Do Germans Need a Visa for Vietnam Package Tours? 2025 Update

Do Germans Need a Visa to Enter Vietnam?

The great news is: Do Germans Need a Visa for Vietnam in 2019? Only if you’re staying 45 days or more! This visa waiver is established by Nghi quyet 44/NQ-CP, permitting visitors with a German passport the ability to travel to Vietnam and visit, as long as they satisfy a number of entry requirements.

Here are the key criteria to get the most out of this Vietnam visa-free entry:

• Your passport must remain valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date. You do need to have evidence of onward travel, a return ticket, or a flight to another country.
• You are not on the immigration black list of Vietnam (managed by the immigration department).
• Your passport must be one of the types of ordinary passports on Vietnam’s unilateral visa waiver list.

Although this visa waiver is a great privilege, do remember that it only lasts for 45 days. Planning to stay longer? But you are for sure going to need a visa for Vietnam, be it an eVisa, a visa-on-arrival with approval letter, or a classic visa issued by the Embassy of Vietnam in either Berlin or Frankfurt.

That’s also true if you’re traveling to the country for one of the following reasons: work, media work, investment, and studying (in that case, you need a Vietnam visa regardless of how long you plan to be there).

So, Do Germans Need a Visa for Vietnam? If you’re booking within the window of 45 days, you’re golden. Yet the instant your travels go further than that or your itinerary extends beyond tourism, a valid visa to enter becomes your passport to easy entry at Vietnam immigration, whether you’re arriving at Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang, or relaxing under the sun in Phu Quoc.

Passport (Source: visathienha)

When Do Germans Need a Visa for Vietnam?

So you’ve been swept away by the pulse of Ho Chi Minh, the lantern-lit evenings of Da Nang, or the golden sands of Phu Quoc – and 45 days will never be enough? Or maybe you aren’t traveling to see the sights, but for meetings, or media, or to study abroad? Well then, it’s about time we get a clear answer to this burning question: When Do Germans Need a Visa for Vietnam?

Generous though the 45-day visa exemption is, it has its constraints. So, when do you need a Vietnam visa, exactly?

You’re staying more than 45 days

Whether you are lounging up north, trekking up mountains, or hopping to other islands, the second you trip over the 45-day threshold, a visa for Vietnam is no longer optional. No exceptions. If you have a German passport, but once the grace period is products and goes away, then you have to extend legally or leave the country.

Your visit isn’t just for tourism

Heading to Vietnam for:

• Meeting in Ho Chi Minh for business?
• A journalism assignment?
• A teaching contract?
• Or by launching a university program?

You would need a visa in any of these cases. The Immigration Department will demand that you submit an application for a visa to enter as a category that matches your declared purpose and supply all the documents necessary for the transaction.

You need multiple entries

Some tread on the belief that it is to leave, and then return on a fresh visa exemption. Technically, yes, but returning every 45 days can be exhausting and hazardous. If you’re planning on hopping to Cambodia and back, then you’d be much wiser to apply for a 90-day multiple-entry visa at home. That’s no more playing the flight game or timing your dashes anxiously. 

You want a stress-free experience

Why stand in line at the border gates, fret about missing the entry stamp, or risk being denied entry for an overstay? When you’re holding a visa for Vietnam (especially for a visa applied through online visa services or the Embassy of Vietnam in Berlin or Frankfurt), you are always in charge. You’ll also alleviate last-minute stress and tear through international airports like a pro.

Visa Options for German Citizens (2025)

Vietnam e-Visa – The Smart Traveler’s Choice

Well, here’s the one and only: the Vietnam e-Visa. It’s convenient, adaptable, and built for the modern wanderer!

• Valid for up to 90 days
• Then click on single or multiple entry as per your choice.
• Use it as airports, seaports, or land border gates
• Apply directly at: evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn

Great for those who don’t want to wait in embassy lines and for peace of mind before touching down. So, whether you fly into international airports such as Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, or cross into the country via land, it all works. And yes, it’s available to holders of ordinary passports!

Should you be wondering Do Germans Need a Visa for Vietnam when you will be traveling for an extended period of time or multiple trips, then getting a visa for Vietnam with an e-Visa is your best and fastest shot.

Vietnam e-Visa (Source: evisa.gov)

Visa on Arrival – Convenient but With Caution

Next: You just can’t kill the good old Visa on Arrival available in many, if not most, places, but it to be treated with caution.

• For air arrivals only
• Need an approval letter from a travel agency that is licensed, to be shown before boarding the flight.
• Visa-on-Arrival is the visa picked up at the Vietnam international airports upon arrival.

Sounds simple? It can be! But note:

• You don’t have access to it at land or sea border gates
• Prepare for long delays at crowded airports such as Ho Chi Minh
• And if the letter of approval isn’t formatted correctly, the likelihood of a mistake or delay increases

Yet it works for last-minute planners or those on a tight schedule. Make sure to have all your documents and confirmation printed.

And again, not only if you are asking yourself Do Germans Need a Visa for Vietnam, and already running out of your 45-day visa exemption or making multiple re-entries, a Visa for Vietnam on arrival is one way to go.

Visa on Arrival (Source: vinwonders)

Visa via the Embassy of Vietnam in Germany – Best for Special Cases

For more complex scenarios, such as long-term study, work, or residency, visiting the Embassy of Vietnam may be required.

• You will have to get a complete file of the needed documents
• Applicable if you are not applying for an e-Visa or the Visa on Arrival
• Handling time: 5-7 business days (or more)

Where to apply?

• Embassy of Vietnam – Berlin
• General Consulate – Frankfurt

It is also the preferred choice for individuals who would rather speak to an official face-to-face, or would rather submit their documentation in person, and NOT to apply visa online.

Visa via the Embassy (Source: vietnamimmigration)

Costs & Processing Time (e-Visa vs. Visa on Arrival)

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Submitting the Wrong Photo Format

When you’re applying for a visa for Vietnam – whether it’s a visa to travel to Vietnam or a visa to work or study in Vietnam, your photo must be as perfect, up-to-date, and up-to-standard as possible to avoid delays in processing. That means:

• White background
• Neutral facial expression
• No glasses or shadows

A photo that is too small, cropped, or dark can result in a delay in receiving approval or even a visa rejection.

Entering Vietnam Before Your Visa Is Valid

Sounds obvious? More often than you’d think! If the validity of your Vietnam visa starts from June 10, don’t land on June 9. Entry dates are strictly enforced by the Immigration Department, particularly at international airports. Before booking, double-check your approval letter, visa certificate, or e-Visa file.

Applying Too Late

We understand travel doesn’t always come together at the last minute. Applying for a visa to enter Vietnam only a few days before your flight is risky, though. Always apply at least two weeks before visiting, especially if you are using their e-Visa portal or the embassy route. Last-minute hiccups with the documents needed, passport types, or payment confirmations can disrupt your schedule.

Confusing Visa-Free Entry with E-Visa Entitlements

Here’s a huge one: Many of my readers with a German passport believe that the visa exemption and the e-Visa give you the same flexibility. They don’t.

• The visa-free regime is valid for 45 days, with no possibility of extension.
• E-Visa can be extended to a maximum of 90 days with double entry and is applicable for wider coverage, namely all the major International Airports, Land check posts, and Seaports.

Conclusion

So,  Do Germans Need a Visa for Vietnam? For those not staying longer than 45 days, no visa is necessary, just pack your bags and go! But for longer visits, work, study, or multiple entries, you will have to get a visa for Vietnam. In that situation, the Vietnam e-Visa is something you can’t go wrong with – expedited, straightforward, and valid at most major airports. Apply early, travel safely, and see our extensive guide on how to apply for a Vietnam visa for Germany citizens and beyond to get started today!

FAQ 

Do German citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

No, not for short visits! Geez, write the lady if you want to know! Citizens of Germany do not require a visa to stay in Vietnam for up to 45 days. But if you are going to stay longer than that period or if you want to enter Vietnam for non-tourism purposes , such as business or study, you must obtain a visa for Vietnam.

Do European citizens need a visa for Vietnam?

It depends on the country. Citizens of selected European countries (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) have visa waiver privileges up to 45 days. Others need to apply for a visa for Vietnam even when staying for a few days. Do not forget to refer always to the most up-to-date list from the Vietnam Immigration Department.

Do German passport holders need a visa?

Not always. You can take a visa-free trip to Vietnam (Maximum stay of 45 days) when you have a valid German passport. But if you’re going to stay longer, cross more than once, or are visiting for business, you’ll have to apply for a Vietnam visa either through a visa online service or at the Embassy of Vietnam.

Do I need a visa on arrival in Vietnam?

If you are flying into Vietnam and have not used the e-Visa system. You can do this, in which case you can apply for a visa on arrival; however, you will need to contact us beforehand for an approval letter. It’s usually preferable to apply online for a visa for Vietnam in advance so you can avoid airport lines and getting delayed.