Quick Answer
German passport holders do not need a visa for Vietnam for stays up to 45 days. You can enter freely for tourism, short business visits, or family trips without applying for any eVisa or stamp in advance.
If you plan to stay longer than 45 days, you must apply for a Vietnam eVisa (90-day validity, single or multiple entry) before travel. You cannot extend a visa-free stay once inside Vietnam.
Vietnam Visa Easy provides assisted eVisa processing for German citizens who need a long-stay visa — delivered in as little as 1.5 hours on business days.
Visa-Free Entry for German Citizens — The Rules
Germany is included in Vietnam's unilateral visa exemption scheme. As of 2026, German passport holders can enter Vietnam without any visa or pre-approval for up to 45 days per entry.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum stay | 45 days per entry |
| Entry type | Multiple entries permitted — exit and re-enter to reset the 45-day clock |
| Purpose | Tourism, family, short business |
| Pre-approval required? | No — arrive with your valid German passport |
| eVisa required? | No, for stays of 45 days or less |
| Can I extend inside Vietnam? | No — apply for an eVisa before arrival if you need more than 45 days |
| Valid entry points | SGN, HAN, DAD, PQC, CXR and approved land/sea crossings |
You do not need to register, apply online, or carry any letter. Present your valid German passport at immigration upon arrival. Officers will stamp a 45-day visa-free entry.
Important — Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN)
From 15 April 2026, all passengers flying into Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) — including visa-free German travelers — must complete the pre-arrival declaration at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn before boarding. Complete it online before your departure gate closes. Failure to declare may result in delays at immigration.
When German Citizens Need an eVisa
There are specific situations where holding a Vietnam eVisa is either required or advisable for German passport holders:
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Stay longer than 45 days | eVisa required — apply before you travel |
| Work or paid activities in Vietnam | eVisa or work permit required — check with your employer |
| Frequent repeat entries on visa-free stamp | eVisa gives clearer legal status for long-term residency patterns |
| Prefer certainty or documented pre-approval | Optional — eVisa is perfectly valid for short stays too |
The Vietnam eVisa grants 90 days of stay (not 45) and is available in single-entry or multiple-entry format. It is issued entirely online — you do not visit a Vietnamese embassy. Our service handles the application for you and delivers the approved eVisa file to your email.
Umlaut Warning for German Applicants
German passports encode umlauts differently in the machine-readable zone (MRZ) at the bottom of the photo page:
- a-umlaut becomes AE
- o-umlaut becomes OE
- u-umlaut becomes UE
- sharp-s becomes SS
When applying for an eVisa, enter your name exactly as it appears in the MRZ lines — not as it appears on the visual name line above. A mismatch between your eVisa and passport MRZ can cause problems at immigration. Our team checks this during application review.
eVisa Options for Stays Over 45 Days
If you need more than 45 days in Vietnam, the eVisa is your best option. Key details:
| Option | Validity | Max Stay | Re-entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Entry eVisa | 30 or 90 days | Up to 90 days | One entry only |
| Multiple-Entry eVisa | 30 or 90 days | Up to 90 days total | Unlimited re-entries within validity window |
The government charges a fixed fee for the eVisa. Our service adds an assistance fee in exchange for expert review of your application, MRZ name verification, and faster-than-standard delivery.
eVisa Pricing — Vietnam Visa Easy
All tiers below apply to new eVisa applications for German citizens needing to stay beyond 45 days. The government eVisa fee is included in our total price — no hidden charges.
| Service Tier | Delivery | Available | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Business-Day | 3 business days | Mon – Fri | USD 80 |
| 2-Business-Day | 2 business days | Mon – Fri | USD 90 |
| 1-Business-Day | 1 business day | Mon – Fri | USD 100 |
| 5-Hour | approx. 5 hours | Mon – Fri | USD 115 |
| 2.5-Hour | approx. 2.5 hours | Mon – Fri | USD 145 |
| 1.5-Hour | approx. 1.5 hours | Mon – Fri | USD 175 |
| Weekend / Holiday | Same day (17:00–18:00 VNT batch) | Sat / Sun / Public holidays only — order before 15:00 VNT | USD 230 |
Business-day delivery times run from order confirmation, subject to government portal hours (Vietnam time). Weekend / Holiday service processes one batch at 17:00–18:00 VNT — order before 15:00 VNT to be included. Mon–Fri tiers are not available on Vietnamese public holidays.
For stays longer than 45 days — 90-day eVisa, single or multiple entry
Order Cutoffs — Vietnam Time vs. German Time
Vietnam operates on ICT (UTC+7) all year. Germany observes CET (UTC+1) in winter and CEST (UTC+2) in summer. Use the table below to ensure you order in time for same-day or next-business-day processing.
| Tier | Order By (VNT) | Order By (CET — Winter) | Order By (CEST — Summer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5-Hour | By 15:30 VNT | By 09:30 CET | By 10:30 CEST |
| 2.5-Hour | By 14:30 VNT | By 08:30 CET | By 09:30 CEST |
| 5-Hour | By 12:00 VNT | By 06:00 CET | By 07:00 CEST |
| Weekend / Holiday | By 15:00 VNT | By 09:00 CET | By 10:00 CEST |
1-Business-Day, 2-Business-Day, and 3-Business-Day tiers can be ordered any time on a business day. Vietnam government portal processes applications Mon–Fri 08:00–11:30 and 13:30–18:00 VNT only.
How Our eVisa Service Works
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Apply online | Complete our short form at vietnamvisaeasy.com/apply — passport details, travel dates, entry type |
| 2. Name check | Our team verifies MRZ name encoding (critical for German umlauts) before submission |
| 3. Submission | We submit your application to the Vietnamese government portal and monitor its status |
| 4. Reference code | You receive a reference code (format: E260705DEU…) to track your application at evisa.gov.vn |
| 5. Delivery | Approved eVisa PDF delivered to your email within your selected tier timeframe |
Print the eVisa PDF and carry it with your German passport. Present both at immigration on arrival. You can independently verify your eVisa approval at evisa.gov.vn/e-visa/search.
Already Applied on the Government Portal?
If you submitted your own application on evisa.gov.vn and need it processed faster, we offer a Speed Up escalation service. This prioritises your existing application — it is not a new application and does not incur a second government fee.
To use Speed Up you will need: (1) your reference code, (2) the email used to register, and (3) your flight number to Vietnam. Contact us on WhatsApp to arrange.
What German Citizens Need at Immigration
Visa-free entry (stays up to 45 days):
- Valid German passport (minimum 6 months validity beyond your intended stay)
- Return or onward flight ticket
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or host address)
- SGN passengers: completed pre-arrival declaration at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn
eVisa entry (stays over 45 days):
- Valid German passport
- Printed eVisa PDF (required — digital copy on a phone screen alone may not be accepted)
- Return or onward ticket
- SGN passengers: completed pre-arrival declaration at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn
Frequently Asked Questions
Do German citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
No. German passport holders are visa-exempt for Vietnam for up to 45 days per entry. You can enter without a visa or eVisa for tourism, short business trips, or family visits lasting 45 days or less. Simply present your valid German passport at immigration on arrival.
What if I want to stay in Vietnam longer than 45 days?
You must apply for a Vietnam eVisa before you travel. The eVisa allows up to 90 days of stay and is available in single-entry or multiple-entry format. You cannot extend the 45-day visa-free period once you are inside Vietnam — the eVisa must be obtained in advance.
Can I get a Vietnam eVisa even though I am visa-exempt?
Yes. Even for stays under 45 days, some German travelers choose to hold an eVisa for certainty — particularly for work-related visits, multi-country itineraries, or if there is any possibility of extending the stay. Our service can process an eVisa for any German applicant regardless of intended duration.
Does the umlaut in my German name cause problems on the eVisa?
It can. German passports encode umlauts in the machine-readable zone as AE, OE, UE, and SS. The Vietnam immigration portal reads the MRZ version. You must enter your name exactly as the MRZ shows it — not the visual name line. Our team checks this at application review to prevent mismatches at immigration.
How long does it take to get a Vietnam eVisa?
Government standard processing is 3 business days. With Vietnam Visa Easy's assisted service, German applicants can receive an approved eVisa in as little as 1.5 hours (Monday to Friday, subject to cutoff times). A Weekend and Holiday tier is available for Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, with a single processing batch at 17:00–18:00 Vietnam time — order by 15:00 VNT to be included.
Which airports can I use to enter Vietnam?
Both visa-free entry and eVisa holders can arrive at Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), Hanoi (HAN), Da Nang (DAD), Phu Quoc (PQC), and Cam Ranh / Nha Trang (CXR). Approved land and sea border crossings are also valid for eVisa holders. Entry via international transit hubs such as Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, or Dubai does not count as a Vietnam entry point.
Is there a pre-arrival declaration required at Tan Son Nhat airport?
Yes. Since 15 April 2026, all passengers arriving at Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) — including visa-free German travelers — must complete the pre-arrival declaration online at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn before boarding. This applies to all international flights arriving at SGN. It is a separate requirement from the visa or eVisa.
Can children travel to Vietnam visa-free on a German passport?
Yes — German children holding a valid German passport are also visa-exempt for 45 days. However, children must have their own separate passport and, if applying for an eVisa for a longer stay, must have their own separate eVisa application. Attaching a child to a parent's eVisa can invalidate the entire family's entry documents.
What does Speed Up do if my eVisa is already processing?
Speed Up is an escalation on your existing application — it does not create a new application and does not incur a second government fee. It prioritises your file within the Vietnamese immigration system to reduce delivery time. To request Speed Up you need your reference code (format E260705DEU…), your registration email, and your flight number to Vietnam.
I applied myself on the government portal and it is taking too long — what should I do?
Do not submit a second application — doing so may trigger a 24–48 hour duplication hold on both applications. Contact us on WhatsApp with your reference code, registration email, and flight number. We will arrange a Speed Up escalation on your existing application to get it approved as quickly as possible.
Need to Stay More Than 45 Days?
Apply for a 90-day Vietnam eVisa — single or multiple entry — delivered in as little as 1.5 hours.
Apply NowVietnam Visa Easy
Fast, reliable eVisa assistance — rated 4.9 / 5 by 153 verified customers
| +84 947 754 252 | |
| support@vietnamvisaeasy.com | |
| Apply | vietnamvisaeasy.com/apply |
| Verify eVisa | evisa.gov.vn/e-visa/search |
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Vietnam Visa Easy is an independent visa assistance agency. We are not affiliated with the Vietnamese government or any official embassy. Government eVisa fees are included in our service price. Processing times are estimates based on government portal hours and are not guaranteed. eVisa applications are subject to approval by Vietnamese immigration authorities.