🇻🇳map Vietnam [Residency]

Overview

Vietnam is an easy country to fall in love with—coastal cities buzzing with coffee culture, lantern-lit old towns, and mountain valleys a short flight apart. For travelers and digital nomads, the big draw is a steadily improving visa system, good internet in major hubs, and living costs that can stretch a budget. Entry rules vary by nationality, but many visitors use Vietnam’s expanding e-visa program, while certain passport holders enjoy short visa-free stays. You’ll want a valid passport with enough blank pages, a return or onward ticket if asked, and accommodation details handy for arrival formalities.

The most common pathways are tourist e-visas for short-term stays and business visas for meetings and exploratory trips. Work requires a separate process: an employer in Vietnam sponsors your work permit before you can receive the right long-stay visa and residence card. Rules can change quickly, so it’s smart to check Vietnam’s official immigration or embassy pages shortly before you apply. Expect straightforward border checks at major airports like Hanoi (HAN), Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), and Da Nang (DAD), with officers occasionally asking for proof of onward travel and accommodation.

Tourist and Short-term Visas

Most visitors use an e-visa for tourism or short business visits. The e-visa application is online, generally asks for a passport scan and a simple headshot, and returns an approval letter you print and carry. Tourist e-visas are designed for leisure and remote work that’s not tied to a Vietnamese employer; in-person client work or earning income locally requires a different status. If you’re coming to scope out opportunities, a business-purpose entry can be appropriate for meetings, conferences, and site visits without taking up employment.

Processing is typically measured in days rather than weeks, but build in buffer time during holidays and peak seasons. Fees are paid online and are nonrefundable if your plans change. Extensions are possible in-country through authorized agents, though policies and timelines can shift; always confirm before you count on extra weeks. Keep at least six months of passport validity beyond your intended stay, and carry a couple of spare passport photos just in case an office requests them.

Work Visas and Permits

If you plan to earn income from a Vietnamese employer, the centerpiece is a work permit sponsored by your company. Employers usually demonstrate the role’s necessity and your qualifications, which often include a university degree or specialized certifications and relevant experience. Some professions may require legalized diplomas and background checks issued from your home country, so start early to handle notarization and consular legalization. Once the work permit is approved, you’ll shift onto the appropriate long-stay visa and, later, a temporary residence card tied to your employment.

Timelines vary by province, but a realistic window from job offer to permit in hand can be several weeks to a few months, especially if overseas document authentication is needed. Your HR team or a licensed immigration agent in Vietnam will typically coordinate filings with the local labor and immigration authorities. Keep digital and hard copies of everything—contracts, degree, police check, medical check if required—as you’ll need them at multiple steps.

Long-term Residence

Longer stays are usually built around employment, family ties, or investment. With a valid work permit, you can apply for a temporary residence card that streamlines reentry and replaces multiple visa runs. Family members of eligible foreign workers can often join under dependent status, with their own residence cards tied to the principal. Investment options exist for those establishing or funding a Vietnamese company; these routes typically require clear capital contributions and corporate documentation, and they’re best handled with local legal counsel.

Permanent residence is possible but reserved for specific circumstances, often after lengthy lawful residence and with strong ties such as Vietnamese family or significant contributions. Vietnam does not market a classic “retirement visa” in the way some neighbors do, but older expats often settle via family, investment, or long-term work arrangements. Whatever your path, keep your residence card, address registration, and employer records current to avoid gaps in status.

Application Process

A smooth application starts with a checklist. For short visits, complete the official e-visa form, upload your passport biopage and a simple photo, pay the fee, and print the approval for arrival. For business and work, align with your host company: they typically initiate approvals in Vietnam, and you may finalize your visa at a Vietnamese embassy/consulate or at the border if your approval allows it. If you’re switching status inside Vietnam, an authorized visa agent can help manage provincial procedures and appointment slots.

Most applicants won’t need an interview for tourist e-visas. Work-related filings are document-heavy and sometimes require in-person submission or biometrics. Track your submissions through official portals or via your agent and keep an eye on local holidays, when processing often pauses. When you travel, carry your approval letters and the passport used in the application; mismatches cause delays at the counter.

Costs and Fees

Expect to pay an online fee for e-visas and higher, multi-step fees for work permits, residence cards, and business-related filings. If your home-country documents must be notarized and legalized, budget for those services plus courier costs. Companies often cover their employees’ work-permit and residence-card costs, but clarify this in your contract. Medical checks and health insurance may be required for certain permits; private international policies are widely accepted and helpful for clinic admissions and visa paperwork.

Service charges from reputable local agents can be worth it when timelines are tight or your case is complex. Always ask for an itemized quote that separates government fees from service fees. Keep receipts and payment confirmations—immigration offices may ask to see proof of payment or original bank slips during final steps.

After Arrival

Once you land, check visa details stamped in your passport match your approval letter. If you’re moving onto employment, your HR team will help complete work permit activation and apply for your temporary residence card. You may also need to register your address; hotels and serviced apartments usually file this automatically, but private rentals often require a quick police registration with your landlord. For taxes, your employer will obtain a tax code and withhold monthly, while freelancers should consult a local accountant about personal income tax and invoicing rules.

Opening a bank account generally requires your passport and a valid visa or residence card; some banks also ask for a local phone number and proof of address. Vietnam’s banking apps are user-friendly, and local cards make life easier for deliveries and utilities. If you plan to stay long-term, consider local health insurance or an international plan with direct billing at major hospitals in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang.

Common Issues and Tips

The most common snags come from small mismatches: name order not matching your passport, blurry photo uploads, or using a different passport at the airport than the one in your application. Double-check every field before you submit, and save PDFs of each stage. If a file is rejected, polite follow-up through official channels or via your agent often resolves the issue faster than starting over. During peak travel seasons and around Tet (Lunar New Year), processing slows—apply earlier than you think you need to.

If your application is refused, look for the stated reason and correct the defect, then reapply. For complex cases—career changes, company switches, or investment structures—a seasoned immigration lawyer or corporate services firm is worth the fee. Policies can update quickly, so always reconfirm visa validity periods, extension options, and eligible entry points shortly before you travel. Keep copies of your approvals, residence card, and landlord registration handy—you’ll be asked for them more often than you’d expect.

Li Wei
Li Wei is a financial services professional and cross-cultural consultant originally from Hong Kong, with over 12 years of experience in international banking and Southeast Asian business development. Having worked for major financial institutions including HSBC and Standard Chartered, Li Wei has extensive experience facilitating the relocation of international professionals to Hong Kong, Singapore, and other key Southeast Asian markets.