Yes, Barbadian citizens need a visa for Vietnam when they travel on a Barbados passport. The simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Barbadian citizens issued online: a 90-day e-visa costing US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry, usually ready in about 3 working days.
Many Bajans also hold a British passport, which is visa-free for Vietnam for up to 45 days; US and Canadian passports are not. Barbados also has nonstop flights to London, which makes the trip to Vietnam easier. This page covers which passport to use, how to apply, flights, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Barbadian citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Barbados passport: visa needed. Barbados is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- British passport: visa-free for up to 45 days. US or Canadian passport: e-visa needed.
- Best option on a Barbados passport: e-visa, up to 90 days, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 11 hours ahead of Bridgetown all year.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers Barbados from Caracas; Barbados has no mission in Vietnam.
How many Barbadian visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 83 arrivals on Barbados passports in 2019. The number fell to 5 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and rose to 29 in 2022. January 2023 brought another 5 visitors.
Vietnam visa for Barbadian citizens: your options
| Passport or option | Entry rule | Maximum stay | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbados, e-visa | E-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 single / US$50 multiple |
| British passport | Visa-free | 45 days | Free |
| US or Canadian passport | E-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 / US$50 |
| Any passport, Phu Quoc only | Visa-free on the island | 30 days | Free |
If you hold two passports, choose one and use it for the whole trip: for the airline check-in, Vietnamese immigration on arrival and departure, and the hotel registration. Check the full Vietnam visa exemption list before you decide.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Barbadian citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Enter your name exactly as your passport splits it. Copy the given names and surname from the two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page.
- Prepare a 4×6 cm portrait on a white background, no glasses, plus a full scan of the data page. See our Vietnam visa photo guide.
- Apply on evisa.gov.vn or through our service if you want your form checked before it is sent.
- Choose your entry gate from the list of e-visa ports of entry, matching the airport where you land.
Cost of the Vietnam visa for Barbadian citizens
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Pay by international Visa or Mastercard; most Barbadian cards work, but check your limit for payments in US dollars. With a service, you pay the government fee plus a service fee, and the full total appears before payment. Compare all routes in our Vietnam visa cost guide.
When to apply: Crop Over, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 11 hours ahead of Barbados all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at 10 am on a Friday in Bridgetown arrives at 9 pm in Hanoi, after office hours, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Christmas and the summer break: December and the weeks after Crop Over in August are popular for long trips. Apply at least 3 weeks before.
- Tet: Vietnam’s Lunar New Year starts on 6 February 2027. Processing slows or pauses around it; in 2026 the pause ran from 14 to 22 February. Apply in January for a February trip.
- Flights: there are no direct flights. The easiest route is usually a nonstop flight to London, then one more connection to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. A connection in the United States requires a valid US visa.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Barbados. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Bridgetown. Instead, Vietnam’s ambassador to Venezuela, based in Caracas, is also accredited to Barbados. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Barbados for Vietnam. Barbados has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Bridgetown. British passport holders can also ask the British Embassy in Hanoi.
Worked examples
- Couple from Bridgetown, 2 weeks in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), flying through London.
- Bajan-British teacher from Speightstown, 3 weeks in Hoi An: visa-free on the British passport for up to 45 days.
- Cricket coach from Oistins on a 2-month contract in Ho Chi Minh City: a single-entry e-visa to arrive, then a work permit arranged by the employer.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Barbadian citizens
Do Barbadian citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, on a Barbados passport. With a British passport, you can stay up to 45 days without a visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Barbados?
No. Vietnam’s ambassador in Caracas covers Barbados. For most trips, apply for the e-visa online.
Can I get a visa on arrival?
Only with an approval letter arranged before the flight, and only at international airports. See our guide to Vietnam visa on arrival.
Do I need the Digital Arrival Card?
If you land in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc or Cam Ranh, submit the free card within 72 hours before arrival. It is not a visa. Learn more about the Vietnam e-visa.
Checking a different passport? Our Vietnam visa requirements by nationality list covers all 196 passports from A to Z.
Sources: Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP, 229/NQ-CP, 127/NQ-CP and 389/NQ-CP; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures; The World and Vietnam Report. Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
