Belgian Nationals to Gain Visa-Free Entry to Vietnam
Belgian passport holders will soon be able to visit Vietnam without a visa, thanks to a new exemption announced during the Belgian state visit to the country. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh confirmed that Belgium will be included in Vietnam’s visa-free travel list, though an official start date has yet to be announced, according to Schengen.News.
Visa-Free Stay of Up to 45 Days
Under this policy, Belgian citizens will be allowed to stay in Vietnam for up to 45 days without needing a visa, primarily for tourism. However, those planning to stay longer or visit for other purposes must still apply for a visa through the standard procedures.
A Step Forward for Belgium-Vietnam Relations
Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister, Maxime Prévot, highlighted this agreement as a key achievement of the state visit, noting that Belgium has long pushed for Vietnam to ease visa restrictions for its citizens. He emphasized that these requirements have been a barrier for Belgian tourists and business travelers. The exact date of implementation will be confirmed soon.
Visa-Free Travel for Other EU/Schengen Countries
Vietnam already offers visa-free entry to nationals of several EU and Schengen countries, including:
✅ Until March 14, 2028: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, and Sweden.
✅ Until December 31, 2025: Switzerland, Czechia, and Poland (subject to potential extension).
Despite this, Vietnamese nationals still require a Schengen visa to travel to Europe. In 2023 alone, Vietnamese citizens submitted 103,501 Schengen visa applications, with 90,787 approved and 12,510 rejected, according to SchengenVisaInfo.
Belgium has confirmed that Vietnam is not demanding reciprocal visa-free travel, but discussions on other international and EU-level matters are ongoing.
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