Yes, Nicaraguan citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Nicaragua is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Nicaraguan 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 two countries have had diplomatic relations since 1979, and Nicaragua has reopened its embassy in Hanoi. Nicaraguans who also hold a Spanish passport can instead visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days. This page covers both routes, two surnames, flights, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Nicaraguan citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Nicaraguan passport: visa needed. Nicaragua is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Spanish passport: visa-free for up to 45 days. US passport: e-visa needed.
- Best option on a Nicaraguan passport: e-visa, up to 90 days, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 13 hours ahead of Managua all year.
- Embassies: Nicaragua has an embassy in Hanoi; Vietnam covers Nicaragua from Havana.
How many Nicaraguan visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 125 arrivals from Nicaragua in 2019. The number fell to 6 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and rose to 45 in 2022. January 2023 brought another 9 visitors.
Vietnam visa for Nicaraguan citizens: your options
| Passport or option | Entry rule | Maximum stay | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicaraguan, single-entry e-visa | E-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 |
| Nicaraguan, multiple-entry e-visa | E-visa | Up to 90 days | US$50 |
| Spanish passport | Visa-free | 45 days | Free |
| 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 Nicaraguan citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. The cédula is not accepted for Vietnam.
- Enter both surnames. Put your father’s and mother’s surnames together in the surname field, exactly as your passport shows them, for example GARCIA LOPEZ. Leave out accents, as in 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 Nicaraguan 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, and turn on international online payments with your bank first. If your card is declined, a relative abroad can pay for you. 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: Semana Santa, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 13 hours ahead of Nicaragua all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at 9 am on a Friday in Managua arrives at 10 pm in Hanoi, after office hours, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Semana Santa and December: Holy Week and the Christmas holidays are the busiest travel times. 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. A connection in the United States requires a valid US visa, even if you stay in the airport. Routes through Panama, Mexico City or Madrid may avoid that, but check the transit rules for each airport.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Nicaragua. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Managua. Instead, the Embassy of Vietnam in Havana, Cuba, covers Nicaragua. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
Nicaragua in Vietnam. The Embassy of Nicaragua in Hanoi helps citizens in Vietnam, for example with a lost or stolen passport. Save its contact details before you travel.
Worked examples
- Couple from Managua, 2 weeks in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each).
- Coffee grower from Matagalpa visiting roasters in the Central Highlands: a single-entry e-visa with “business” as the purpose and the partner company’s details on the form.
- Student from León with Nicaraguan and Spanish passports, 1 month in Vietnam: visa-free on the Spanish passport, since 30 days fits within the 45-day limit.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Nicaraguan citizens
Do Nicaraguan citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, on a Nicaraguan passport. With a Spanish passport, you can stay up to 45 days without a visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Nicaragua?
No. The Embassy of Vietnam in Havana covers Nicaragua. 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; Hanoi Times. Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
