Let’s begin with the good news: a visa is not needed for German citizens visiting Vietnam for 45 days or less. Anyone holding a German passport may enter without a visa for a maximum of 45 days per entry, no matter what the purpose of the trip is. If you plan to stay longer, you file for a Vietnam e-visa online, which costs 25 USD for a single entry or 50 USD for multiple entries, and both versions remain valid for up to 90 days.
This guide is published by an independent travel information site, not a government page, so for the formalities you will use the official https://evisa.gov.vn/ portal. We neither charge fees nor submit applications on your behalf, so check the deadlines and rules on the portal before you fly.
Vietnam Visa for German Citizens: Visa-Free Entry
Germany appears on Vietnam’s visa-exemption list, which was set out in Government Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP. German citizens receive 45 days of temporary residence counted from the day of entry, and no distinction is drawn between passport types or reasons for entering.
The exemption is in force from 15 March 2025 until 14 March 2028, and Vietnam has said that extending it will be considered. Until then, any German passport works, whether ordinary, official or otherwise, and there is no need to stop at the visa counter at all.
One condition has to be met: all of Vietnam’s entry conditions under Vietnamese law must be satisfied in full. If your stay is going to run past 45 days, either apply for an e-visa before travelling or arrange a longer-term visa through a Vietnamese embassy.
E-Visa Options for German Citizens
Staying beyond 45 days? According to the National e-Visa Portal, the Germany passport Vietnam visa choices amount to a single e-visa offered with two entry variants.
| Visa type | Entries | Fee | Maximum validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | One entry | 25 USD | 90 days |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | Multiple entries | 50 USD | 90 days |
The multiple-entry variant makes sense when you intend to hop over to Laos or Cambodia and come back: it costs 25 USD more, yet it saves you from filing a fresh application every time. Since 15 August 2023 both variants have been open to citizens of every country and territory, as stated in Resolution 127/NQ-CP.
A quick word about the money: if the visa is not granted, the fee is not returned. Treat it as a processing charge rather than a deposit, so get your documents right on the first attempt.
Required Documents and Passport Validity
Only two images are requested in the e-visa application:
- Portrait photo – taken recently, 4 × 6 cm, in JPG or JPEG format and under 2 MB. Face the camera directly, wear formal clothes, remove hats and glasses, and use a white background.
- Passport data page – one legible image of the data page, with no corners cut off.
Your name has to match the ICAO line in your passport exactly, written in uppercase letters: surname, middle name and given name as printed there.
For the e-visa, the visa’s validity must be at least 30 days shorter than the validity of your passport, according to the portal’s FAQs. No Vietnamese source sets out a validity rule for visa-free entry, although the UK Foreign Office advises a passport valid 6 months beyond arrival with 2 blank pages, which is a sensible yardstick for Germans too.
How to Apply for a Vietnam Visa for German Citizens
You file the e-visa yourself, online, at https://evisa.gov.vn/ (or thithucdientu.gov.vn, which runs the same system). The flow looks like this:
Open the portal
Select the e-visa application form for foreigners.
Upload documents
Upload the portrait photo together with the image of your passport data page.
Enter your details
Enter your details exactly as they appear on the ICAO line of the passport.
Choose border gates
Choose your entry and exit border gates, because you will be held to them.
Pay the fee
Pay the fee through the VietCombank payment portal available on the site.
Show e-visa at the border
After receiving the outcome, show the e-visa to immigration officials at the border.
Processing usually takes 3 working days after payment, provided the information you supplied is complete and valid. Should the Police Department decide to verify your application, the wait can stretch to 3 – 15 working days. Weekends and Vietnamese public holidays are not counted toward the processing time.
You may apply as early as 1 year before the entry date you have planned. One trap to avoid: never submit a duplicate application, since each one counts separately and the first fee will not be refunded. If both are approved, both remain valid.
Entry Rules, Border Gates, and Overstay
Anyone holding an e-visa has to enter and leave Vietnam through international border gates designated by the government. That list sits on the portal and covers airports such as Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat and Da Nang, plus dozens of land and sea crossings. You are not required to exit where you entered, but you do have to use a gate you named in the application.
Arriving visa-free? An entry and exit stamp will be placed in your passport. Check the exit date before you leave the border, since it ought to be 45 days from arrival, and immigration will not correct it once you have left the airport or land crossing.
The Immigration Department also recommends that you complete the pre-arrival form at https://prearrival.immigration.gov.vn before entry.
Two rules are worth remembering: enter and exit on the same passport, and never overstay. Overstaying or working illegally can bring a fine, deportation and a future ban on visiting Vietnam.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can German citizens enter Vietnam without a visa?
Yes. Under Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP, holders of a German passport get 45 days without a visa for any purpose of entry. The exemption applies from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028 and may be extended. Vietnam’s entry conditions under Vietnamese law still have to be met.
What is the price of a Vietnam e-visa for German citizens?
A single-entry e-visa costs 25 USD, while a multiple-entry one costs 50 USD, paid online through the portal’s VietCombank payment gateway. The e-visa is only necessary when your stay exceeds 45 days.
What is the processing time for a Vietnam e-visa?
Usually 3 working days from payment, as long as the information is complete and valid. If the Police Department has to verify your application, allow 3 to 15 working days. Weekends and Vietnamese public holidays are excluded from the count.
What passport validity is needed for a Vietnam e-visa?
According to the FAQs on the e-visa portal, the e-visa’s validity must be at least 30 days shorter than your passport’s validity. For visa-free entry, no Vietnamese source specifies a passport-validity rule.
Where can I submit an application for a Vietnam visa for German citizens?
Online, at https://evisa.gov.vn/ or thithucdientu.gov.vn, which is the official Immigration Department portal. Other visa types can also be requested at a Vietnamese embassy.
What are the consequences if I stay beyond my visa-free period in Vietnam?
Authorities may fine you, deport you and ban you from returning, and they can also stop you from leaving until the fine is paid. If the 45 days are running out, apply for an e-visa, exit the country and re-enter to begin a fresh period.
With an e-visa, do I need to enter and exit Vietnam via the same border gate?
No. Entering at one designated gate and leaving through another is permitted. Both, however, must be international border gates from the government’s list, and the gates you selected in your application are the ones you have to use.
If rejected, can the Vietnam visa for German citizens be refunded?
No. Whether the visa is granted or refused, the fee works as a processing charge and is never returned. Before paying, verify that your photos and passport details are accurate.
Sources and Verification
- Vietnam National e-Visa Portal (Immigration Department) – fees, 90-day validity, processing times and conditions for the e-visa (verified 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam online newspaper – Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP, which exempts citizens of 12 countries from visas (verified 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam e-newspaper – Resolution 127/NQ-CP on e-visas for every country and territory, and the designated border gates (verified 2026-10-13)
- Vietnam National e-Visa Portal – FAQs – passport validity rule, name format, border gate lists and how early you may apply (verified 2026-10-13)
- Viet Nam Immigration Department – e-Visa application form – the images required and the photo specifications (verified 2026-10-13)
- UK FCDO – Vietnam travel advice – entry requirements plus guidance on passport validity and blank pages (verified 2026-10-13)
