This was my first time applying for a Schengen visa. Here’s the lowdown:
- Application Date: 18 September 2026
- Visa Collection Date: 02 October 2026
- Visa Type: Tourism, single entry, 16-day duration (for a trip in late December 2026).
I was initially torn between a "visiting family" or "tourism" visa since I’m staying with relatives in Germany before heading to other countries. In the end, I chose the tourism route—it’s easier since I’m self-funding the trip and it saves my relatives the hassle of preparing extra paperwork.
A bit about my profile: Female, 30, single, Hanoi resident. I’ve studied abroad and have traveled to Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. I work for an international organization with a salary above 20 million VND, full social insurance coverage, but I don’t own any real estate or vehicles. :))
This post covers three main parts: Booking your appointment, Preparing your documents, and The submission process.
I. Booking Your Appointment
Do this first, even before gathering your documents. Getting an appointment isn't as simple as booking for next week; spots fill up fast.
Since I planned to submit in September, I hopped onto the VFS Global website in August to book. It often looks like there are no slots until the end of the year, but that’s just because the system hasn’t released them yet.
Golden hours to check for slots: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM and 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM.
At 2:00 AM on August 15th, I checked and saw tons of availability for all three weeks of September. I picked September 18th to give myself plenty of prep time. I chose the 1:15 PM slot so I could double-check my documents in the morning.
Once booked, you’ll receive an email titled “Your Germany Visa Appointment is Confirmed!” with a PDF attached. Print that document—you’ll need it when you arrive at VFS.
II. The Document Checklist
Note: Arrange your documents in the exact order requested. Each section should have the original Vietnamese document + an English translation (AI translation is fine, no notarization needed).
a) Administrative Documents
- Appointment Confirmation: The PDF attached to your VFS email.
- Visa Application Form: Fill it out online, download, print, and glue one photo on.
- Cover Letter: Include your personal info, purpose of the trip, and a brief explanation of your job if necessary.
b) Proof of Identity
- Current Passport: Original + 1 photocopy of the bio page and all pages with stamps. Must have 6+ months validity, blank pages, and your signature.
- Old Passports: Original + photocopy of bio page and all stamped pages.
- Photo (3.5 x 4.5cm): One white-background photo, glued to the form. Bring an extra one just in case.
- Residence Certificate (CT07): Original + English translation. Apply via the VNEID app under “Administrative Procedures” → “Confirm Residence Info.” You’ll see a CT01 file appear; that’s standard. I applied on Sept 3rd, got the notification on Sept 5th, and picked it up at the local police station for free.
- National ID Card (CCCD): Original + photocopy.
c) Proof of Employment
- Labor Contract: Original (or color photocopy) + English translation.
- Social Insurance: Use the VssID app, switch language to English, screenshot your profile + contribution history, save as PDF, and print.
- Leave Request: Clearly state your paid/unpaid leave dates.
- Salary Statement: Bank statement for your payroll account, highlighting salary entries for the last 3 months.
d) Proof of Financial Status
- Savings Account Statement: 180 million VND. I opened this exactly one month before applying.
- Bank Balance Confirmation: 60 million VND (different from the salary account).
- Credit Card Limit: 200 million VND (optional, but helpful).
e) Trip Details
- Itinerary: Word doc with 5 columns: Date, Destinations, Activities, Transportation, Accommodation. Doesn’t need to be minute-by-minute.
- Flight Tickets: I booked via Vietnam Airlines using the “pay later” option matching my itinerary. Print the “Your order” email that says “Your booking is on hold.”
- Hotel Bookings: Match your itinerary exactly. Choose hotels near stations with free cancellation and "pay later" options. Print the English PDF confirmations.
- Travel Insurance: I picked the cheapest one listed on the VFS site, but keep in mind they often don't refund if you get rejected. Buying from Bảo Việt might be safer as they have refund policies for rejections.
f) Other
- Consent Form: Many people miss this, but VFS has them on-site, so no need to print it beforehand.
III. The Submission Process
It was quick. I arrived at 1:20 PM and was out by 2:35 PM.
If you ride a motorbike, there’s parking on the left (look for the Vietnamese flag), 10k VND fee. Head to the 2nd floor for the VFS Germany office. Arriving 10 minutes early is plenty; the security won't let you in earlier than that anyway.
Once inside, show your ID and appointment letter to get a queue number. They’ll check your bags—no phones, recording, or laptops allowed. Listen for your number, which is also announced in Vietnamese. The staff will take your documents (they’ll return your CCCD and old passport) and you’ll pay the fee of 3,539,000 VND.
After that, head to rooms 16, 17, 18 for biometrics (fingerprints and photo). They call names for this, so listen carefully.
CRITICAL NOTE: They will take your visa photo on the spot, so look presentable! I didn't wear lipstick and my hair was a mess—my visa photo looks like a mugshot! :)
Once done, you'll get a tracking slip (DEU/HAN/180926/0108/XX). Keep this safe to pick up your passport later. It took exactly two weeks (applying on Friday, getting it back the following Friday) to get the notification that my passport was ready. When picking it up, just bring your slip and CCCD; they’ll hand you an envelope containing your passport and the result.
Good luck with your visa application!
*P.S. Since I’m a head of household (even while living with my parents), getting the CT07 online was super easy. If you aren't the head of household, just borrow their VNEID to apply!
Reference: https://blog.dulichdau.com/review-xin-visa-duc-tai-ha-noi/
