Yes, Maltese citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Malta is in the EU and Schengen, but it is not one of the 24 European countries that Vietnam lets in visa-free for 45 days. The simplest choice is therefore the Vietnam visa for Maltese 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 which passport to use if you also hold British or Australian citizenship, how to enter Maltese letters, timing around Easter and August, flights, costs and where to get help in Vietnam.
Vietnam visa for Maltese citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Malta is not on Vietnam’s 45-day exemption list.
- British passport: up to 45 days visa-free for Maltese-British dual citizens.
- Best option otherwise: 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. The Maltese ID card is not accepted.
- Help: Malta’s honorary consul in Ho Chi Minh City; emergency line +86 139 0101 7417 (Embassy of Malta in Beijing).
How many Maltese visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 1,104 arrivals from Malta in 2019, a large number for a country of about half a million people. The number fell to just 5 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and recovered to 370 in 2022. In January 2023 alone, 146 Maltese arrived.
Vietnam visa for Maltese citizens: which passport to use
| Passport or option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| British passport (dual citizens) | Up to 45 days | Free | Short trips |
| E-visa on your Maltese 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 |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
- Maltese and British: Malta allows dual citizenship, and the UK is on Vietnam’s 45-day list. Enter on the British passport, then use the same one for check-in, entry and exit.
- Maltese and Australian, Canadian or American: no help here, because those countries also need a visa. That matters for the large Maltese communities in Australia and North America.
- Trips longer than 45 days: use the Maltese passport with a 90-day e-visa.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Maltese citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Handle Maltese letters. If your name has ċ, ġ, ħ or ż and the form refuses them, copy the spelling from the two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page, where they appear as C, G, H and Z.
- 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 single or multiple entry and your entry gate from the list of e-visa ports of entry.
When to apply for the Vietnam visa for Maltese citizens
Vietnam is 6 hours ahead of Valletta in winter and 5 hours ahead in summer. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so if you apply at 2 pm on a Friday in Malta, it is already 8 pm in Hanoi and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Christmas, Easter and the August holidays: the busiest travel periods from Malta. Easter falls on 28 March 2027. 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 direct flights. Most travelers connect in Istanbul, Dubai, Doha or Frankfurt.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Maltese 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 euro 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.
Embassies and help in Vietnam
Vietnam for Malta. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Valletta. Instead, Vietnam’s ambassador to Italy, in Rome, is also accredited to Malta. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Malta in Vietnam. Malta’s embassy in Beijing covers Vietnam, and its emergency line is +86 139 0101 7417. There is also an honorary consul of Malta in Ho Chi Minh City, in the PetroVietnam Tower on Le Duan Street. In addition, as an EU citizen, you can ask any other EU embassy in Hanoi for help.
Worked examples
- Couple from Sliema, 2 weeks in Vietnam over Easter: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), applied in early March.
- Maltese-British dual citizen, 3-week holiday: no visa needed on the British passport, because the trip is under 45 days.
- Maltese-Australian family flying from Melbourne: e-visas for everyone, on whichever passports they travel with.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Maltese citizens
Do Maltese citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Malta is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, even though it is in the EU and Schengen.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Malta?
No. Vietnam’s ambassador in Rome covers Malta. 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; EU Delegation to Vietnam consular contacts (July 2026); VOV World. Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
