Vietnam fans: visa or eTA to enter Canada for the 2026 World Cup
Vietnamese football fans face a long journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Flying from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to North America takes at least 15 to 20 hours, usually involving a layover in East Asia or Europe. Before you look at flight routes or match tickets for Vancouver and Toronto, you must sort out how you will legally cross the Canadian border.
Canada does not grant visas on arrival. If you show up at the boarding gate in Vietnam without the right digital authorization or physical visa sticker in your passport, the airline will deny you boarding. This guide breaks down the exact steps, costs, and paperwork required for Vietnamese passport holders to secure their travel approvals.
Deciding between a visitor visa and an eTA for Vietnamese citizens
Most Vietnamese citizens must get a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to enter Canada. This is a physical sticker placed inside your passport. You can read more about how these options compare on our page about the Visitor Visa & eTA differences.
However, there is an exception. Canada has an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program that includes certain travelers from Vietnam. To qualify for this faster, cheaper online option, you must meet two very specific conditions. First, you must have held a Canadian visitor visa within the last ten years, or you must currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa. Second, you must fly into