Vietnam Visa for Spain Citizens (2026): Complete Guide

Spanish citizens do not need a visa for their first 45 days in Vietnam. This is the single most important rule to know, and it changes the calculus for most trips. I landed in Da Nang in 2022 thinking I needed paperwork; the immigration officer just stamped my passport and waved me through. That 45-day visa-free window, part of Vietnam’s reciprocity agreement with Schengen countries, is your foundation. Everything else—e-visas, extensions, frantic runs to immigration offices—is built around exceeding it.

Overview: Visa-Free Entry & Required Visas

Your Spanish passport buys you 45 days of visa-free entry. This is not a visa-on-arrival; it’s a straight exemption. You get a stamp at any international airport (like Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City) or land border. The clock starts immediately.

The critical detail: it’s a single, continuous 45-day period. You cannot exit to Thailand for a weekend and return for a fresh 45 days. That resets only after 30 days outside Vietnam. If your plans are simple—a five-week holiday surfing in Mỹ An or exploring Hanoi’s Tây Hồ lake—you can ignore visas entirely. The moment you consider staying longer, working, or multiple entries within a short period, you need to apply for a visa.

The E-Visa: Your Tool for Longer Stays

For stays beyond 45 days or up to 90 days, the e-visa is your primary tool. It’s a single-entry visa obtained online from the official Vietnam Immigration Department portal (evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn). I’ve used it twice to reset my stay.

The e-visa grants a maximum stay of 90 days. It is valid for entry through designated airports, land borders, and seaports. You must print the PDF approval letter and present it alongside your passport. The process is bureaucratic but straightforward if you follow the rules exactly. The main drawback is its single-entry nature; if you plan a side trip to Cambodia or Laos, your visa is void upon exit.

Documents & Requirements for Application

Gather these before starting the online application. Inconsistencies are the top reason for rejection.

• Passport: Must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended entry date and have two blank pages.
• Digital Portrait Photo: A recent, front-facing photo on a white background. Not a scan of your passport photo. I took mine against a white wall with my phone; it was accepted.
• Digital Copy of Passport Data Page: A clear, color scan or high-quality photo of the page with your photo and personal details.
• Entry/Exit Details: You must specify your intended date of entry, exit, and point of entry (e.g., Da Nang International Airport).
• Temporary Address in Vietnam: The address of your first hotel or accommodation. I used the address of my guesthouse in Sơn Trà.

Double-check every character. The name on your application must match your passport exactly, including middle names. An error means reapplying and losing the fee.

Typical Processing Times & Costs

Officially, e-visa processing takes 3 working days. In practice, I’ve received mine in 2 days, but friends have waited the full 5 during holiday periods. Never apply last minute. Assume a full week.

All fees are paid online during the application. Here are the 2026 costs, rounded to the nearest dollar.

Visa Type	Standard Cost	Maximum Stay	Entries
Visa-Free Exemption	$0	45 days	Single
E-Visa	$25	90 days	Single
3-Month Tourist Visa*	~$50-$80	90 days	Single/Multiple

*Obtained via a visa agency or at an embassy, not online.

The e-visa is significantly cheaper than the old visa-on-arrival letter method. The only additional cost is the printing of your approval letter. Avoid third-party websites that charge $50 or more for the same $25 government service; they are just agents. Bookmark the official Immigration Department site.

Extending Your Stay in Vietnam

You cannot officially extend a 45-day visa-free stamp or a standard e-visa. The process labeled “extension” is actually a visa renewal: you must exit the country.

The most common method is a “visa run.” From Da Nang, I flew to Bangkok for a day. Upon returning to Vietnam, I presented a new e-visa. You can also use a land border, like the one at Lao Bao. The key is having a new visa (like another e-visa) ready for your re-entry. You cannot just exit and re-enter expecting a new 45-day exemption unless 30 days have passed since your last exit.

This process is tedious and adds travel cost. For longer-term stays, a proper long-term visa is better.

Digital Nomad & Long-Term Visa Options

As of 2026, Vietnam does not have a specific digital nomad or remote work visa. Working remotely on a tourist visa (e-visa or exemption) is a legal gray area. Enforcement is rare but technically possible.

For true long-term stability, you need a sponsored visa. The most common are:

• DT Investor Visa: Requires a significant investment in a Vietnamese company. Complex and expensive.
• DN Business Visa: For those establishing or working for a legal entity in Vietnam. Requires a sponsoring company.
• LD Work Permit & Visa: The standard route for employed foreigners. Your employer handles the work permit, which then qualifies you for a 1-2 year temporary residence card.

Most long-term expats I know in An Thượng or Quận 1 are on LD visas. The process is bureaucratic, slow, and entirely dependent on a legitimate employer. Do not trust agencies that promise “easy” long-term tourist visas; they often use loopholes that can lead to fines or bans.

Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

I’ve seen every mistake. Here are the main ones.

Overstaying: Even one day incurs a fine, starting at about $25 per day, and can result in a ban. Set calendar alerts. Incorrect E-Visa Details: A typo in your passport number or birth date invalidates the visa. You will be denied boarding or entry. Assuming Multiple Entries: The visa-free entry and e-visa are single-entry only. Plan side trips accordingly. Using Unofficial Websites: Countless sites mimic the official portal to charge double. The only legitimate URL is evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. Ignoring Internet Security: When applying for visas or managing sensitive documents online from Vietnam, use a reliable VPN to secure your data. For a current analysis of the best options, refer to our detailed guide at /best-vpn-for-vietnam-2026/.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can Spanish citizens stay in Vietnam without a visa?

45 days. This is a visa exemption, not a visa-on-arrival. Your passport must have at least six months’ validity remaining.

Do I need a visa to visit Da Nang from Spain for two weeks?

No. For any stay of 45 days or less, you do not need any visa. Just book your flight to Da Nang International Airport and present your Spanish passport.

Can I extend a Vietnamese e-visa without leaving the country?

No. There is no in-country extension for an e-visa. You must exit Vietnam and re-enter with a new visa authorization.

What’s the cost of a Vietnam e-visa for Spanish citizens in 2026?

The government fee is $25 for a single-entry, 90-day e-visa. Pay only on the official Immigration Department website.

Which documents do I need for a Vietnamese e-visa application?

You need a digital passport photo, a scan of your passport data page, your entry/exit dates and port, and a temporary local address. All files must meet the portal’s size and format specifications.

Can I work remotely on a Vietnam tourist visa?

Technically, no. Tourist visas are for tourism. While remote work enforcement is inconsistent, it violates visa terms. For long-term remote work, seek proper legal advice and consider a business visa sponsored by a local entity.

Is the 45-day visa exemption multiple-entry?

No. It is a single, continuous 45-day period. If you leave Vietnam, you cannot return on the same exemption unless 30 days have passed.

What happens if my e-visa application is rejected?

You will not receive a refund. You must correct the error (often a document quality or data mismatch issue) and submit a new application with a new fee.

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Disclaimer: I am a journalist, not an immigration lawyer. Visa regulations change. This guide reflects the rules as understood for 2026, but you must verify all requirements with the official Vietnam Immigration Department (evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn) or the Vietnamese Embassy in Spain before your travel.