Do Germans need a visa for Vietnam? Not for short trips: under Government Resolution 44/NQ-CP, German citizens can enter Vietnam visa-free and stay up to 45 days per entry, with any passport type and for any purpose, from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028. For a longer stay, a work assignment or several entries, Germans use the 90-day e-visa or a sponsored visa and, for long-term stays, a temporary residence card. Info Travel advises on and handles the Vietnam visa for German citizens: message us on WhatsApp +84327828822.
Vietnam visa for German citizens: the 45-day exemption
Germany is one of the 12 countries listed in Resolution 44/NQ-CP of 7 March 2025 (together with France, Italy, Spain, the UK, the Nordic countries, Japan, South Korea and Russia). The key points of the rule are:
- Length of stay: up to 45 days from the date of entry, stamped at the border.
- Who: German citizens regardless of passport type (ordinary, official or diplomatic).
- Purpose: any purpose of entry – tourism, family visits, business meetings – but the exemption is not permission to work. Employment still needs a work permit (or a work-permit exemption) and the matching visa or residence card.
- Validity of the policy: 15/3/2025 – 14/3/2028; the resolution says it may be considered for extension.
- Conditions: you must meet Vietnam’s general entry conditions – in practice a German passport valid for at least 6 months and not being subject to an entry ban.
You can check the current list of visa-free countries on our Vietnam visa exemption countries page before you fly. German speakers often search for “Vietnam Visum für Deutsche” – the short answer is the same: no visa needed for up to 45 days.
Entry options for Germans at a glance
| Option | Maximum stay / validity | State fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa exemption (Resolution 44/NQ-CP) | Up to 45 days per entry | Free | Holidays, short visits, meetings |
| E-visa, single entry | Up to 90 days | USD 25 | Trips longer than 45 days |
| E-visa, multiple entry | Up to 90 days | USD 50 | Round trips via Cambodia, Laos, Thailand |
| Sponsored visa via approval letter (DN, LĐ, ĐT, TT…) | According to purpose; multiple-entry visas up to several years | USD 25–155 depending on type and term | Business, work, investment, family |
| Temporary residence card | Up to 2 / 5 / 10 years depending on category | USD 145 / 155 / 165 | Long-term residents |
| 5-year visa exemption certificate | Up to 5 years, max. 180 days per entry | USD 20 (first issue) | Germans of Vietnamese origin, spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens |
Fees follow Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC (in force from 1 April 2026); see the full schedule on our Vietnam visa fees page.
When German citizens need an e-visa
The exemption covers most holidays, but you should apply for an e-visa if you plan to stay more than 45 days, want a multiple-entry option for a regional trip, or prefer to have a visa in hand before travelling. The e-visa is issued online on the official portal evisa.gov.vn:
- Fill in the online form with your name exactly as in the passport, date of birth, passport number, intended entry and exit dates, address in Vietnam and the port of entry you will actually use.
- Upload a recent portrait photo (plain light background, facing forward, no glasses) and a clear scan of the passport data page with the full MRZ lines.
- Pay the state fee (USD 25 single entry, USD 50 multiple entry) online.
- Track the result with your registration code; processing usually takes about 3 working days. Print or save the approved e-visa.
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months on entry. The e-visa is used at the international airports and the land and sea border gates designated for e-visa holders. Our e-visa application guide walks through each field of the form.
Working, investing or living long-term in Vietnam
Germany is a major investor in Vietnam, and many Germans come as managers, engineers, teachers or spouses of Vietnamese citizens. The usual paths are:
- Work: a work permit under Decree 219/2025/ND-CP (or a confirmation of exemption), then an LĐ work visa and a temporary residence card. German degrees and police certificates (Führungszeugnis) must be legalised or otherwise authenticated as Vietnam requires and translated – see our Vietnam work permit service.
- Business: a DN visa sponsored by a Vietnamese company for meetings, market research or project work that is not employment.
- Investors: an ĐT visa based on the investment capital, followed by a temporary residence card.
- Family: a TT visa for spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens or of foreigners holding a residence card.
Holders of LĐ, ĐT and TT visas can convert to a temporary residence card, which avoids repeated visa runs.
Extensions and overstay
If 45 days are not enough, do not simply stay on. Options include applying for a visa through a Vietnamese sponsor before the exemption expires, or leaving and re-entering (a new 45-day stay is counted from each entry, subject to the border officer’s decision). Stay extensions carry a state fee of USD 10 each and are assessed case by case. Overstaying is fined under Decree 282/2025/ND-CP – from VND 0.5–2 million for under 16 days, rising with the length of the overstay – and can delay your departure. Read more on our Vietnam visa overstay fine page.
German Embassy and Consulate General in Vietnam
For passport renewal, consular certificates and help in an emergency, German citizens can contact the Embassy of Germany in Hanoi or the Consulate General of Germany in Ho Chi Minh City. Note that they do not issue Vietnamese visas: e-visas are issued online, and sponsored visas by Vietnam’s immigration authorities or Vietnamese missions abroad.
Info Travel’s visa service for German citizens
- Checking whether the 45-day exemption fits your trip or whether you need an e-visa or sponsored visa.
- E-visa applications, including urgent cases, and approval letters for DN, LĐ, ĐT and TT visas.
- Work permits, temporary residence cards, the 5-year exemption certificate, legalisation and certified translation of German documents.
- Airport fast track in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang; advice on overstay cases.
Our service fees depend on the case; send your passport details and travel plan via WhatsApp for an exact quote.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for German citizens
Do Germans need a visa for Vietnam in 2026?
No, not for stays of up to 45 days. Resolution 44/NQ-CP exempts German citizens from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028, regardless of passport type and purpose. For longer stays you need an e-visa or another visa.
Can I work in Vietnam on the 45-day exemption?
No. The exemption does not authorise employment. You need a work permit or exemption confirmation plus an LĐ visa or temporary residence card.
I have a German and a Vietnamese passport. Which should I use?
Use the same passport for entry and exit. Many dual nationals enter on the German passport with the exemption; Germans of Vietnamese origin who travel often may consider the 5-year exemption certificate.
Does a child on a German children’s passport also get 45 days?
Yes, the exemption applies regardless of passport type, as long as the passport meets the validity requirement. Check the validity date carefully, as children’s passports often have shorter terms.
Info Travel – visa solutions for foreigners in Vietnam
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