Yes, Austrian citizens need a visa for Vietnam. That surprises many travelers, because Austria’s neighbours Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland are all on Vietnam’s 45-day visa-free list. Austria is not. The easiest choice is therefore the Vietnam visa for Austrian citizens issued online: a 90-day e-visa costing US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry, usually ready in about 3 working days.
This guide explains why Austria is not exempt, how to type umlauts such as Ö and Ü on the form, how to time your trip around the Semesterferien and Tet, and where the embassies are on both sides.
Vietnam visa for Austrian citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Austria is not on Vietnam’s 45-day list.
- Best option: 90-day e-visa, US$25 single / US$50 multiple entry.
- Umlauts: use the MRZ spelling if the form rejects Ä, Ö, Ü or ß (for example MUELLER).
- Vietnamese embassy in Austria: Vienna. Austrian embassy in Vietnam: Hanoi.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 6 hours ahead in winter, 5 hours in summer.
Why Austrians need a visa when their neighbours do not
Vietnam’s exemption is a list of named countries, not a rule for the EU or the Schengen area. Resolution 44/NQ-CP covers the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. In August 2025, Resolution 229/NQ-CP added Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. Austria is on neither list. As a result, a trip that is visa-free for your German or Swiss travel companions still needs a visa on your Austrian passport. See the full list in our guide to who is exempted from Vietnam visa.
The exception is Phu Quoc island, where any foreign visitor can stay up to 30 days without a visa when arriving directly from abroad or after transiting through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City without leaving the airport.
How many Austrians visit Vietnam?
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security recorded 20,341 Austrian arrivals in 2019. Numbers fell to 112 in 2021 and recovered to 7,317 in 2022. January is a popular month: 3,164 Austrians arrived in January 2023 alone, many escaping the European winter.
Vietnam visa for Austrian citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 / US$50 | Almost every trip |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Embassy visa, Vienna | Depends on type | Set by the embassy | Special cases and sponsored long stays |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
If you also hold the passport of a listed country, for example Germany, you can use it for a visa-free trip of up to 45 days. In that case, travel on that passport from check-in to exit.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as an Austrian citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Type your name carefully. If the form does not accept umlauts or ß, use the spelling from the two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page. There, Ä becomes AE, Ö becomes OE, Ü becomes UE and ß becomes SS. For example, MÜLLER is written MUELLER. Use the same spelling in every field.
- Prepare a 4×6 cm portrait on a white background with no glasses. An Austrian passport photo has a different size, so take a new one. See our Vietnam visa photo guide.
- Scan the whole data page, including all four corners and the two lines at the bottom.
- Apply on evisa.gov.vn or through a service if you want your form checked first.
- Pay, wait and print. Keep the registration code, then print and check the e-visa.
When to apply: Semesterferien, Christmas and Tet
Austrian school holidays in February, the Semesterferien, often fall in the same weeks as Tet, Vietnam’s Lunar New Year. During Tet, the Immigration Department pauses processing for about a week; in 2026, e-visas were not processed from 14 to 22 February, and Tet 2027 starts on 6 February. So if you plan a February trip, apply by mid-January. In addition, Vietnam is 5 to 6 hours ahead of Vienna, which means a form sent on a Friday afternoon arrives after the office day in Vietnam has ended. See our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
How much does a Vietnam visa for Austrian citizens cost?
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Because it is charged in US dollars, your bank may add a currency conversion fee on top of the euro amount. With a service, the exact total for an Austrian passport appears before payment. Compare all routes in our Vietnam visa cost guide.
Embassies on both sides
- Embassy of Vietnam, Vienna: issues paper visas and handles consular matters. You do not need to visit it for an e-visa.
- Embassy of Austria, Hanoi: contact it if you lose your passport or need consular help in Vietnam.
Before you travel, read the travel advice of the Austrian Foreign Ministry (BMEIA) and use its free travel registration, so the embassy can reach you in an emergency.
Worked examples
- Three weeks in February from Graz: two travelers apply on 10 January for single-entry e-visas, 2 × US$25 = US$50, well before Tet.
- Mixed group from Salzburg and Munich: the German travelers need nothing for 3 weeks, while the Austrian traveler needs an e-visa.
- Vietnam and Cambodia over 5 weeks from Vienna: one multiple-entry e-visa (US$50) covers leaving for Siem Reap and coming back.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Austrian citizens
Do Austrians need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Austria is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, unlike Germany and Switzerland.
Can Austrians get a visa on arrival?
Only with an approval letter arranged before the flight, and only at international airports. See our guide to Vietnam visa on arrival.
How long can Austrian citizens stay?
Up to 90 days with an e-visa. A tourist e-visa generally cannot be extended inside Vietnam.
Do I need the Digital Arrival Card?
If you land in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc or Cam Ranh, submit the free card within 72 hours before arrival.
Sources: Vietnam National E-Visa Portal (evisa.gov.vn); Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP and 229/NQ-CP on visa exemption; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrivals by nationality; ICAO Doc 9303 transliteration rules. Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
