Vietnam Visa Guidance for German Citizens
Vietnam is a unique mash up of old and new features, from impressive skyscrapers to ancient temples or modern life against a backdrop of history and tradition. It’s this dichotomy that makes Vietnam so special and appealing to many Westerners.
For Germany passport holders who want to visit Vietnam, the Vietnam Government has offered several methods to get Vietnam visa with ease and convenience.
In this article, German citizens will find specific guidance about each of visa method and other related concerns.
Do I need a Vietnam visa?
Holding German passport, you don’t need a visa to Vietnam if staying within 15 days. In case of staying longer than 15 days, you are advised to apply for a Vietnam visa.
03 legitimate ways to get Vietnam visa for German citizens
• You can apply and obtain a visa in advance from the Vietnam Embassy.
• You can obtain a visa on arrival
• You can apply for an E-visa
Of these three, obtaining a visa on arrival is a popular choice owing to its convenience and cost-saving. By choosing this method, you need to start the process of obtaining an approval letter before your flight to Vietnam. Please keep in mind that without this letter, you are denied to board your flight and to enter Vietnam.
Vietnam visa for German citizens on arrival
Visa on Arrival (VOA) means having visa approval letter issued by the Vietnam Immigration Office to board and have visa stamped upon arrival to Vietnam. VOA is provided for one or three month single/multiple entry cases for touristic and business purpose.
1. How to get visa on Arrival
You can contact a travel/visa agency approved by the Vietnamese government for getting a VOA. All you need to do is find a justified agency, provide your passport details, travel information and receive an approval letter.
After spending 5-10 minutes to submit the details online, it will takes 2-3 days (or urgent service within 4 hours) for the approval letter issuance.
Although VOA is the most popular option, there is restriction too. Visa on Arrival only works when you are entering Vietnam with a flight through any of Vietnam international airports. If you plan to enter Vietnam by land or sea borders, visa on arrival is not the right option for you.
2. Documents required upon arrival
• Original passport (must be valid for at least 06 months from arrival date and have at least 02 blank pages)
• Two passport size (4x6 cm) photographs (no glass wear, white background)
• Vietnamese Visa Application form
• A printout of Pre-Approval letter
• Stamping fee: 25USD or 50USD depending on type of entry
The entire process is rather simple and effortless. With the assistance of Vietnamvisavoa, you can ask for any support while filling the application form online to avoid mistakes.
3. How much does Vietnam visa on arrival cost for German citizens?
Vietnam VOA includes visa service fee and stamping fee.
For the visa service fee, it varies from this agency to another agency. Whereas, the stamping fee is fixed amount and directly paid to the Immigration Officer at the airport in cash.
To apply visa on arrival withVietnamvisavoa.com, you can check visa service fee in the tables as bellows:
| VISA TYPE |
SERVICE FEE (USD) |
STAMPING FEE (USD) |
| 1 month single entry |
$18 |
$25 |
| 1 month multiple entry |
$22 |
$50 |
| 3 month single entry |
$30 |
$25 |
| 3 month multiple entry |
$50 |
$50 |
Table 1: Vietnam touristvisa for German citizens
| VISA TYPE |
SERVICE FEE (USD) |
STAMPING FEE (USD) |
| 1 month single entry |
$79 |
$25 |
| 1 month multiple entry |
$90 |
$50 |
| 3 month single entry |
$110 |
$25 |
| 3 month multiple entry |
$119 |
$50 |
Table 2: Vietnam business visa for Germancitizens
Vietnam visa from the Vietnam Embassy in Germany
If you want to have Vietnam visa stamped into your passport before coming to Vietnam, you always have the option of applying for it via Vietnam Embassy/Consulate.
This is a traditional approach and since the visa fees is dependent on type and duration of visa, you are advised to contact the Embassy or consulate beforehand.
The benefit of this method allows you to enter Vietnam via land, air or sea as well as saves you time at the airport.
How to get visa from the Vietnam Embassy
It is better to contact the Embassy and confirm your understanding of visa requirements before you visit and apply there.
Consulate of Vietnam in Frankfurt, Germany
• Address : Villa Hanoi, Kennedy-Allee 49, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
• Consular Address: Pass- und Visastelleist in der Rubenstraße 30, 60596 Frankfurt/M (Nebeneingang von Villa Hanoi)
• Tel : 49-69-795 336 50
• Fax: 49-69-795 336 511
• E-mail:tlsqvietnam_frankfurt@mofa.gov.vn
orgkvietnam_frankfurt@mofa.gov.vn
• Website : www.vietnamoffice-frankfurt.org
Botschaft der Vietnam in Deutschland
• Elsenstraße 3, 12435 Berlin-Treptow, Deutschland (Germany)
• Tel.: (030) 536 30 108 (Zentrale) or (030) 536 30 102 (Visum)
• Fax: (030) 536 30 200
• E-mail: info@vietnambotschaft.org
• Website : www.vietnambotschaft.org
Opening hours:
• The Consular Section opens on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
• Morning: 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
- Application submission: 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
- Visa pick-up: 11:00 to 12:30
• Afternoon: 14:00 PM. to 16:30 PM
- Application submission: 14:00 PM to 16:30 PM
- Visa pick-up: 15:00 PM to 16:30 PM
Documents Required
• Applications can in person or by post. Multiple applications can be sent in one envelope and returned in one envelope if the applicants wish to do so. The visa fee can be paid together or separately.
• The following documents must be submitted:
a) For sticker visa
- Original passport, including child passport or temporary passport (the passport must be at least 01 month valid when the traveler leaves Viet Nam).
- 01 completed application form (both the online and offline form are accepted).
- 01 recent photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm or 04cm x 06cm)
- Visa fee in cash or Verrechnungsscheck with the signature of the account holder. The recipient should be: The Embassy of the SR Vietnam, Elsenstraße 3, 12435 Berlin).
- DHL if sending by post.
b) For loose-leaf visa
- Copy of the ID page of passport.
- 01 completed application form (both the online and offline form are accepted).
- 02 recent photos (3.5cm x 4.5cm or 04cm x 06cm).
- Visa fee in cash or Verrechnungsscheck with the signature of the account holder. The recipient should be: The Embassy of the SR Vietnam, Elsenstraße 3, 12435 Berlin).
- A stamped (3.75 €) and self-addressed envelope for ENSCHREIBEN if sending by post.
Visa fee varies according to the type of visa and length of stay. If you want to pay by cash, it is highly recommended that you use DHL.
Vietnam E-visa for German citizens
E-visa or electronic visa is a travel grant from government of Vietnam, to promote the Vietnam tourism. As a Germany passport holder, you are eligible to get an E-visa for travelling to Vietnam.
Getting an E-visa is simple. You will not need an approval letter and stamp. But this option restricts you to go for a single entry mode for a maximum of 30 days. After 30 days, you are required to get your visa renewed.
How to Get Vietnam E-visa
You need to go to the official Vietnam E-visa website and follow the steps described as bellows:
Step 1: Upload your passport date page and photo on the official E-visa website, then fill in the form with your personal details.
Step 2: Pay E-Visa fee with a valid credit card and receive your invoice confirmation.
Step 3: After 3-4 business day, return the “E-visa search” tab and enter your verification code, birth of date and email to download your e visa confirmation.
Documents Required:
• Scanned copy of passport
• Scanned copy of a recent passport size photograph (no glass wear)
• Valid Credit/Debit card for payment
• Email address to track off your visa application and download E-visa confirmation
Cost and processing time of E-visa
It takes around 15 minutes for provide details (if you have prepare all requirement) and pay for E-visa fees which is 25$ (payment mode may charge you 1$ more).
The time taken by Vietnamese authorities to issue E-visa document (a PDF file, which you need to get printed) is 3-4 business days, but can take up to 6 days as well. So make sure you apply for E-visa, at least two weeks ago prior starting your travel.
Quick notes:
• Once the process is complete, keep your registration code safe as it will required for getting your visa from the same portal where you applied it.
• There will be no email for confirmation so do not wait for it.
• Remember to take a print of E-visa (a one page pdf file) from the portal and keep this with you throughout your stay in Vietnam.
Common types of Vietnam visa for German citizen
Tourist visa (DL)
Tourist visa allows German citizens to enter Vietnam with a purpose of touring or relaxing activities. A tourist visa allows staying of 1 or 3 month with single entry or a multiple entry option.
Business visa (DN)
Business Visa is issued for Germanintending to enter Vietnam for business or trade purpose. Germany passport holders are eligible to get single or multiple entry business visa for 1 or 3 months.
Work visa (LD)
Work Visa is a type of visa when a Germancoming to Vietnam for the purpose of working with a Vietnamese registered company. A working visa is issued for no more than 24 months to German nationalities.
TT/VR visa
TT and VR are types of visa which are issued to US passport holders for the purpose of visiting their spouses, children, parents who are
- Vietnamese or,
- Foreigners holding work visa, resident card holders or LV1, LV2, DT, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, Visas
TT visais granted for a maximum of 3 months validity whereas in case of VR, the maximum staying duration is 6 months.
Investor visa (DT)
Investor visa is issued to German nationalities who are investors or to lawyers intending to start their profession in Vietnam. The validity of DT visa varies from 1 year to 5 years depending on the capital investment.
Five-year visa exemption
This is a type of long term visawhich is issued by the Vietnamese government to German citizens who are spouse or children of Vietnamese people (living in Vietnam or residing abroad). Once it is issued, the visa’s holders are permitted to visit Vietnam at any time within 5 years but only with maximum of 180 consecutive days staying per visit.
Addtionally, Vietnam visa is catagorized according to the duration of stay and the number of entries:
Short term visa
A short term visa is granted by Vietnamese government for the intention of staying in Vietnam 1 or 3 months for touristic or business purpose toward German nationality.
Long term visa
If a German citizen wish to spend more than 3 months in Vietnam, that person needs to opt for a long term visa option. The most common typeis a five-year visa exemption which does not restricts number of entries to its holder for 5 years but allows a stay of maximum 180 days at one visit.
Single entry
A single entry visa allows a German to enter Vietnam just once during with within the visa’s validity.
Multiple entry
A multiple entry visa allows a German to enter Vietnam several times while the visa is valid.
How to get Vietnam visa urgent and emergency for German citizens?
In some case when Germany citizens who wish to obtain a visa on arrival in short amount of time can avail for urgent services from Vietnamvisavoa.com. In urgent cases, approval letter is issued in 1-2 business days or couple of hours if requested as emergency case.
Four simple steps to get a rush Vietnam visa
Step 1: Fill up the visa application online or send your passport copy to our email at support@vietnamvisavoa.com
Step 2: Pay the visa service fee online. By Paypal or credit/debit card.
Step 3: A visa approval letter will be sent to your email within the requested time.
Step 4: Provide printed version of approval letter, 2 passport size photographs (4x6 cm) and stamping fees to get visa stamped upon arrival.
What are the fees of urgent and emergency?
The visa service fee of urgent and emergence includes an extra cost for expediting visa processing time on the top of the regular visa fee.
Visa renewal and visa extension
If you are already inside Vietnam and intend to stretch the duration of stay without leaving the country, you can go for visa extension or renewal. For visa extension, only the validity of existing visa changes and other attribute remains the same. While with visa renewal, you get a new visa sticker on their passport.
How to apply
German passport holders are advised to apply for visa renewal or visa extension via Vietnamvisavoa for more convenience and better service. The professional staff will be a great source of help and guide you through all the steps.
Step 1: Submit request and details for extension/renewal with a copy of passport and visa at support@vietnamvisavoa.com
Step 2: Wait for confirmation on the possibility of having your visa extended along with its processing time and fee
Step 3: Pay the fee and delivery your passport to Vietnamvisavoa office via post or in person. After 7 working days, collect your passport with extended or new visa.
How much does extension and renewal cost for German citizen?
Extension fee: The fee depends on your current visa as well as your required extended duration.
Renewal fee: The fee for renewal is a bit higher than the extension fee because you are required to pay all inclusive for visa stamp glued on your passport.
Visa run
There is an alternative solution to prolong a duration of your stay, which is known as “visa run”. Visa run is basically a legal exit from Vietnam to another country and then re-entering in Vietnam with a completely new visa. The requirement is listed as below
• A valid passport with at least 04 blank pages
• An original approval letter for getting Vietnamese visa stamped on re- entry.
• Two passport size photographs.
• Visa fees for relevant Vietnamese visa
Visa run through land border/ the airport–steps to do
Step 1: Arrange approval letter from Vietnamvisavoa.com before leaving Vietnam.
Step 2: Arrange for transportation to another country by land border or airport.
Step 3: Perform exit formalities (at land boarder or at airport).
Step 4: Apply for the third countries visa on arrival (if needed)
Step 5: Perform exit formalities at the country and reach at Vietnam immigration.
Step 6: Submit the approval letter, Vietnam visa application form, photographs, fee to get a Vietnamese visa stamped again and enter Vietnam.
Vietnam Visa run cost
• Vietnam visa fee: It includes visa service fee and stamping fee. For visa service fee, you will pay to your visa agency to get a visa approval letter (an original version) while stamping fee is paid for the Immigration Officer at the Vietnam airport.
Along with Vietnam visa fee, you might be required to pay extra cost for visa fee to a country you will choose for Vietnam visa run.
• Transportation cost: it depends of the country and mode of transportation selected for visa run.
Frequently answered questions about Vietnam visa for German citizens
Q: Can German passport holders apply for 6 months tourist visa?
A: Unfortunately, at the moment, German citizens can apply for maximum 3 months validity tourist visa only. For longer staying, you may consider visa run.
Q: Is it better to choose visa extension or visa run?
A: Both of this method are designed to extend your stay in Vietnam. In case you can manage to leave Vietnam for another country such you should do visa run. If you are too busy with your schedule or unable to travel back and forth you can choose to stay in Vietnam while doing visa extension. Compare to Vietnam visa run, it saves your time and money in travelling, nevertheless, extension fee is usually much higher.
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