Visa Types — Vietnam

Major Visa Categories for Immigrating to Vietnam

*Note: Vietnam's immigration policies change frequently. Costs and processing times below are approximate as of recent years. Always verify current requirements with the Vietnam Immigration Department, a Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate, or a licensed immigration lawyer before applying.*

NG1-NG4 Visas (Diplomatic/Official)

Who it's for: Diplomats, government officials, representatives of international organizations (UN, NGOs with diplomatic status), and their dependents.

Key eligibility requirements:

• Official diplomatic note or invitation from Vietnamese government/ministry
• Valid diplomatic or official passport
• Sponsorship by embassy, consulate, or international organization

Processing time: 5–7 working days

Cost: Often exempt or reduced fees (typically 0–25 USD / 0–600,000 VND depending on reciprocity agreements)

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LV1-LV2 Visas (Working with Organizations)

Who it's for: Foreigners working with Vietnamese state agencies, political organizations, or socio-political organizations.

Key eligibility requirements:

• Invitation/sponsorship letter from the relevant Vietnamese organization
• Valid passport (6+ months validity)
• Purpose of visit documentation

Processing time: 5–8 working days

Cost: ~25 USD (single entry) / ~50 USD (multiple entry) — approx. 600,000–1,200,000 VND

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DT1-DT4 Visas (Investor Visas)

Who it's for: Foreign investors contributing capital to Vietnamese companies; categorized by investment amount:

• DT1: Capital contribution of 100+ billion VND (~4.3M+ USD)
• DT2: Capital contribution of 50–100 billion VND (~2.1M–4.3M USD)
• DT3: Capital contribution of 3–50 billion VND (~130K–2.1M USD)
• DT4: Capital contribution under 3 billion VND (~130K USD)

Key eligibility requirements:

• Proof of capital contribution or ownership in a Vietnamese enterprise
• Business registration certificate/Investment Registration Certificate
• Enterprise's legal documents confirming investor status
• Clean criminal record (for longer-term visas)

Processing time: 5–8 working days (longer if converting from another visa type onshore)

Cost:

• Single entry: ~25 USD (~600,000 VND)
• Multiple entry (1 year): ~135–155 USD (~3.2M–3.7M VND)
• DT1/DT2 often issued with longer validity (up to 5–10 years), higher fees may apply (~150–200 USD)

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LD1-LD2 Visas (Labor/Work Visas)

Who it's for: Foreign employees working for Vietnamese companies, organizations, or foreign-invested enterprises.

• LD1: Workers exempt from work permit requirement
• LD2: Workers requiring a work permit

Key eligibility requirements:

• Valid work permit (or work permit exemption certificate) issued by Vietnamese Department of Labor
• Employment contract or labor agreement with a licensed Vietnamese entity
• Bachelor's degree + 3 years relevant experience (typical work permit requirement) OR specialized expertise
• Health certificate, criminal background check (from home country and Vietnam if applicable)
• Sponsoring company must submit visa approval documents to Immigration Department

Processing time:

• Work permit: 15–20 working days
• Visa approval letter: 5–7 working days
• Total process (including work permit): 4–8 weeks

Cost:

• Work permit application: ~1,000,000–2,000,000 VND (~40–80 USD) in government fees (varies by province)
• Visa fee: ~25 USD (single) to ~155 USD (1-year multiple entry) — approx. 600,000–3,700,000 VND
• Total employer/employee costs (including legalization, notarization) can range 300–800 USD

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DN1-DN2 Visas (Business Visas)

Who it's for:

• DN1: Foreigners working with/for Vietnamese enterprises or organizations (non-labor capacity, e.g., business meetings, short-term work)
• DN2: Foreign entities entering to offer services, bid for contracts, or establish commercial presence

Key eligibility requirements:

• Invitation letter/sponsorship from Vietnamese business entity
• Business registration certificate of sponsoring company
• Purpose of visit clearly documented (meetings, negotiations, market survey)

Processing time: 3–7 working days (approval letter); visa stamping 1–3 days after arrival or via embassy

Cost:

• Single entry (up to 3 months): ~25 USD (~600,000 VND)
• Multiple entry (up to 1 year): ~50–135 USD (~1.2M–3.2M VND)
• Approval letter service fee (if using agent): additional 10–30 USD

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TT Visa (Family/Dependent Visa)

Who it's for: Foreign spouses, children, or parents of Vietnamese citizens or foreign residents holding long-term visas (e.g., LD, DT, ĐT categories).

Key eligibility requirements:

• Marriage certificate (legalized/translated) or birth certificate proving relationship
• Sponsor's Vietnamese ID/passport and residency documents
• Proof of sponsor's legal status/income (in some cases)
• Application submitted through Vietnam Immigration Department

Processing time: 5–10 working days

Cost:

• Single entry: ~25 USD (~600,000 VND)
• Multiple entry (up to 1 year): ~135 USD (~3.2M VND)
• Multiple entry (up to 2–5 years, for spouses of Vietnamese citizens): ~155–200 USD

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VR Visa (Visiting Relatives)

Who it's for: Foreigners visiting relatives who are Vietnamese citizens or foreign residents in Vietnam (broader than TT, includes extended family visits).

Key eligibility requirements:

• Invitation letter from relative residing in Vietnam
• Proof of relationship (less strict than TT visa)
• Sponsor's residency/ID documents

Processing time: 5–7 working days

Cost: ~25 USD (single entry) / ~50 USD (multiple, 3 months) — approx. 600,000–1,200,000 VND

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NN1-NN3 Visas (Non-Profit/Legal Representative)

Who it's for:

• NN1: Heads of representative offices/branches of foreign NGOs
• NN2: Heads of representative offices/branches of foreign companies
• NN3: Employees of foreign NGOs, foreign companies' representative offices, or foreign law firm branches in Vietnam

Key eligibility requirements:

• Establishment license for representative office/branch
• Appointment letter or employment contract
• Company registration documents

Processing time: 5–7 working days

Cost: ~25 USD (single) to ~135–155 USD (1-year multiple entry) — approx. 600,000–3,700,000 VND

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Permanent Residence Card (Thẻ Thường Trú)

Who it's for: Not a visa but a long-term status; available to:

• Investors with significant, sustained contributions
• Spouses/children/parents of Vietnamese citizens (after 3+ years of marriage/temporary residence)
• Individuals with special contributions to Vietnam (recognized by the state)
• Stateless persons who have resided in Vietnam for specified periods

Key eligibility requirements:

• Minimum 3 consecutive years of temporary residence in Vietnam (for most categories)
• Stable accommodation and financial means
• Clean criminal record
• Sponsorship/proof of qualifying relationship or investment

Processing time: 4–6 months (can extend longer due to security clearance)

Cost:

• Application fee: ~150–200 USD (~3.5M–4.7M VND), varies by province
• Additional legalization/translation costs: 100–300 USD

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Temporary Residence Card (TRC / Thẻ Tạm Trú)

Who it's for: Not a visa itself, but issued alongside LD, DT, TT, NN visas to allow extended stay (1–10 years) without repeated visa renewals.

Key eligibility requirements:

• Valid underlying visa category (work permit, investment, family sponsorship)
• Sponsoring organization/individual must apply on behalf of foreigner
• Health check may be required

Processing time: 5–7 working days (after visa approval)

Cost:

• TRC valid 1–2 years: ~145 USD (~3.4M VND)
• TRC valid 2–5 years: ~155 USD (~3.6M VND)
• TRC valid 5–10 years (for DT1/DT2 investors): ~165 USD+ (~3.9M VND)

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Important Notes

• E-visa (evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn): Available to citizens of 80+ countries for tourism/short business (up to 90 days, single/multiple entry). Cost: ~25 USD, processing 3 working days. This is often the entry point before converting to a long-term visa category above.
• Currency fluctuation: VND/USD exchange rates fluctuate; approximate conversions used above are based on ~23,500–23,800 VND per 1 USD.
• Agent/service fees: Many applicants use licensed immigration service companies in Vietnam, which charge additional service fees (50–300 USD) on top of government fees for paperwork, approval letters, and liaison with Immigration Department.
• Legal basis: Governed primarily by Vietnam's Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners (2014, amended 2019 and 2023).

Recommendation: Given frequent regulatory changes (especially post-2023 amendments expanding e-visa eligibility and adjusting TRC durations), verify current fees and requirements directly with:

• Vietnam Immigration Department (https://xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn)
• Nearest Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate
• A licensed Vietnamese immigration law firm

More about immigrating to Vietnam