Yes, Icelandic citizens need a visa for Vietnam. That surprises many travelers, because Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland all get 45 days in Vietnam without a visa. Iceland is the only Nordic country left out. The simplest choice is therefore the Vietnam visa for Icelandic 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.
Neither country has an embassy in the other, so the e-visa is also the most practical route. This page covers the Nordic comparison, dual citizens, how to enter Icelandic names and letters, where Icelanders can get help in Vietnam, winter timing, costs and worked examples.
Vietnam visa for Icelandic citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Iceland is not on Vietnam’s 45-day exemption list, unlike the other Nordic countries.
- Best option: e-visa, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Passport: valid at least 6 months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of Reykjavik all year.
- Embassies: Vietnam’s ambassador in Copenhagen covers Iceland; Iceland has no embassy in Vietnam.
Why Iceland is not visa-free like the rest of the Nordics
Vietnam grants visa exemptions country by country. Resolution 44/NQ-CP gives 45 days to Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, among others, and Resolution 229/NQ-CP added 12 more European countries in August 2025. Iceland is on neither list. You can check every country on our page who is exempted from Vietnam visa.
In practice, this often catches mixed Nordic groups. For example, if four friends travel together on Norwegian, Swedish, Danish and Icelandic passports, only the Icelander needs an e-visa.
How many Icelandic visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 1,638 arrivals from Iceland in 2019, a large number for a country of about 400,000 people. The number fell to 3 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and recovered to 605 in 2022. In January 2023 alone, 222 Icelanders arrived, so winter is clearly the main season.
Vietnam visa for Icelandic citizens: your options
| Passport or option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danish, Norwegian, Swedish or Finnish passport (dual citizens) | Up to 45 days | Free | Short trips |
| E-visa on your Icelandic passport | Up to 90 days | US$25 / US$50 | Everyone else, and longer trips |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Visa exemption certificate | Up to 5 years | Set by the mission | Icelanders of Vietnamese origin and their families |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
Iceland has allowed dual citizenship since 2003, so many Icelanders living in Scandinavia hold a second Nordic passport. Iceland also has a Vietnamese community; if you or a parent were born Vietnamese, the visa exemption certificate is often better value than repeated e-visas.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as an Icelandic citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Enter your patronymic as the surname. Most Icelanders have no family name, so the passport shows a name such as Jónsdóttir or Sigurðsson in the surname field. Use it exactly as printed.
- Handle Icelandic letters. Letters such as þ, ð, æ and ö are written differently in the two lines at the bottom of your data page; for example, þ becomes TH. If the form refuses them, copy that spelling.
- 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, then choose your entry gate from the list of e-visa ports of entry.
When to apply for the Vietnam visa for Icelandic citizens
Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of Iceland all year, because Iceland does not change its clocks. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so if you apply at 1 pm on a Friday in Reykjavik, it is already 8 pm in Hanoi and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- December to March: the peak months for Icelandic travelers escaping the dark winter. Apply at least 2 weeks before you fly.
- Tet: Vietnam’s Lunar New Year starts on 6 February 2027, in the middle of that peak. Processing slows or pauses around it; in 2026 the pause ran from 14 to 22 February. So for February trips, apply before late January.
- Flights: there are no direct flights. Most Icelanders fly to Copenhagen, London or another European hub first, then connect through the Gulf or Asia.
Embassies and help in Vietnam
Vietnam for Iceland. Vietnam’s ambassador in Copenhagen, Denmark, is also accredited to Iceland. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Help for Icelanders in Vietnam. Iceland has no embassy in Vietnam. In an emergency, contact the Icelandic Foreign Ministry’s consular service. In addition, under Nordic cooperation, the embassies of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland in Hanoi can assist Icelandic citizens when Iceland has no mission there.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Icelandic 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 bank may add a conversion fee on top of the króna amount. 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.
Worked examples
- Couple from Reykjavik, 3 weeks in southern Vietnam in January: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), applied in December.
- Icelandic-Danish dual citizen, 2-week holiday: no visa needed on the Danish passport, because the trip is under 45 days.
- Icelander of Vietnamese origin visiting family twice a year: a visa exemption certificate from the Vietnamese embassy instead of a new e-visa for each trip.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Icelandic citizens
Do Icelandic citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Iceland is the only Nordic country that is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Iceland?
No. Vietnam’s ambassador in Copenhagen covers Iceland. 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; Embassy of Vietnam in Denmark; Viet Nam News (October 2026). Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
