Schengen Visa Regulations

• Visa Application Location: Applicants must be present at the Embassy or Consulate General of the country that is the main destination of their trip (determined by the purpose and duration of the trip).
• If the Main Destination Cannot Be Determined: If the main destination cannot be identified, the Schengen country where the applicant first enters will be responsible for issuing the visa.

Is a Schengen Visa Required for Entry into Germany or Portugal?

• If you plan to visit multiple European countries within the Schengen Area, you can only apply for a visa at the German Embassy or Consulate General if Germany is your main or sole destination. The German Embassy in Hanoi and the German Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City also process visa applications for those whose main destination is Portugal.
• Important Note: Those traveling to Portugal to obtain a residence permit under the “Golden Visa” program (=ARI - Residency Permit for Investors: link) must submit their visa application at the Portuguese Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.

Schengen Visa/Visa Regulations

• To apply for a Schengen visa, applicants must provide documents that prove the purpose of their trip. For individual visa applications, additional documents may be required. Providing supporting documents does not guarantee a visa will be issued, and possession of a visa does not grant automatic entry. There is no automatic or legal right of entry with a Schengen visa. The final decision regarding entry into the Schengen Area rests with border authorities upon arrival.
• Standardized Visa Requirements: Visa requirements must be reviewed by the Embassy during the visa process. The responsible department independently decides on each individual visa application and takes responsibility for all individual cases.
• Appointment Requirement: All applicants for a German visa must schedule an appointment and be present at the Visa Application Center in Vietnam to submit their application and the necessary supporting documents.
• Processing Time: The average processing time is 15 days. Applicants should arrange their schedule to account for the wait time and book an appointment as early as possible through the online appointment system.
• Proposed Purpose of Travel: Once a visa has been issued, the proposed purpose of travel cannot be changed. This applies even after the applicant has entered the Schengen Area.

Source: VFS Vietnam