🇻🇳Visa options for Vietnam
Vietnam offers 32 permit types across 6 categories — from the E-Visa open to all nationalities (90 days, USD 25) and investor visas (DT1–DT4) to work permits, journalist accreditations, and the new 2025 Special Visa Exemption Card for global talent. 8 lead to PR; 20 don't require a job offer. Here's every Vietnam permit tracked by VisaMatch.
32permit types
6categories
8PR pathways
20no job needed
Check which Vietnam permits you qualify for →
Permit categories in Vietnam
All Vietnam permit types
Visitor (7)
Electronic Visa (E-Visa) Visitor
Online tourist and business entry visa valid for all nationalities. 90-day single or multiple entry; apply entirely online in 3 working days at evisa.gov.vn. USD 25 (single) / USD 50 (multiple). The primary short-stay entry route since August 2023.
Visa on Arrival (VOA) Visitor
Visa obtained at major international airports via pre-approved approval letter. Requires advance application through a licensed agent before travel. Only valid at 8 international airports — not land borders or seaports.
Business / Investment Visa DN1 Visitor
Short-stay business visa sponsored by a Vietnamese enterprise. Covers meetings, negotiations, market research. Up to 3 months. Does not authorise paid employment — a work permit is required for employment.
Business Visa DN2 (Government / State Authority Sponsor) Visitor
Short-stay business visa sponsored by a Vietnamese government body, ministry, or state authority. Used for official business, government delegations, and state-sponsored missions. Up to 3 months.
Conference / Event Visa HN Visitor
Short-stay visa for foreigners attending conferences, seminars, or official events held in Vietnam. Sponsored by the Vietnamese organising body. Up to 30 days.
Transit Visa SQ Visitor
Transit visa for foreigners transiting through Vietnam to a third country. SQ1 = airside only; SQ2 = permitted to leave the airport. Up to 5 days. USD 5–25.
Phu Quoc Visa-Free Zone Entry Visitor
All nationalities may visit Phu Quoc Island for up to 30 days without a visa when entering directly by air or sea. Cannot travel to mainland Vietnam without a separate visa.
Work (11)
Work Permit Exemption — Expert / Manager / Technical Worker (LD1) Work
Work authorisation for foreign experts, managers, and skilled workers qualifying for work permit exemption under Decree 219/2025. Requires an Exemption Confirmation Certificate from DOLISA before visa application. Expert threshold: bachelor's degree + 2 years experience (reduced from 3 years by Decree 219/2025, effective August 2025). Up to 2 years.
Work Permit — Skilled Worker (LD2) Work
Standard work permit for most foreign employees in Vietnam. Employer applies to provincial DOLISA. Expert: bachelor's + 2 years experience. Health certificate and criminal record check required. Up to 2 years, renewable once. Decree 219/2025 reduced experience threshold from 3 to 2 years.
Investor Visa DT1 (Capital ≥ VND 100 Billion) Work
Highest-tier investor visa for capital contributors ≥ VND 100 billion (~USD 3.9M) or investors in government-designated priority sectors. 5-year visa and 10-year TRC. Work permit exempt. PR pathway after 5 years.
Investor Visa DT2 (Capital VND 50–100 Billion) Work
Mid-tier investor visa for capital contributors of VND 50–100 billion (~USD 1.95–3.9M). 5-year visa and TRC up to 5 years. Work permit exempt. PR pathway after 5 years.
Investor Visa DT3 (Capital VND 3–50 Billion) Work
Entry-level investor visa for capital contributors of VND 3–50 billion (~USD 117K–1.95M). 3-year visa. Work permit exempt. Most common investor visa for small-to-medium FDI.
Investor Visa DT4 (Capital < VND 3 Billion) Work
Small-scale investor visa for capital below VND 3 billion (~USD 117K). Up to 1 year. Work permit exemption does NOT apply at this threshold — a standard work permit is required for employment.
NGO / International Organisation Visa NN1 Work
Visa for heads and senior officials of foreign NGO representative offices, branches, and projects. Work permit exempt for chief representatives. Up to 2 years.
NGO / International Organisation Staff Visa NN2 Work
Visa for non-executive staff of foreign NGO representative offices and projects. Standard work permit still required. Up to 1 year.
International Organisation Visa NN3 Work
Visa for officials of intergovernmental organisations (UN agencies, World Bank, IMF, ADB). Typically work permit exempt under bilateral/multilateral agreements. Up to 2 years.
Diplomatic / Government Liaison Visa LV1 Work
Visa for foreign officials working with Vietnamese ministries, government bodies, or state enterprises under official cooperation agreements. Work permit exempt. Up to 2 years.
Official Government Visiting Expert / Liaison Visa LV2 Work
Visa for foreign experts under government-to-government cooperation projects and technical assistance programmes. Work permit exempt. Up to 1 year.
Special (6)
Journalist / Media Visa PV1 (Resident Correspondent) Special
Long-term visa for foreign journalists permanently based in Vietnam as resident correspondents. Requires accreditation from the MFA Press Centre. Up to 1 year with TRC renewal.
Journalist / Media Visa PV2 (Short-Term Reporting) Special
Visa for foreign journalists on short-term reporting or filming assignments. Authorised by MFA on a trip-by-trip basis. Up to 3 months.
Lawyer / Legal Professional Visa LS Special
Visa for foreign lawyers registered with the Vietnam Bar Federation or in an authorised foreign law firm. Work permit exempt. Longest work-category visa — up to 5 years.
APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Special
Pre-clearance travel card for business persons from 19+ APEC economies. Grants 60-day stays in Vietnam without a separate visa application. No additional fee for Vietnam entry.
Special Visa Exemption Card (SVEC) — Global Talent Special
New category effective August 2025 under Decree 221/2025/ND-CP. 5-year multi-entry card for globally recognised scientists, STEM researchers, senior executives, and digital-technology specialists. 90 days per visit. Work permit exempt.
Overseas Vietnamese (Viet Kieu) Visa Exemption Certificate Special
5-year multiple-entry visa exemption certificate for Overseas Vietnamese and their direct foreign family members. Up to 90 days per visit. Free. Work permit required if employed.
Family (2)
Family / Spouse Visa TT (Vietnamese Citizen Sponsor) Family
Residence visa for parents, spouses, and children of Vietnamese citizens and TRC holders. Visa up to 12 months; TRC up to 3 years. Pathway to Permanent Residence Card for spouses with 3+ consecutive years of TRC.
Family Visit Visa VR (Extended Family / Other Purposes) Family
Short-stay visa for foreigners visiting extended family or entering for purposes not covered by other categories. Does not require an immediate family relationship. Up to 6 months. No work rights.
Permanent (5)
Temporary Residence Card — Worker (LĐ1 / LĐ2) Permanent
Long-stay residence card for foreign workers holding a valid Work Permit (LĐ2) or Work Permit Exemption Certificate (LĐ1). Eliminates annual visa renewals. Up to 2 years; renewable. USD 145–165.
Temporary Residence Card — Investor (ĐT1 / ĐT2 / ĐT3) Permanent
Long-stay residence card for investors holding DT1–DT3 visas. ĐT1: up to 10 years; ĐT2: up to 5 years; ĐT3: up to 3 years. Work permit exempt. PR pathway after 5 years for DT1/DT2.
Temporary Residence Card — Family / Spouse of Vietnamese Citizen (TT) Permanent
Long-stay residence card for parents, spouses, and children of Vietnamese citizens. Up to 3 years per card. After 3 consecutive years of TT-TRC, eligible for Permanent Residence Card.
Temporary Residence Card — Student (DH) Permanent
Long-stay residence card for foreign students in multi-year programmes at accredited Vietnamese institutions. Up to 5 years. Eliminates annual visa renewals. No work rights.
Permanent Residence Card (PRC) Permanent
Permanent residence card for foreigners meeting one of four narrow eligibility categories: (1) state award recipients; (2) scientists/experts with ministerial recommendation; (3) spouses/children of Vietnamese citizens with 3+ consecutive years of TRC; (4) stateless persons resident before 2000. USD 100. Card valid 10 years.
Frequently Asked Questions about moving to Vietnam
How many visa types does Vietnam offer?
Vietnam offers 32 permit types across 6 categories — covering visitor (7), work (11), special (6), study (1), family (2), and permanent residency (5) pathways. The visa system is governed by Law No. 23/2023/QH15, which expanded the E-Visa to all nationalities from August 2023.
Can I move to Vietnam without a job offer?
Yes — 20 of Vietnam's 32 permit types don't require a pre-arranged job offer. These include the E-Visa (all nationalities, 90 days), all four investor visa tiers (DT1–DT4), the Special Visa Exemption Card (SVEC) for global talent, and the Overseas Vietnamese visa exemption certificate.
Does Vietnam have a digital nomad visa?
Vietnam does not have a dedicated digital nomad visa. The most common option for remote workers is the E-Visa (up to 90 days, USD 25–50, all nationalities) or the Business Visa DN1 (up to 12 months with a Vietnamese enterprise sponsor). For longer stays, the investor DT3/DT4 routes are used by some freelancers who set up a Vietnamese company.
Does Vietnam offer a pathway to permanent residency?
Yes, but it is restricted. The Permanent Residence Card (PRC) is available to four categories: state award recipients, scientists/experts with ministerial recommendation, spouses/children of Vietnamese citizens with 3+ consecutive years of TRC, and stateless persons resident before 2000. Most long-term expats hold rolling Temporary Residence Cards (TRC) rather than PRC due to strict eligibility. USD 100 application fee; up to 4 months processing.
How do I check my eligibility for Vietnam?
Use VisaMatch's free eligibility checker. Enter your nationality, age, occupation, income, and education, then select Vietnam. You'll see every Vietnam permit you qualify for, with links to official Vietnamese government sources including evisa.gov.vn and xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn.
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