity of more than 12 months since the date of application.
  • 01 document proving the applicant is being in Canada at the time of applying for a visa exemption (please call the Embassy if you need more guidelines)
  • One of the following documents (original for verification and an authenticated certified true copy for file):
    • A Vietnamese passport (valid or expired);
    • A copy of Vietnamese Identity Card (valid or expired);
    • A Vietnamese Birth Certificate;
    • The latest voter’s card;
    • A Family Register Book;
    • A travel document issued before 1975;
    • An Identity Card issued before 1975;- Certificate of Vietnamese citizenship;
    • A copy or excerpt of the Decision for Recovery of Vietnamese citizenship;
    • A copy or excerpt of the Decision for Renunciation of Vietnamese citizenship;
    • Certificate of Loss of Vietnamese citizenship;
    • An Excerpt from Birth Register issued before 1975;
    • Documents issued by competent foreign authorities proving that the person in question has original Vietnamese citizenship or of Vietnamese origin.
  • Your mailing address, telephone/cellphone number that we can send the documents back to you by Fedex (for applicants by mail only).

2. For holders of foreign passports who are spouses or children of a Vietnamese citizen or Vietnamese residing abroad:

Application dossier comprises of all items as listed above in 1.a, b, c, d, f and documents (original or certified and authenticated copy) proving their spouse/parent are Vietnamese residing abroad, such as:

  • Passport or other forms of ID of their spouse/parent who are Vietnamese people residing abroad
  • Certificate of Marriage;
  • Certificate of Birth;
  • A Certificate of relationship with father, mother, children;
  • Decision of Adoption;
  • Other valid documents as regulated by the Vietnamese Law.

3. Processing time: 05-07 business days (since the Embassy receives the complete application).
4. Note:

  • The application form must be filled out online, printed off and submitted along with all required supporting documents. The complete application form must have the barcode on the top right (CAN…..). The application can be submitted by mail.
  • The applicants may request for the supporting services for notarization and authentication. The applicable fees can be paid by bank draft, money order or credit card (Visa or Master card only). Click HERE to download the credit card charge form.
  • The visa exemption fee is regulated by the government. Please kindly refer to the website: http://mienthithucvk.mofa.gov.vn/
  • For further information, please kindly contact the Visa exemption section at 613 236 0772 (ext 228).
  • If you request to have the documents returned by mail, please provide full name of the recipient, a detailed mailing address (with postal code) and a telephone/cellphone number. The documents will be shipped by Fedex service or Canada post service.
  • For the authentication procedure at the Department of Foreign Affairs Canada, please refer to their website​.