Visas and temporary residence for investors, employees and their families: visa categories, investor visas by capital, e-visas, temporary residence cards, dependants, residence registration and the sequence with the work permit

The framework and the authorities

Entry, stay and residence of foreigners are governed by Law No. 47/2014/QH13 on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, substantially amended by Law No. 51/2019/QH14, which reorganised the business and investor visa categories, and by Law No. 23/2023/QH15, which from 15 August 2023 extended the e-visa to 90 days and lengthened visa-free stays to 45 days for countries on the unilateral exemption list; a Government resolution then opened the e-visa to nationals of all countries. A further amendment, made by Law No. 118/2025/QH15 of 10 December 2025 (which amended ten laws on security and order), introduced from 1 July 2026 a UD1 visa for high-quality personnel of the digital technology industry and other foreigners entitled to special preference under a law or National Assembly resolution, and a UD2 visa for their spouses and children under 18; both visas are valid for up to five years and lead to temporary residence cards of up to ten years (FAQ 53).

The law is administered by the Immigration Department (Cục Quản lý xuất nhập cảnh) of the Ministry of Public Security, which issues e-visas, approves visa sponsorship letters for collection at Vietnamese embassies or on arrival, and handles cases sponsored by central bodies, and by the immigration divisions of the provincial police, which handle most visa extensions, conversions and temporary residence cards sponsored by companies in their province. Visas issued abroad come from Vietnamese diplomatic missions (Vietnamese embassies). Immigration status is personal and separate from work authorisation: a visa never authorises work by itself, and a work permit never authorises entry or stay.

The visa categories that matter to business

Each visa carries a symbol that states its purpose, and a foreigner must hold the visa that matches what he or she is doing. The categories used by investors and employers are these. DN1 is for foreigners working with a Vietnamese enterprise or organisation with legal personality, typically for meetings, negotiations and short assignments, and DN2 for foreigners entering to offer services, establish a commercial presence or carry out other activities under a treaty; both are valid for up to 12 months. NN1 is for heads of representative offices or projects of international organisations and foreign non-governmental organisations, NN2 for heads of representative offices and branches of foreign traders and of foreign economic, cultural and professional organisations, and NN3 for those working for such offices; all are valid for up to 12 months. DT1 to DT4 are investor visas, graded by capital as described below. LD1 is for foreigners working in Vietnam with a confirmed work permit exemption, and LD2 for those who need and hold a work permit; both are valid for up to two years. TT is for the spouse and children under 18 of foreigners holding certain visas, and for foreign parents, spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens, valid for up to 12 months.

The e-visa (EV) is issued online by the Immigration Department for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, to nationals of all countries, through the official portal. It is the usual route for exploratory visits, board meetings and site inspections, and for entering to complete medical checks and interviews before a work permit issues. Nationals of countries on the unilateral exemption list may enter visa-free for up to 45 days, and Government Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP added twelve further European countries to the visa-free list for the period from 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028. Neither an e-visa nor visa-free entry authorises work.

Investor visas and the capital tests

Since the 2019 amendment, investor visas are graded by the capital the investor has contributed, which closed the earlier practice of obtaining long investor visas on the strength of nominal contributions. DT1 is for foreign investors, and representatives of foreign organisations investing, with capital contributed of VND 100 billion or more, or investing in sectors with special investment incentives or areas with especially difficult socio-economic conditions; it is valid for up to five years and leads to a temporary residence card of up to ten years. DT2 covers capital of VND 50 billion to under VND 100 billion, or investment in sectors encouraged for development; up to five years, with a card of up to five years. DT3 covers VND 3 billion to under VND 50 billion; up to three years, with a card of up to three years. DT4 covers capital below VND 3 billion; up to 12 months, with no temporary residence card, so the holder must renew the visa itself each year.

The immigration authority looks for evidence that the capital has actually been contributed, not merely registered: the Enterprise Registration Certificate or Investment Registration Certificate, the charter or register of members, and bank evidence of the contribution through the investment capital account (The investment capital account). An investor who also manages the company should check the work permit position separately: a capital contribution of VND 3 billion or more to a limited liability company, or as a board member of a joint stock company, brings a work permit exemption, which must be confirmed (Work permits for foreign staff). The VND 3 billion figure is therefore a threshold twice over: for the DT3 visa and residence card, and for the work permit exemption. Charter capital planning should take both into account (Charter capital and capital contribution).

Temporary residence cards

A temporary residence card (thẻ tạm trú) replaces a visa for long stays and allows multiple entries without further visas during its term. Under Article 36 of the law, cards are issued to holders of LV1, LV2, LS, DT1, DT2, DT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LD1, LD2 and TT visas, among others; holders of DN, NN3, DT4 and e-visas are not eligible. Article 38 sets the maximum terms: up to ten years for DT1; up to five years for DT2 (and for LV1, LV2, LS and DH); up to three years for DT3, NN1, NN2 and TT; and up to two years for LD1, LD2 and PV1. From 1 July 2026, Law No. 118/2025/QH15 added the UD1 and UD2 visas to the list of eligible visas, with cards of up to ten years. In each case the card must expire at least 30 days before the passport, and in practice it is also limited to the term of the work permit, exemption confirmation or other document on which it is based.

The application is filed by the sponsoring company or organisation with the immigration authority of the place where it has its head office, with the sponsor's written request, the foreigner's declaration with photograph, the passport, and evidence of the basis for the card (work permit, exemption confirmation or investment documents). The authority decides within five working days of a complete dossier (Article 37). A company sponsoring for the first time must first file its legal documents and the specimen signature and seal of its representative with the immigration authority. A card that expires may be replaced by a new one if the basis continues; there is no extension of a card as such.

Sequencing immigration with the work permit

1. Exploratory and pre-hire visitsEnter on an e-visa (up to 90 days) or visa-free where available, for meetings, interviews and the health check needed for the work permit. No work may be done.
2. Work permit or exemptionThe employer obtains the work permit or exemption confirmation (Work permits for foreign staff). For an investor, the company is first incorporated and the capital contributed.
3. Register the sponsorIf the company has not sponsored foreigners before, file its legal documents and specimen signature and seal with the immigration authority.
4. Obtain the right visaLD2 for a permit holder, LD1 for an exempt employee, DT1 to DT4 for an investor. A foreigner already in Vietnam may convert to the new visa in the cases the law allows, notably where he or she holds a work permit or exemption or is an investor; otherwise the visa is approved by the immigration authority and collected abroad or on arrival.
5. Apply for the temporary residence cardFiled by the sponsor; decided in five working days; term limited by the visa category, the work permit or exemption and the passport.
6. Bring in dependantsThe company or the principal sponsors TT visas and cards for the spouse and children under 18, with marriage and birth certificates legalised and translated.
7. Declare residence and keep documents currentMake sure the landlord or hotel declares temporary residence within 12 hours of arrival (24 in remote areas); renew the card before the permit, passport or card expires.

Dependants, residence registration and leaving

The spouse and children under 18 of a foreigner holding a DT1, DT2 or DT3, NN1 or NN2, LD1 or LD2 visa or card may obtain a TT visa and a TT temporary residence card of up to three years, limited to the principal's card. A dependant holding a TT card may not work without a work permit of his or her own. Marriage and birth certificates issued abroad must be legalised and translated.

Every foreigner staying in Vietnam must have his or her temporary residence declared. Under Article 33 of the law, the accommodation establishment, whether a hotel, serviced apartment or private landlord, must declare a foreign guest to the local police within 12 hours of arrival, or 24 hours in remote and mountainous areas, through the online declaration system or at the commune police. A foreigner who rents a house or apartment should ask the landlord for evidence that the declaration has been made, because the police check residence declarations when processing card applications and residence violations are fined. Housing for foreigners is covered in Housing and offices for foreigners.

When employment ends, the work permit is returned within 15 days and the residence card ceases to have a basis. The foreigner should leave or change status before the card expires; overstaying is fined and can lead to deportation and future entry restrictions. Before leaving, the foreigner should also finalise personal income tax and, if in the social insurance scheme, consider the lump-sum payment available to foreigners who stop working in Vietnam.