Vietnam Visa for German Citizens: Visa-Free & e-Visa

No visa needed
Apply about 7 days before arrival
Decision in 8–10 business days
Verified 19 October 2026

Plusvisa is a private visa application service, not a government agency or embassy. Official government source: National Portal on Immigration (Vietnam e-Visa System), evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn.

Table of contents

Do you need a visa?
Types and cost in EUR
How long you may stay
Documents
When to apply
Eligibility check
How to apply
FAQ
Germany vs. Vietnam essentials

Visa-free stay
Up to 45 days
Under Resolution 44/NQ-CP, valid 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028.
Passport validity
Valid 6+ months on arrival
Same rule applies on every route.
Purpose
Any purpose covered
The exemption applies regardless of passport type or travel purpose, if entry conditions are met.

Three routes into Vietnam

Most travellers
Visa-free entry (45 days)
German citizens can enter Vietnam without any visa for up to 45 days per entry, under a government resolution that runs to 14 March 2028. This covers tourism, business meetings and family visits.
Longer trips
e-Visa
If your trip is longer than 45 days, or you plan to leave and re-enter Vietnam while exploring the region, you can apply for the e-visa online before travelling instead of using the visa-free entry.
Work or study
Embassy visa
For purposes the e-visa does not cover, such as long-term work or study, apply for a visa at a Vietnamese embassy or consulate in Germany before you travel.

Vietnam visa types and cost for German citizens, in Euros

visa	Validity	Processing	Government fee	All-in with Plusvisa*
Tourist E-visa eVisa	90 days Single entry	8–10 business days	US$25 ≈ €24	≈ €50
Tourist E-visa eVisa	90 days Multiple entry	8–10 business days	US$50 ≈ €47	≈ €83
Business trip E-visa eVisa	90 days Single entry	8–10 business days	US$25 ≈ €24	≈ €50
Business trip E-visa eVisa	90 days Multiple entry	8–10 business days	US$50 ≈ €47	≈ €83

* The government fee is the government's own charge, never refundable. All-in adds Plusvisa's service fee, per traveller; it is refunded if we cause a refusal.

The 90-day rule, and what it does not mean

German citizens can stay in Vietnam for up to 45 days per entry without a visa. This runs under a government resolution in force from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028, and applies regardless of your travel purpose.

Arrive

Leave

Tourist E-visa: 90 days per visit.

Arrive 1 March

63 of 90 days

1 Mar – 2 May: 63 of the 90 days this visa allows in one visit.

45 days, not automatically renewed: The 45 days start on the day you enter. It does not reset while you are still in Vietnam, and it is not extended automatically if you book a longer trip.
Cannot be extended from inside Vietnam: Visa-free stays generally cannot be extended once you are in the country. If you need longer than 45 days, apply for an e-visa before you travel instead.
Longer or repeat trips: If your stay will pass 45 days, or you plan to leave and come back during your trip, consider the e-visa, which is applied for online before you travel and can cover a longer period.

Your document checklist

Four things to have ready before you start your application, as a German applicant.

German passport
Must be valid for at least 6 months from your entry date with at least one blank page. A German national identity card (Personalausweis) cannot be used to enter Vietnam.
Proof of onward travel and accommodation
A return flight ticket and hotel booking, on paper or on your phone, in case an immigration officer asks for it on arrival.

Only for some visa types

Digital portrait photo
Only if e-Visa and embassy visa applicants only. A recent straight-on photo on a plain background, without glasses. Your usual German biometric passport photo may not match the file the portal asks for, so take a separate photo for the application.
Payment card for the e-visa fee
Only if e-Visa applicants only. A German-issued Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card that allows online payments abroad. The fee is charged in US dollars on the official portal.

When should you apply?

Processing takes 8–10 business days. Enter your arrival date and we'll work backwards.

Arrival in Vietnam

Processing

Standard8–10 business days

Pick your arrival date

1
Apply online
—
Form and uploads, about 30 min
2
Pay the fee
—
By card, on the portal
3
Processing
8–10 business days
Official estimate
4
Approval emailed
—
Keep a copy on your phone
5
Arrive in Vietnam
—
Show the approval at the border

The official portal sets no fixed earliest or latest date, but processing takes a few working days. Applying about a week ahead leaves room to fix and resubmit if a photo or scan is rejected.

Four questions, 20 seconds

Will your trip to Vietnam last 45 days or less?
Is your passport valid for at least 6 months after you arrive?
Will you enter and exit through one of Vietnam's international airports, land borders or seaports?
Is your trip for tourism, business meetings or visiting family, not paid work or long-term study?

Result

Answer all four

Four quick checks of the rules that most often catch travellers out, and we'll tell you where you stand.

The application, step by step

Before you apply

1
Check if you even need to apply
As a German citizen, you can enter Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days. Only apply for an e-visa if your trip is longer, involves re-entry, or your purpose is not covered.
2
Confirm your passport and entry point
Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after arrival, and pick the airport, land or sea gate you will use.

On the official portal

3
Apply only if you need the e-visa
If your stay needs an e-visa, complete the form on the official National Portal on Immigration with your passport scan, photo and travel details, and pay the fee by card.

After you apply

4
Complete the pre-arrival declaration
Every foreign passport holder arriving by air, including German citizens entering visa-free, must complete Vietnam's online pre-arrival declaration and show the QR code to immigration.
5
Keep proof of onward travel ready
Carry your return flight ticket and hotel booking in case an immigration officer asks to see them on arrival.

Official website: evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn (opens in a new tab)

Questions German travellers actually ask

No, not for stays of up to 45 days. Germany is one of 12 countries with a unilateral visa exemption, in force from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028.

Up to 45 days from the day you enter, for any ordinary travel purpose such as tourism, business meetings or visiting family.

The visa-free stay cannot be extended once you are in Vietnam. Apply for an e-visa online before you travel if you need a longer stay.

No. Vietnam is outside the EU and does not accept the German Personalausweis for entry. You need a passport valid for at least 6 months after arrival.

Yes. Every foreign passport holder arriving by air, including German citizens entering visa-free, must complete Vietnam's online pre-arrival declaration and show the QR code at immigration.

Enter and exit Vietnam on the same passport throughout your trip, to avoid confusion at immigration. Use whichever passport gives you the entry route you plan to rely on.

Vietnam's official visa-exemption notice does not set out re-entry conditions in detail. Check the current rules on the official portal or with a Vietnamese embassy before planning a border crossing and return.

Visa sorted

The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home

Your German plug fits. Here's what to expect.

Type A
Two flat pins
Type C
Two round pins · 2.5 A
Type F
Two round pins · 16 A

Type C

Type C and F sockets are used both at home and in Vietnam, so your own plugs fit — though you may meet the other types too.

Voltage

220 V · 50 Hz

Against 230 V · 50 Hz at home. Check the label on chargers and appliances: anything marked 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz works in both.

Pack: nothing special — your type C and F plugs go straight in. A small power strip is still handy where hotel rooms have one socket.

Vietnam drives on the right — just like home

Compare traffic side:

Vietnam · right-hand traffic — same as Germany

Getting around
Cities are dense with motorbike traffic. Cross roads slowly and predictably, use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps, and book trains or flights ahead for longer trips between regions.
Health precautions
Dengue is a year-round risk, so use insect repellent and cover up. Avoid tap water and swimming in untreated fresh water. Check routine vaccines and malaria advice for rural travel with a travel clinic before you go.
Customs and etiquette
Remove your shoes before entering homes and some temples, dress modestly at religious sites, and use both hands to offer or receive money, gifts or business cards.

Vietnamese Dongs, cash and cards

Vietnam uses the Vietnamese Dong (VND).

EUR

VND

₫

€1 ≈ ₫27,411.2 · indicative mid-market rate, possibly a few days old

Carry small dong notes
Cash in Vietnamese dong is still standard for street food, markets and small shops. Watch out for the 20,000 and 500,000 notes, which are a similar blue shade.
Cards work in cities
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants and shops in larger cities, and contactless payment is increasingly common.
Use bank ATMs and plan withdrawals
International cards work at ATMs nationwide, but local banks cap withdrawals lower than international ones. Withdraw extra cash before heading to rural areas with fewer ATMs.

Weather by month (Hanoi)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

10.6°13°16.2°19.9°23.3°25°25°24.8°23.2°19.8°15.8°11.2°

Daytime high
Grey row = night low
Best time to go

Daytime high
Grey row = night low
Best time to go

Month	High, °C	Low, °C	Rain, mm
January	20.3	10.6	31.9
February	23.4	13	21.8
March	26.6	16.2	49
April · best	30.4	19.9	77.7
May · best	31.8	23.3	178.9
June	31.9	25	201.3
July	31.7	25	299.8
August	31	24.8	321.8
September · best	30.2	23.2	222.9
October · best	27.7	19.8	124
November · best	24.7	15.8	52.2
December	20.8	11.2	25.1

Monthly averages. Source: NASA POWER climatology, 2001-2020.

April · ideal

The best window runs April, May, September, October and November.

High 30.4°CLow 19.9°CRain 77.7 mm

Sweet spot: Hanoi has a cool, misty winter from December to March, a hot and humid rainy season from June to August, and its most comfortable weather in spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November).

One time zone

Berlin

--:--:--

Hanoi

--:--:--

How much to tip, in EUR

Restaurant bill

₫400,000

₫400,000(€14.59)

Restaurants

Not part of Vietnamese custom, but appreciated, especially if service isn't already included.

0–10%

on a ₫400,000 bill: ₫0 · €0

Hotel porters and housekeeping

Per bag or per day, more common at higher-end hotels.

₫10,000–₫50,000

€0.36–€1.82

Taxis and ride-hailing

Rounding up the fare is common but not expected.

No tip expected

Private tour guides and drivers

Per day, more for multi-day tours.

₫50,000–₫150,000

€1.82–€5.47

Spas and salons

Increasingly expected in tourist areas.

5–10%

on a ₫400,000 bill: ₫20,000 · €0.73

SIM, eSIM or roaming?

Local SIM

Recommended

Local prepaid SIM

Airport arrival counters or shops of Viettel, Mobifone or Vinaphone in any city Usually the cheapest option, with wide 4G/5G coverage even outside major cities. Bring your passport to register the SIM.

eSIM

Travel eSIM

Online, before you travel, from an eSIM provider or your phone's own eSIM store Convenient if your phone supports eSIM, since you can activate it before landing without swapping a physical SIM.

Roaming

Roaming on your home plan

Activated through your home mobile provider before departure The simplest option but usually the most expensive; check your provider's Vietnam rates before you rely on it.

Get your Vietnam visa in about ten business days, without the portal headaches

Upload a phone photo and your passport, we check them against every rule above, submit, and send your approval to your inbox. From €50 all-in.

Compare visa types

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Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
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Do German citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

Tourist E-visa

Business trip E-visa