How Long Can German Citizens Stay in Vietnam

German citizens can visit Vietnam without a visa for up to 45 days from the date of entry, as of 2026. Vietnam's Government Resolution 44/NQ-CP (7 March 2025) extends that 45-day exemption from 15 March 2025 through 14 March 2028 for German nationals, among 11 other listed nationalities. Germany's Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) says entry and exit days both count as full days, you should show a return or onward ticket, and the passport must be valid for at least six months from entry. For stays longer than 45 days, apply for a Vietnam e-visa valid for a maximum of 90 days. Overstaying can delay your exit while you pay a fine.

This guide is for German passport holders planning Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, or a north-to-south loop, including nomads who want 60 to 90 days. EU free movement does not apply in Vietnam. Do not copy US-passport advice: Americans generally need the e-visa even for short trips. Germans have a genuine visa-free window, then must switch products for a longer stay.

Key facts

Fact	Detail
Visa-free stay (DE)	Up to 45 days from the date of entry
Exemption window	15 March 2025 through 14 March 2028 (Resolution 44/NQ-CP)
Counting	Arrival and departure days both count as full days
Longer short stay	E-visa up to 90 days
E-visa fees	USD 25 single / USD 50 multiple on the official portal
Passport	Valid at least 6 months from entry
Official DE source	Auswärtiges Amt Vietnam
Official VN embassy	Vietnamese Embassy Berlin
Official VN portal	evisa.gov.vn

45-day visa exemption for German citizens

Vietnam's government grants visa exemption to citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany for a temporary stay of 45 days from the date of entry, regardless of passport type and purpose of entry, if they meet Vietnam's ordinary entry conditions. The policy runs from 15 March 2025 through 14 March 2028. [Source: Resolution 44/NQ-CP]

The Auswärtiges Amt, last updated 20 September 2026, states that German citizens do not need a visa for stays of at most 45 days, that entry and exit days already count as full days, that a printout of the return or onward ticket should be presented on arrival, and that the passport must still be valid for at least six months from the day of entry. Vietnamese authorities decide whether visa-free entry is granted. [Source: Auswärtiges Amt]

The Vietnamese Embassy in Berlin states the same 45-day limit including arrival and departure days, and that the visa-free stay is recalculated with each entry, with no required gap after the last exit. [Source: Vietnamese Embassy Berlin]

This is not a 90-day tourist visa. If you need 46 to 90 days, use the e-visa instead of hoping to convert the stamp later. Journalists and filmmakers working in Vietnam are outside the ordinary exemption.

90-day e-visa when 45 days is not enough

The official Vietnam e-visa site states that an e-visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days for single or multiple entries, with fees of USD 25 (single) and USD 50 (multiple). Enter only through designated border gates listed for e-visa travelers. [Source: evisa.gov.vn]

The Auswärtiges Amt points German travelers to the immigration e-visa system for stays over 45 days, quotes a three-day processing time, and warns that e-visa entry is limited to designated airports, not every land or sea crossing. Confirm the checkpoint list on the approval and on evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. [Source: Auswärtiges Amt]

Multiple entry does not create unlimited presence. It allows more than one entry during the e-visa validity window, still capped by the dates on the approval.

How to choose and complete the right Vietnam entry

Step 1. If the whole trip is 45 days or fewer and you hold a German passport, the visa exemption may be enough. Still carry onward tickets and funds.

Step 2. If you need 46 to 90 days, or you will leave Vietnam and return, apply for the matching e-visa on evisa.gov.vn before you fly. Avoid lookalike paid resellers unless you knowingly want an agent.

Step 3. Match names and passport numbers exactly. Save the PDF. Enter only through a checkpoint listed on the approval.

Step 4. At the border, check the stamped leave-by date before you walk away. Photograph it. The Auswärtiges Amt says missing a stamp can produce a fine on exit.

Step 5. Vietnam is testing a pre-arrival system at most international airports. Complete it if your arrival airport uses it. It is not a visa.

Worked example with concrete dates

Lena, a German citizen, wants Vietnam from 1 October 2026 to 20 December 2026 (81 days). The 45-day exemption is too short. Lena applies on 5 September 2026 for a single-entry e-visa covering the dates. Approval arrives 10 September 2026. Lena must exit by the end date on that e-visa, not "90 days from whenever."

If Lena had arrived visa-free on 2 October 2026, day 1 is 2 October and day 45 is 15 November 2026, counting arrival and departure as full days. Staying through December on that stamp would be an overstay.

Lena later wants a weekend in Siem Reap from 10 November to 14 November and a return to Ho Chi Minh City. A multiple-entry e-visa would have been the correct product. On a single-entry e-visa, leaving Vietnam ends that entry. On a visa-free stamp, leaving also ends that admission, and the next landing is a new decision.

Re-entry, extensions, and longer stays

Do not assume you can extend a 45-day stamp or a tourist e-visa as easily as some neighboring exemptions. The Auswärtiges Amt says an in-country extension generally needs a sponsor and a follow-on visa. Apply before the current permission ends.

Leaving for Cambodia or Laos and returning only works if your visa allows another entry and remains valid, or if you still qualify for a new visa-free admission. Officers can refuse a pattern that looks like residence. See how visa runs work. Passport validity for multi-country Asia routes often follows the six-month passport rule at airline check-in.

Remote work and purpose of stay

Tourist exemption and tourist e-visas are for temporary visits consistent with the declared purpose. Local employment needs proper work authorization. Remote work for a foreign employer is still distinct from Vietnamese employment status. See remote work tourist visa legality.

The Auswärtiges Amt reports that overstay penalties were raised on 15 December 2025. Paying the fine can take several working days and delay your flight. Exit on or before the authorized date.

Common mistakes

Treating 45 days as 90 days. The exemption and the e-visa are different products.

Ignoring arrival and departure days. Both count as full days on the exemption.

Using unofficial clone websites. Pay and apply on the government portal when possible.

Wrong entry airport vs e-visa approval. Match the checkpoint rules.

Assuming a Cambodia weekend always renews 45 days. Re-entry is a new decision, even if the embassy says the clock can restart.

Missing the entry stamp. Photograph it before you leave the desk.

How to track Vietnam stay limits

Visa-free stamps and e-visa end dates only help if you know which clock is running. Staywise (the visa compliance app for digital nomads) records your Vietnam entry and the leave-by date you photograph, then sends overstay alerts at 7, 3, and 1 day. Multi-country timelines help when you combine Vietnam with Thailand or Indonesia. Passport details stay on your device. Available on iOS.

For tool comparisons, see Best Visa Tracker Apps for Digital Nomads (2026) and How to Track Your Days in Multiple Countries.

Download Staywise on the App Store

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can German citizens stay in Vietnam without a visa?

German citizens can stay up to 45 days from the date of entry without a visa, as of 2026, if they meet Vietnam's entry conditions. Arrival and departure days both count as full days. Resolution 44/NQ-CP extends this exemption from 15 March 2025 through 14 March 2028. You still need a passport valid for at least six months from entry and should carry proof of onward travel. Stays longer than 45 days require an e-visa or another visa, not a hope that the stamp can be stretched later.

Do Germans need a Vietnam e-visa for a two-week trip?

Usually no. A standard tourism trip of 14 days falls inside the 45-day visa exemption for German passport holders when you meet entry conditions. You still need a valid passport and should carry a return or onward ticket that shows you will leave inside 45 days. Always re-check Auswärtiges Amt and Vietnamese embassy guidance close to departure because procedures can change. Keep hotel bookings available if an officer asks about your plans.

How much does a Vietnam e-visa cost for German citizens?

On the official national portal, the stated fees are USD 25 for a single-entry e-visa and USD 50 for a multiple-entry e-visa, each valid for a maximum of 90 days. Third-party agencies may charge extra service fees on top of the government fee. For most travelers, applying directly on the government site is enough if you can complete the form accurately. Budget extra time for payment confirmation and PDF download before you go to the airport.

Can I leave Vietnam and come back for another 45 days?

The Vietnamese Embassy in Berlin says the 45-day visa-free stay is recalculated with each entry and that no minimum gap is required after the last exit. That is not a guaranteed right to re-enter. Each landing is decided by Vietnamese officers. Patterns of near-max stays followed by brief trips abroad can still lead to a shorter grant or refusal. If you know you will hop to Cambodia or Laos and return, a multiple-entry e-visa is the cleaner product.

What happens if I overstay in Vietnam?

Overstaying can lead to fines, delayed exit, and problems obtaining future Vietnamese visas. The Auswärtiges Amt notes that overstay penalties were raised on 15 December 2025 and that paying the fine can take several working days. Exit on or before the authorized date. If an emergency prevents timely departure, contact Vietnamese immigration rather than ignoring the expiry. Photograph your stamp or e-visa so you never lose the deadline.

About Staywise

Staywise is the visa compliance app for digital nomads. Built by nomads for nomads, it tracks your days across every country automatically, alerts you before overstays, and keeps passport details on your device for privacy. The in-app AI assistant answers visa questions in plain English. Available on iOS.

Download Staywise on the App Store →

Important: This content is informational and does not constitute legal, tax, or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax regulations, and entry requirements change frequently and vary by individual circumstances. Always verify current requirements with official government sources or a qualified professional before making travel decisions. Staywise tracks your days and surfaces compliance information, but final responsibility for compliance rests with the traveler.