Vietnam visa for German citizens: the 45-day exemption and when you still need a visa

Do Germans need a visa for Vietnam? For most short trips, no. German citizens can currently stay in Vietnam for 45 days without a visa, on any type of passport and for any purpose of entry. Anyone staying longer, or coming to work, still needs the right visa, so sort out the paperwork before you book.

The 45-day exemption

The exemption comes from Government Resolution 44/NQ-CP of 7 March 2025, under which Vietnam unilaterally waives visas for citizens of 12 countries, Germany among them. German citizens may stay for 45 days from the date of entry, regardless of passport type or purpose of entry, provided they meet the entry conditions of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam:

• A valid passport issued by the German authorities, valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
• Not falling into a case where entry is refused.

The policy applies from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028 and may be extended. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' visa exemption list gives the same 45-day stay for every German passport type, including diplomatic and official passports.

When you still need a visa

• Staying more than 45 days in a row: an e-visa, valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. It usually takes 3 working days, and the government fee is USD 25 for single entry or USD 50 for multiple entry.
• Coming to work: a work permit (or an exemption confirmation) and a work visa, then a temporary residence card.
• Investing or setting up a company: an investor visa, graded by the capital contributed.
• A spouse or children joining someone who lives in Vietnam: a family visa.

German documents for a work permit application

A work permit application usually needs degrees, experience letters and a criminal record certificate issued in Germany. These must be legalised, unless exempt, then translated into Vietnamese and certified. Legalising foreign documents is usually the slowest step, so employers hiring German staff should allow for it when they set a start date.

Notes

• Visa-free entry does not allow you to work. Working without a permit is a violation.
• Entering visa-free and deciding later to stay long term usually means leaving and re-entering on the right visa.
• Details on an e-visa must match your passport exactly. A single wrong character can mean being refused boarding or entry.
• The exemption has an end date and the rules, including those on back-to-back visa-free entries, can change. Check the current policy before you travel.

Gateway can check your case or file your e-visa for you.