Germany Student Visa from Vietnam (2026): Blocked Account & Hanoi/HCMC Process

Vietnam sends a large and growing number of students to Germany’s tuition-free public universities, and the process runs through two possible missions depending on where you live — with one Vietnam-specific document, the APS certificate, that applicants from some other countries don’t need. This page is preparation guidance, not legal advice; confirm current figures and document rules with the German Embassy Hanoi or the Ho Chi Minh City consulate general before you apply.

Which mission handles your application

Germany’s diplomatic presence in Vietnam splits by region: the Embassy in Hanoi generally handles applicants from northern Vietnam, while the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City handles the south — check current jurisdiction boundaries on either mission’s website, since which one you apply through depends on your registered residence, not your university destination.

APS: the Vietnam-specific extra step

Vietnamese applicants to German universities typically need an APS certificate (Akademische Prüfstelle, academic evaluation certificate) confirming your academic credentials are genuine and comparable to German standards, issued before your visa application. This step doesn’t apply to every nationality — it exists specifically because of a documented history of credential-verification issues from certain countries, Vietnam among them — so budget real time for it; APS processing has historically taken weeks to a few months depending on document completeness, separate from the visa timeline itself.

The blocked account (Sperrkonto)

Like other non-EU student visa applicants, Vietnamese students must open a blocked account before the visa interview, proving you can cover your living costs for the year:

• Multiple current sources put the 2026 figure at €11,904 for the year (roughly €992/month), though a couple of other sources cite slightly different figures (€11,208–€12,030) for adjacent years — confirm the exact current amount directly with your mission or an authorized provider before transferring funds, since these figures move and sources disagree.
• Common providers used by Vietnamese applicants include Expatrio, Fintiba and Coracle; some Vietnamese banks (for example VietinBank) also offer a blocked-account product specifically structured for German student visas.
• The account must generally be opened and funded before your visa appointment, not after — leave several weeks for the transfer and account-opening process, especially if moving funds internationally from a Vietnamese bank.

See our Germany blocked account guide for how the monthly drawdown works once you arrive.

Visa process and documents

• University admission letter: A confirmed offer (Zulassungsbescheid) or, for some paths, conditional admission pending a foundation course (Studienkolleg).
• APS certificate: As above — required before most university applications and the visa itself.
• Blocked account confirmation: Proof of the funded account from an approved provider.
• German language proof (or English, for English-taught programs): Typically TestDaF, DSH, or a recognized English-language certificate depending on your program’s language of instruction.
• Health insurance confirmation: Provisional travel/health insurance for arrival, converting to statutory German health insurance once enrolled.
• Standard documents: Valid passport, application form, biometric photos, and proof of accommodation or an accommodation-search plan.

Vietnam-specific notes

• Document authentication: Vietnamese degree certificates and transcripts generally need notarized translation into German or English, plus authentication through Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs — start this well before your APS submission deadline.
• Financial documentation for the blocked account: If family members are funding your account from Vietnam, keep clear records of the fund source — German missions have scrutinized large, unexplained transfers more closely in recent years across multiple source countries.
• Parallel corridor: This process closely mirrors the China-Germany and Indonesia-Germany student routes already covered on this site — if you’re comparing destinations, our Canada vs Germany international students comparison may help.

Common delay and refusal patterns

• APS certificate not yet issued at the time of visa application submission.
• Blocked account funded with an amount below the current required figure, or opened through an unrecognized provider.
• University admission letter conditional on a foundation course (Studienkolleg) without the visa application reflecting that correctly.
• Language certificate below the level required for the specific program (German-taught vs English-taught programs have different thresholds).

See our Germany student visa guide, Germany visa processing times, and the general Germany work visa guide for what comes after graduation. If you’re juggling the APS timeline, blocked account, and visa appointment at once, join the waitlist for help keeping them on track.

FAQ

Do all Vietnamese student visa applicants need the APS certificate? Most university-bound applicants do, but requirements can vary by program and institution type — confirm with your specific German university and the APS Vietnam office whether your program requires it.

Can I use a family member’s bank account instead of a blocked account? Generally no — missions expect the specific blocked-account structure (or an accepted equivalent like a formal sponsorship declaration), not an ordinary family bank statement, as proof of funds for this visa.