Yes, Colombian citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Colombia is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the easiest choice is the Vietnam visa for Colombian 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.
The online route matters more for Colombians than for most travelers, because Vietnam has no embassy in Colombia. Instead, its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, covers Colombia. This page explains the e-visa step by step, plus the options for Colombian-Spanish dual citizens, the 12-hour time difference, travel with children, costs and the embassies.
Vietnam visa for Colombian citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Colombia is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Best option: e-visa, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.
- Government fee: US$25 single entry, US$50 multiple entry.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Passport: valid at least 6 months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Vietnamese embassy: none in Colombia. The embassy in Caracas covers Colombia.
- Colombian embassy in Vietnam: Hanoi, with a consular section.
How many Colombian visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 8,182 arrivals from Colombia in 2019. The number then fell to 108 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and recovered to 2,469 in 2022. In January 2023 alone, 729 Colombians arrived.
Trade links are growing at the same time. Two-way trade rose from under US$300 million in 2015 to nearly US$800 million in 2023. Vietnam sells phones, footwear and textiles to Colombia, while Colombia sells coal, coffee and cotton to Vietnam. As a result, more Colombians now travel for business as well as tourism.
Vietnam visa for Colombian citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-visa on your Colombian passport | Up to 90 days | US$25 / US$50 | Almost every trip |
| Spanish passport (dual citizens) | Up to 45 days | Free | Short trips by Colombian-Spanish dual citizens |
| Paper visa via the embassy in Caracas | Depends on type | Set by the embassy | Special cases only |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
No Vietnamese embassy in Colombia: what it means
Because the nearest Vietnamese embassy is in Caracas, getting a paper visa means sending your passport abroad. For tourism, business meetings and family visits, the e-visa avoids that completely: you apply online, receive a PDF and show it with your passport. For example, a traveler in Medellín can apply on a Monday evening and have the e-visa by the end of the week, without posting anything.
However, you still need the embassy in Caracas for a few things, such as some long-stay visas or legalising Colombian documents for use in Vietnam.
Colombian-Spanish dual citizens
- You hold a Spanish passport: enter Vietnam on it for up to 45 days without a visa. Then use the same passport for check-in, entry and exit.
- Your trip is longer than 45 days: use the Colombian passport with a 90-day e-visa instead.
- Your other passport is American or Canadian: it does not help, because those countries also need a visa for Vietnam.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Colombian citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Enter both surnames. Colombian passports usually show two surnames. Type both in the surname field, in the same order as the passport.
- Handle ñ and accents. If the form will not take them, copy the spelling 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.
Travelling with children? Each child needs their own passport and e-visa. In addition, Colombia has its own rules for minors leaving the country without both parents, so check Migración Colombia’s requirements before the trip.
When to apply: the 12-hour time difference and holidays
Vietnam is 12 hours ahead of Colombia all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so if you apply at 9 pm on a Thursday in Bogotá, it is already 9 am on Friday in Hanoi. In other words, Friday counts as your first working day. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Semana Santa, mid-year holidays and December to January: the busiest travel periods from Colombia. Apply at least 2 weeks before you fly.
- 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.
- Flights: there are no nonstop flights, so most routes connect in Europe, Istanbul or the United States. A US connection needs a US visa.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Colombian citizens cost
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Because it is charged in US dollars, your Colombian bank may add a conversion fee on top of the peso amount, so turn on international purchases in your banking app first. 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.
Embassies on both sides
Embassy of Vietnam in Caracas. It covers both Venezuela and Colombia. You do not need it for an e-visa.
Embassy of Colombia in Hanoi, with its consular section in the CornerStone Building on Phan Chu Trinh Street, Hoan Kiem. It helps Colombians who lose a passport or need consular support in Vietnam. Before you travel, you can also register with the Colombian consulate online so it can contact you in an emergency.
Worked examples
- Couple from Bogotá, 2 weeks in December: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), applied in mid-November, flying through Madrid.
- Family from Cali with two children, 10 days in July: four e-visas, plus Migración Colombia’s papers for the children if one parent stays home.
- Colombian-Spanish dual citizen, 3-week holiday: no visa needed on the Spanish passport, because the trip is under 45 days.
- Coffee exporter from Medellín, two trips in 2 months: one multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) covering both visits within 90 days.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Colombian citizens
Do Colombian citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Colombia is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Colombia?
No. Vietnam’s embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, covers Colombia. For most trips, apply for the e-visa online instead.
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.
Sources: Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP, 229/NQ-CP, 127/NQ-CP and 389/NQ-CP; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures; Viet Nam News (August 2026); Vietnam Hoi Nhap (May 2026); Consulate of Colombia in Hanoi. Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
