Short-term to permanent residence
Vietnam visas and work permits
Explore your visa options for living, working, and investing in Vietnam. The Emerhub team helps you find the right one, then handles the visa, the work permit, and the residence card.
Long-term residence
Find your visa by what you're doing.
Vietnam organizes its long-stay visas by purpose, using letter codes. Each one can convert to a Temporary Residence Card so you don't have to renew a visa every few months. Find your situation, then open the detail page for requirements, costs, and timelines.
Employed by a Vietnamese company
LD Work Visa + Work Permit
For foreign professionals in managerial, expert, or technical roles, hired by a Vietnamese company. Requires a work permit from the Ministry of Labor, and converts to a Temporary Residence Card valid up to two years.
LD visa details→Investing in a company
DT Investor Visa
For foreign investors in a Vietnamese company, graded DT1 to DT4 by the size of your capital contribution. The more you invest, the longer the visa and residence card that follow.
DT visa details→Doing business with a Vietnamese company
DN Business Visa
For representatives of a foreign company working with a Vietnamese partner, or with your own newly registered entity. Sponsored by the local company and issued for up to twelve months.
DN visa details→Joining a family member
TT Family Visa
For the spouse, children, or parents of a Vietnamese citizen or of a long-stay visa holder. One of the more flexible long-term routes, and it can convert to a Temporary Residence Card.
TT visa details→Working remotely or retiring
No dedicated visa yet
Vietnam has not introduced a digital nomad or retirement visa. In practice, remote workers and retirees stay on the 90-day e-visa with periodic exits, or move to a work, business, or family visa for stability. We can advise on the most durable option.
Settling permanently
Permanent Residence Card
Indefinite residence, available only in limited circumstances such as long-term contribution, significant investment, or marriage to a Vietnamese citizen. A narrow route with strict criteria.
At a glance
Compare the long-term visas
What each one lets you do, how long it lasts, and whether it renews. Exact requirements and current figures live on each visa's own page.
| Visa | Best for | Work in Vietnam | Typical validity | Renewable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LD (Work) + Work Permit | Skilled employees | Yes, with a work permit | Up to 2 years | Yes |
| DT (Investor) | Investors, by capital tier | Yes, in your business | By investment tier | Yes |
| DN (Business) | Doing business with a local company | Business activity only | Up to 12 months | Yes |
| TT (Family) | Family of citizens or residents | With a work permit | Up to 3 years | Yes |
| Permanent Residence | Long-term residents | Yes | Permanent | N/A |
Validity periods and conditions are indicative and change with policy. Confirm current requirements on each visa's page or with our team before applying.
Short stays and the e-visa
Short-term options
The 90-day e-visa is the workhorse of the Vietnamese system. None of these options permit local employment, and remote work on them sits in a tolerated but unauthorised gray area.
Up to 90 days
E-visa
Vietnam's online visa, open to all nationalities, single or multiple entry. Applied for in minutes and the practical base for most short stays and remote workers.
30 to 45 days
Visa exemption
Visa-free entry for nationals of eligible countries, including several European and ASEAN nations. The permitted length depends on your nationality.
Pre-approval
Visa on arrival
A pre-arranged approval letter collected at major airports. Largely superseded by the e-visa, but still used for certain cases and entry points.
Every 90 days
The visa-run reality
With no nomad or retirement visa, many long-stay foreigners cycle the e-visa with short exits to a neighbor. Workable, but not a substitute for a proper residence card.
Over time
The path to permanent residence
Most people don't arrive on a permanent permit. They move through stages, from a first visit, to a renewable residence permit, toward permanent status. Here's how the stages connect.
Stage 01
Short-term entry
The 90-day e-visa or visa-free entry for short stays. No local employment, and remote work sits in a tolerated gray area.
Stage 02
Long-stay visa + residence card
An LD, DT, DN, or TT visa, converted to a Temporary Residence Card valid one to several years. Lets you live and, depending on the type, work without visa runs.
Stage 03
Permanent residence
A Permanent Residence Card, available only in narrow cases such as long contribution, significant investment, or marriage to a Vietnamese citizen.
Stage 04
Citizenship
Possible by naturalisation but highly restrictive. It generally requires long residence, Vietnamese language, and usually giving up your existing citizenship.
How it works
Three steps to your visa
Most work visas need a Vietnamese company to sponsor you, a work permit from the Ministry of Labor, and a residence card at the end. We handle all of it on your behalf. You sign where required; we do the rest.
Step 01
Match the visa and sponsor
- We confirm which visa fits what you're doing in Vietnam.
- Where a sponsoring company and work permit are required, we arrange them, through your own Vietnamese company or an Employer of Record arrangement.
Step 02
Prepare & submit
- We assemble the documents and handle the work permit and Immigration Department filings, plus the sponsoring company's paperwork.
- We submit on your behalf. You sign only where signatures are required.
Step 03
Residence card & renewals
- Once the visa is approved, we convert it to a Temporary Residence Card so you don't have to run visa renewals.
- We track expiry dates and handle residence card and work permit renewals before they lapse.
Before you apply
Common questions
If your situation isn't covered here, the detail pages go deeper, and our team can advise on your specific case.
What is a Temporary Residence Card?
A Temporary Residence Card (TRC) is the document that lets a foreign national live in Vietnam long-term without renewing a visa each time. Once you hold a qualifying visa, for work, investment, business, or family, it can be converted to a TRC valid for one to several years, depending on the category. It allows multiple entries and removes the need for visa runs.
Do I need a work permit to work in Vietnam?
In most cases, yes. A work permit from the Ministry of Labor is required before a foreign national can work, and it underpins the LD work visa and the residence card. Some roles are exempt, such as certain investors and senior intra-company transfers. We confirm whether you need one and handle it if you do.
Can I work in Vietnam on the e-visa?
No. The e-visa is for visits, not employment. Working on it, including remote work for a foreign employer, sits in a legal gray area that is tolerated but not authorised. For anything stable or long-term, a work, business, or investment visa with a residence card is the proper route.
Does Vietnam have a digital nomad or retirement visa?
Not currently. Vietnam has not introduced a dedicated digital nomad or retirement visa. Remote workers and retirees usually cycle the 90-day e-visa with periodic exits, or, for more stability, move to a business, investment, or family visa with a residence card. We can advise on the most durable option for your situation.
How does the DT investor visa work?
The DT investor visa is graded into four levels, DT1 to DT4, by the size of your capital contribution to a Vietnamese company. A larger investment earns a longer visa and residence card. The lower tiers suit most entrepreneurs setting up a company; the higher tiers are for substantial investments. We set up the company and the visa together.
How do I get permanent residence in Vietnam?
Permanent residence is available only in limited circumstances, such as a long period of continuous residence with recognized contribution, significant investment, or marriage to a Vietnamese citizen. The criteria are strict and approvals are uncommon, so most long-term residents stay on a renewable Temporary Residence Card instead.
Not sure which applies?
Talk to our Ho Chi Minh City team about your case
Tell us what you're planning to do in Vietnam and how long you intend to stay. We'll confirm the right visa, what's required, and the timeline to get you there.