🇻🇳 Vietnam visa and immigration options

Work Permit and Temporary Residence Card (TRC)

Standard route for foreign employees with a confirmed job offer from a Vietnam-registered employer, requiring a work permit from the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (DOLISA) followed by a Temporary Residence Card.

Processing time

Work permit typically 1-2 months; TRC issuance adds further weeks.

Typical costs

Several hundred to low thousands of USD in document legalization, work-permit, and TRC fees.

Government fees

Government work-permit and TRC fees vary by province.

Work and study rights

Full right to work for the sponsoring employer in the approved role.

Family

Spouse and children may apply for dependent TRCs.

Important: Employers must generally demonstrate the role cannot be filled by a Vietnamese worker (via a labor-demand report) before a work permit is granted, and the permit is tied to one employer and role -- a job or employer change requires a new application. TRC validity is typically linked to the work permit's term (commonly up to 2 years).

Sources reviewed: china-briefing.com Working in Vietnam as a Foreign Employee 2026, tilleke.com Employing Foreign Workers in Vietnam

Student Visa (DH)

Visa for students admitted to a recognized Vietnamese educational institution.

Processing time

Typically a few weeks once admission is confirmed.

Typical costs

Tuition plus living costs; varies significantly by city and institution.

Government fees

Visa fee varies; tuition set by the host institution.

Work and study rights

Full-time study; part-time work rights are limited and not standard.

Family

Dependents generally require a separate visa category.

Sources reviewed: Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training guidance (general)

Investor (DT) Visa / Temporary Residence Card

Temporary residence route for foreign investors in a Vietnam-registered company, with validity tiers generally extending up to 5 or 10 years for larger qualifying investments.

Processing time

Several weeks to a few months depending on the investment registration process.

Typical costs

Varies significantly by investment scale and sector; legal/registration costs typically run into the low thousands of USD.

Government fees

Company registration and investment-licensing fees vary by province and sector.

Work and study rights

Permits managing the registered investment/business.

Family

Spouse and children may apply for dependent TRCs.

Important: This route grants renewable temporary residence tied to the investment, not automatic permanent residence -- permanent residence remains limited to Vietnam's narrow statutory categories. Foreign ownership caps and licensing conditions apply in many sectors.

Sources reviewed: vietnam-briefing.com Vietnam Immigration: Permanent Residence Eligibility Guide

Business Visa (DN)

Visa for exploring business opportunities, attending meetings, or short-term business activity in Vietnam, sponsored by a Vietnamese entity.

Processing time

Typically a few weeks.

Typical costs

Modest consular fees; company setup costs apply separately for a durable business presence.

Government fees

Visa fee varies by duration and entry type.

Work and study rights

Does not by itself permit full-time employment; a durable business presence requires company registration and a linked work permit.

Family

Not applicable for the short-term business visa itself.

Sources reviewed: Vietnam Immigration Department guidance (general)

Family-Based Temporary Residence

Visa and TRC route for spouses and family members of Vietnamese citizens or foreign residents with qualifying status in Vietnam; 3+ years on this basis can open a path to permanent residence for family of a Vietnamese permanent resident.

Processing time

Typically a few weeks to a couple of months.

Typical costs

Modest government fees; cost of translating and legalizing civil documents.

Government fees

Visa and TRC fees vary by province.

Work and study rights

Dependants generally cannot work without a separate work permit.

Family

Covers spouse and minor children of the sponsor.

Sources reviewed: Vietnam Immigration Department guidance (general)

Permanent Residence (Narrow Statutory Categories)

Permanent residence is available only to applicants in one of four narrow categories: individuals recognized for meritorious service, foreign scientists/experts holding a TRC and formally proposed by a ministerial-level agency, family members of a Vietnamese citizen or permanent resident with 3+ years' prior temporary residence, or stateless persons…

Processing time

Up to 4 months, extendable by 2 months for further verification.

Typical costs

USD 100 fee plus document translation/legalization costs.

Government fees

USD 100 application fee.

Work and study rights

Permanent residents may live and generally work in Vietnam without the standard work-permit/TRC renewal cycle.

Family

Each qualifying family member must independently meet the relevant category's requirements.

Important: This is one of the most restrictive permanent-residence regimes in the region -- there is no general long-term-residence-based route, and most foreign residents instead rely on renewable temporary residence via employment, investment, or family ties rather than true permanent residence. The Permanent Residence Card itself does not expire but must be renewed…

Sources reviewed: vietnam-briefing.com Vietnam Immigration: Permanent Residence Eligibility Guide

Citizenship by Naturalization

Naturalization under the Law on Vietnamese Nationality, requiring 5 years of residence (counted from receipt of a Permanent Residence Card), Vietnamese-language proficiency, and generally renunciation of prior citizenship.

Processing time

Highly variable; approval is discretionary.

Typical costs

Indirect costs of maintaining qualifying residence and documentation.

Government fees

Government application fees apply.

Work and study rights

Full citizen rights upon naturalization.

Family

Does not automatically extend to family members, who must separately qualify.

Important: Standard naturalization requires 5 years of residence from the date of receiving a Permanent Residence Card (itself hard to obtain -- see the Permanent Residence program), sufficient Vietnamese-language ability, and general renunciation of any other nationality. Narrow discretionary exceptions to the residence/language/livelihood conditions exist for…

Sources reviewed: conventuslaw.com Conditions for Naturalization in Vietnam, lawnet.vn Conditions for Vietnamese Citizenship

E-Visa / Visa Exemption

Short-term entry for tourism via Vietnam's e-visa system (available to most nationalities) or visa-free entry for select nationalities.

Processing time

E-visa typically processed within a few business days.

Typical costs

Modest e-visa fee; minimal beyond that for most visitors.

Government fees

E-visa fee roughly USD 25.

Work and study rights

No work or study rights.

Family

Not applicable for short-stay visits.

Sources reviewed: Vietnam Immigration Department e-visa portal (general)