Don't let your documents expire, even if you're not traveling.
In many cases, due to infrequent travel, siblings don't notice that their identification documents have expired or are about to expire. Some people have urgent matters and don't have time to get their documents ready for flight, or only discover their documents have expired close to the departure date.
There have been a few cases where people had to turn back and abandon their tickets at the airport. Here's a list of documents that need checking:
See Vietnamese document services and costs here.
1. Canadian passport: must be valid for at least 6 months before your flight date. It's best to have more time to account for travel time and return. If you need a passport urgently, you can bring your flight ticket to Passport Canada and they will process it for you; it will be ready in a few days. It's best to pick it up in person for peace of mind, rather than having it sent to your home by post.
2. Canadian PR Card: It must be valid for your return date to Canada. If it expires and you don't have time to renew it close to your departure date, you must submit a Travel Document. Once the Travel Document is approved, they will ask you to submit your passport to have a visa stamped so you can return to Canada. You can have it stamped at the VFS office in Vietnam. Please note the VFS office's Tet holiday schedule.
3. Vietnamese Passport: If you enter Vietnam with a Vietnamese passport, you will also leave Vietnam with a Vietnamese passport. Entering with a Vietnamese passport makes you a Vietnamese citizen, allowing you to stay for as long as you like. Therefore, if you intend to stay longer than 6 months, you should enter with a Vietnamese passport. Expired passports can be renewed at the Vietnamese Embassy in Ottawa or the Vietnamese Consulate in Vancouver. For a faster, more convenient, and less expensive option, you can go through an agency. KeyApply is also an agency.
3. Vietnam Visa Exemption: Canadian or other nationals of Vietnamese origin (not necessarily Vietnamese citizens) can apply for a visa exemption, replacing a visa to enter Vietnam. The benefit of visa exemption is that you are granted a visa for up to 5 years (or the same duration as your Canadian passport if shorter). The maximum stay in Vietnam is 6 months. Visa exemption can also be applied to the spouse/common-law partner/children of those of Vietnamese origin. For example, if you have a Western partner, you can apply for that partner as well.
4. Vietnamese visa for foreigners (only recommended as a last resort due to high cost and short validity): The limitation is that the visa is only valid for 90 days, and each entry into Vietnam is limited to 30 days. Therefore, only those who cannot obtain a visa exemption (item 3) should apply for this visa; otherwise, it's not recommended. It's expensive and less effective than a Vietnamese passport or visa exemption.
Even if you haven't returned to Vietnam yet, you should check that all your documents are still valid. There are cases where you need to return unexpectedly and have to do it urgently, which can be very expensive, and sometimes it's too late if you wait too long.
If you happen to forget and only realize your Vietnamese documents have expired just before your departure time to the airport, quickly call KeyApply offices. Outside of Canadian hours, you can add the Vietnamese number on Zalo: 090 193 9654 for urgent visa processing.
(Please note that all KeyApply staff use only email addresses ending in .keyapply, not free email services like Gmail. All payments are processed online through the company website or via bank transfer to the KeyApply or Ontario Startup Studio account. Company phone numbers are available on the website. We strictly control the security and confidentiality of our clients' information, regardless of the size of the service.)
Wishing all our fellow countrymen enjoyable trips!
See Vietnamese document services and costs here.
