Bank Account in Germany for Vietnamese Students (2026)

Last checked: May 2026. Bank fees, accepted ID documents, and account-opening rules can change. Always confirm the final conditions on the bank's official website before applying.

If you are a Vietnamese student in Germany, opening a bank account is harder than it should be. The most popular free neobank, N26, officially rejects Vietnamese passports. Revolut may reject your older green-cover passport. And traditional German banks require on-site verification that you cannot do from Vietnam.

This guide explains what actually works, which banks accept Vietnamese passports, and how to transfer money between Vietnam and Germany.

I am Vietnamese and went through this process myself. The advice here comes from real experience, not from reading bank marketing pages.

Quick Verdict

For Vietnamese students in Germany, the best banking setup is:

1. Open bunq first for your German salary account. It accepts Vietnamese passports, gives you a DE IBAN, and works entirely in English.

2. Use Revolut as a second account for sending money from Vietnam to Germany and for travel spending.

3. Skip N26 unless you can verify with a European residence permit that N26 specifically accepts.

4. Consider DKB, C24, Sparkasse, or Commerzbank later once you are settled, have Anmeldung, and can visit a PostIdent location in person.

Need a German IBAN now? Open bunq here* and check the current plan details before signing up.

N26 Rejects Vietnamese Passports

This is the first thing every Vietnamese student in Germany should know before choosing a bank.

N26 publishes a country-by-country list of accepted identity documents in its official accepted-documents PDF. In that document, Vietnam is listed with "No" for passport and "No" for ID card.

That means you cannot open an N26 account with your Vietnamese passport alone. Residence permit verification is available for some nationalities, but it is limited and must meet N26's specific requirements. Do not plan your banking around N26 if you hold a Vietnamese passport.

This is not speculation. It is documented in N26's own verification matrix. Many Vietnamese students discover this only after downloading the app and failing verification, which wastes time when your employer already needs your IBAN.

For a full comparison of N26 and bunq and how the document matrix applies to other nationalities, read the N26 vs bunq guide for working students.

Revolut for Vietnamese Students

Revolut is more flexible than N26, but there are important caveats depending on which Vietnamese passport you hold.

Old green-cover passport: Revolut's online identity verification has been reported to reject the older green-cover Vietnamese passport. If this is your only passport, do not rely on Revolut as your first option.

New purple passport: The newer biometric passport may be accepted through Revolut's online verification. If you have the purple passport, Revolut is worth trying as a secondary account.

Even if Revolut accepts your passport, keep in mind that Revolut provides a Lithuanian IBAN, not a German one. Some German employers, landlords, and direct debit forms still create friction with non-DE IBANs. This is the same practical problem described in our bunq vs Wise comparison.

One real advantage of Revolut for Vietnamese students: it is currently the only mainstream option that supports sending money from Vietnam to Germany. More on this in the money transfer section below.

bunq: The Best Bank for Vietnamese Students in Germany

bunq is the strongest option for Vietnamese students who need a German bank account quickly.

bunq accepts Vietnamese passports for identity verification. You sign up from your phone, verify your identity with your passport and a selfie, and receive a German IBAN directly in the app. The entire process is in English.

Why bunq works for Vietnamese students

• Accepts Vietnamese passport: both old and new versions for identity verification.

• German DE IBAN: starts with DE, accepted by all German employers, landlords, and direct debit systems without friction.

• English app and support: no need to navigate German banking terminology when you are still learning the language.

• Fast mobile onboarding: no branch appointment, no PostIdent, no waiting.

• Student discount: eligible university students in Germany aged 25 and under can get bunq Pro (normally 9.99 EUR/month) for free by uploading proof of enrollment such as an Immatrikulationsbescheinigung or student ID card.

• No tax ID at signup: bunq says students can start banking and provide the tax ID within 90 days.

Where bunq is not perfect

The free tier is basic. If you want features beyond a single account and card, you may need a paid plan. Check whether you qualify for the student discount before deciding.

Also confirm that bunq's accepted ID document list still includes Vietnamese passports at the time you apply. Bank policies can change.

How to open bunq as a Vietnamese student

1. Download the bunq app on iOS or Android.

2. Choose your plan. The free tier works for basic salary use. Check if you qualify for the student discount.

3. Verify your identity with your Vietnamese passport and a selfie. This takes about 5 to 10 minutes.

4. Once verified, find your German DE IBAN in the app.

5. Send your IBAN to your employer's HR or payroll team before the payroll cutoff.

6. Submit your tax ID later when you receive it after Anmeldung.

Open bunq here* and confirm the latest fees, student discount, and document requirements before applying.

Wise: Good for Some Transfers, Not for Salary

Wise is useful for sending money from Germany to other countries and for holding multiple currencies. But it has two limitations that matter for Vietnamese students.

First: Wise provides a Belgian IBAN (starting with BE), not a German one. It is also not a traditional bank account. For your German salary, rent, health insurance, and direct debits, a DE IBAN is the lower-friction option. Read our bunq vs Wise comparison for a detailed breakdown.

Second: Wise does not support sending money from Vietnam to Germany. If you need to receive money from family in Vietnam, Wise is not an option for that direction.

Wise can still be useful as a secondary tool for sending money from Germany to Vietnam or to other countries, and for spending in non-euro currencies when you travel.

Traditional Banks: Good Later, Not Before Arrival

DKB, C24, ING, Sparkasse, and Commerzbank are solid German banks for long-term use. DKB is free for customers under 28. C24 Smart is a competitive free account. Sparkasse and Commerzbank offer branch support.

The problem for Vietnamese students: all of these require on-site identity verification, typically through PostIdent at a Deutsche Post location or a video verification process that may not support all passport types. You cannot complete PostIdent from Vietnam.

This means traditional German banks are not an option before you arrive in Germany. Open bunq first for your immediate IBAN needs, then consider switching to or adding a traditional bank once you have your Anmeldung, a stable address, and time to visit a verification location.

How to Transfer Money from Vietnam to Germany

This is a common question in Vietnamese student groups. Your family wants to send you money, or you want to move savings from Vietnam before starting your studies. Here are the current options.

Revolut (recommended)

Revolut is currently the only mainstream fintech that supports sending money from Vietnam to Germany. If you or your family member has a Revolut account, this is the most straightforward path.

Check Revolut's current fees and exchange rates for VND to EUR before sending large amounts.

Wise

Wise does not support transfers from Vietnam to Germany. Do not assume it works in both directions. Wise is good for sending money from Germany to Vietnam, but not the other way around.

Crypto exchanges (no longer viable)

Some Vietnamese students previously used Binance to move money between Vietnam and Germany. The typical method was to buy USDT in Vietnam and sell it for euros in a German account.

This method is no longer viable. The Vietnamese government banned unauthorized crypto exchanges, including Binance, in 2026. Even before the ban, this approach carried significant risks including exchange rate volatility, platform freezes, and regulatory uncertainty. Do not use this method.

Traditional bank wire

A direct international wire transfer from a Vietnamese bank to a German bank account is still possible, but fees tend to be high and processing times can be slow. This is the oldest method and usually the most expensive per transaction. If you need to move a large amount once (such as for a Sperrkonto or initial rent deposit), it may be acceptable. For regular smaller transfers, Revolut is usually cheaper.

Documents Checklist for Vietnamese Students

Before opening a bank account in Germany, prepare:

• Vietnamese passport (the newer purple biometric version is better accepted across banks and verification systems than the old green-cover version)

• Visa or electronic residence permit (eAT / Aufenthaltstitel) if you already have it

• Enrollment certificate (Immatrikulationsbescheinigung) for student discounts and student-specific offers

• German phone number (helpful for app verification, not always required)

• Address in Germany (not needed for bunq at signup, but needed later for Anmeldung and traditional banks)

For your working student job, your employer will also ask for your IBAN, tax ID (once issued after Anmeldung), health insurance membership certificate, and enrollment certificate.

The bank account is only one piece of the admin puzzle, but it directly affects whether your salary arrives on time. If you are still researching salaries, check our working student salary guide and the tax calculator to estimate your take-home pay. For tax and social security rules, read the working student tax guide.

Summary

Vietnamese students in Germany have fewer banking options than students from many other countries. N26 rejects Vietnamese passports. Revolut may work with the newer passport but gives you a Lithuanian IBAN. Traditional banks require on-site verification you cannot do from Vietnam.

bunq is the clearest solution. It accepts Vietnamese passports, provides a German DE IBAN, works in English, and can be opened from your phone in minutes.

Use bunq for salary and German direct debits. Use Revolut for sending money from Vietnam to Germany. Use Wise for sending money from Germany to Vietnam. Add a traditional German bank later once you are settled.

Ready to open your German salary account? Open bunq here* and verify the latest plan details and document requirements before applying.

For a full comparison of all bank options, read our best bank account for working students in Germany.