Foreign citizens who decide to immigrate to Vietnam have various options. In most cases, obtaining an entry visa is a mandatory requirement, followed by filing for the necessary residence permit. Below, our immigration lawyers in Vietnam explain the main pathways to follow in order to move to this country stress-free. You can rely on us for relocation support.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Support in moving to Vietnam (YES/NO) | Yes, we have specialized lawyers in Vietnam. |
|
Immigration services we offer |
– residence permit application and renewal support, – citizenship application assistance |
|
Entry visa requirements (if any) |
Yes, depending on the country of residence |
| Types of visas available | Tourist, business, visitor, student visas |
| Relocation options |
– employment, – family reunion, – investment |
| Types of residence permits available |
Temporary and permanent residence permits can be obtained. |
| Temporary residence permit validity |
2 to 5 years, depending on the reason for relocation |
| Requirements to obtain work permits in Vietnam |
– valid employment contract, – at least a bachelor’s degree, – minimum experience in the field to work, depending on the job |
| Timeframe to obtain Vietnamese permanent residency |
A minimum of 3 years in a period of 4 years spent in the country |
| Investor visa availability (YES/NO) | Yes |
| Sponsorship requirement (YES/NO) |
Yes, when relocating through employment or family reunion |
| Documents to obtain residency in Vietnam |
– valid passport, – proof of local address, – documents attesting to the reason for relocation, – valid health insurance, – valid entry visa. |
| Ways to obtain citizenship in Vietnam |
Naturalization, descent, and confirmation (for Vietnamese nationals living abroad) |
| Living requirements to obtain a Vietnamese passport |
At least 5 years of permanent residency |
| Taxation of foreign citizens | Non-residents pay a 20% on income from employment, and residents pay the income tax at rates from 5% to 35%. |
Table of Contents
Short-term immigration to Vietnam
For some people, it is simpler to move to Vietnam for a short period to find out if long-term relocation is an option. For them, temporary residence permits are available, and they can be obtained for:
- work;
- family reunion;
- investment.
Each of them comes with specific requirements to be met, however, generally speaking, the following conditions must be met to relocate to Vietnam and obtain temporary residency:
- having a valid passport with a minimum validity period of one year;
- securing an employment contract, when coming for work;
- obtaining sponsorship when moving here for other purposes.
When it comes to sponsorship, it can be obtained from specialized agencies or family members, for those to move to Vietnam based on family reunification.
Temporary residence permits in Vietnam have a validity of 2 to 5 years, depending on the reason for relocation. Our law firm in Vietnam can assist with the preparation of the documents necessary to obtain such a residence permit.
We also have an infographic on immigration to Vietnam:
Immigration to Vietnam – long-term options
Given the fact that a temporary residence permit can be used to stay in Vietnam for up to 5 years, it is also an option for those who want to immigrate here on a long-term. One of the most employed reasons for relocation is investment. Specifically, a foreign entrepreneur can open a company in Vietnam and, based on the amount injected in it, will be granted an investment certificate that can be used to secure residency.
When filing for a Vietnamese investment visa, the validity of the residence permit received will be directly linked to the amount invested. The minimum validity is one year, while the maximum is 5 years. When investing the highest amount required by the program, the residence permit can be extended, thus reaching a 10-year validity period.
If you want to immigrate to Vietnam as an investor, our local lawyers can help you with both procedures of relocating and setting up your own business.
How to relocate to Vietnam based on employment
Foreign workers interested in relocating to Vietnam can do so by finding employment. The procedure implies obtaining both a work permit and a residence card. Another essential aspect is sponsorship.
Vietnamese work visas are issued based on specific criteria related to the experience or expertise of the applicant, as follows:
- for experts, a bachelor’s degree or higher educational studies and at least 3 or 5 years of experience in the field of work are required;
- for technical workers, training in the respective sector and between 1 and 5 years of experience are required;
- for executive management positions, at least 5 years of experience in the industry they will work is required.
With respect to the documents required to immigrate to Vietnam based on employment, the following are required:
- the application form;
- the valid passport;
- the clear criminal record of the applicant, which must have been issued in the past 6 months;
- a health medical certificate which cannot be older than 12 months;
- diplomas, certificates, other documents attesting to the experience and expertise of the employee.
Please note that, depending on the position to hold in the local company, additional paperwork may be required. Our lawyers in Vietnam can verify this aspect and advise on the documents you need to prepare.
How to immigrate to Vietnam as an investor
The investor visa is one of the most appealing ways to relocate to Vietnam as a foreign entrepreneur. The program relies on the issuance of no less than 4 types of visas with different minimum investment requirements that dictate their validity.
Here are the main types of investment visas you can obtain:
- the DT4 visa is issued if you invest up to VND 3 billion;
- the DT3 visa for investments between VND 3 and 50 billion;
- the DT2 visa if you inject between VND 50 and 100 billion;
- the DT1 visa in exchange for an investment over VND 100 billion.
The validity of the visa is up to 5 years for the DT1 and can be extended for up to 10 years, provided the investment is maintained. Please note that you will be issued a temporary residence permit with this type of visa. If you decide to apply for this type of visa, you can rely on our immigration lawyers in Vietnam for filing support.
Permanent residency in Vietnam
Living in Vietnam for the minimum required period of time is only one of the conditions to be granted permanent residency in this country. This is why it is important to note that, if you want to relocate to Vietnam, there are other conditions to fulfil. Here are some of them:
- You must have lived here for minimum 3 years within a period of 4 years;
- Your stay here must have been legal, meaning you need to show evidence of having a place to live and a stable income during this period.
Applications for permanent residence cards are processed for up to 4 months by the Ministry of Public Security, while the actual issuance takes about 2 months.
If you decide to immigrate to Vietnam, you can grant our lawyers a power of attorney for representation to file paperwork.
Access to Vietnamese citizenship
If you have lived in Vietnam for at least 5 years based on a permanent residence permit, you can become eligible for citizenship by naturalization. However, you must pass the citizenship test, which implies language proficiency and financial stability, among others.
There are also other ways to obtain citizenship in Vietnam, among which are: marriage, merit (exceptional contribution), and descent. Our Vietnamese lawyers can offer detailed information on all available pathways.
Fiscal aspects when moving to Vietnam
One of the most important aspects to consider when relocating to Vietnam is taxation, as residents and non-residents are not taxed the same. For example:
- non-residents will pay a flat tax of 20% on income from employment;
- residents will pay the income tax at progressive rates, ranging from 5% to 35%.
Our accountants in Vietnam can offer more information on this topic. If you decide to immigrate to Vietnam, contact us!