Residence

Schengen visa for visits and tourism (up to 90 days)

For visits to family or friends and tourist trips to Germany of up to 90 days, applicants in Vietnam apply for a Schengen visa through the German mission or its service provider.

Last updated: 7 October 2026 · Draft – not yet editorially reviewed.

A Schengen visa for a visit or tourism allows a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area. 2 6 If you are applying in Vietnam, choose the family-visit category to visit relatives or friends, or the tourism category for a tourist trip. 5

Who needs this

Apply through the German authorities when Germany is your main destination. If your trip includes several Schengen countries, the main destination determines where you apply; if the stays are equally long, apply through the country whose Schengen border you enter first. 3
In Vietnam, the German Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City handle applications when Germany or Portugal is your main destination. 2 6

Step by step

Choose the category that matches your trip. Short-stay visa applications in Vietnam must be submitted through VFS Global; you do not need a visa agency to apply. 5 8
Prepare the applicable checklist and arrange its documents in the listed order. Bring each document in the original with a copy. Documents written in Vietnamese or another language must be translated into German or English. 2 6
Submit the completed application and sign it on site. At the appointment, provide biometric data, including fingerprints and a photograph, and pay the applicable fee. 1 2 6

Documents

For tourism applicants in Vietnam: a passport or travel document with two free visa pages, issued no more than ten years ago and valid for at least three months after the planned departure from the Schengen area. If applicable, bring an old passport showing previous Schengen visas. Applicants who are not Vietnamese nationals also need a Vietnamese residence permit valid at least until the planned Schengen departure. 6
For both categories: one biometric passport photo, no older than six months, measuring 45 mm by 35 mm against a white background; employment or other status documents appropriate to your situation; evidence of finances and family circumstances; and travel health insurance covering the entire Schengen area and requested stay, with at least €30,000 cover for medical care, hospital treatment and repatriation in case of illness or death. Tourism applicants must also provide bank statements for the last three months. 2 6
For family visits: a current signed invitation and a copy of the host’s passport, identity card or residence permit. If the host or another person pays and you cannot cover the costs yourself, provide the original formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung). Applicants must still provide evidence of their own financial circumstances. 2
For minors: both parents with parental responsibility must attend and sign; provide the child’s birth certificate and copies of both parents’ passports or identity cards. If one parent is not travelling, a consent declaration must be signed on site. 2 6

Cost and time

The standard Schengen visa fee is €90. Children under six are exempt, and for children aged six to under twelve the fee is €45; other exemptions and reduced fees apply to specified groups and nationalities. 1
German missions generally decide on an admissible Schengen application within 15 calendar days. For applications in Vietnam with all relevant documents present, the stated usual processing time is 16 working days; requests for further documents extend it. 1 3

Deadlines

Submit the application no earlier than six months and generally at least 15 days before the planned trip. An appointment can be arranged earlier. 1

City by city

Hà Nội, Ho Chi Minh City and Đà Nẵng each have a VFS Global visa application centre where short-stay applications can be submitted. 8