Vietnam does not have a specific retirement visa, however, people who want to move here can apply for other types of permits that enable them to live here. They can choose between short and long-term residence permits for Vietnam, depending on how long they intend to stay.
Below, we invite you to discover the alternatives to a Vietnamese retirement visa and their requirements. Once you decide, you can get in touch with our law firm in Vietnam for support with the application.
Table of Contents
Options for those who want to retire to Vietnam
The lack of a specific Vietnamese retirement visa enables foreign citizens of different ages to relocate here and enjoy their stays, no matter their duration. From this point of view, here are some of the popular options among those who want to retire here:
- the visitor visa is for short-term stays that do not exceed 80 days, while the visa itself has a validity of 6 months and allows multiple entries;
- the long-term visa exemption which is available for foreign citizens married to Vietnamese nationals, enabling them to stay in Vietnam for 180 days with the possibility of extending it for 6 months;
- the Vietnamese investor visa which is in fact a residence permit with different validity periods, depending on the amount invested, the longest being 5 years of residency.
Out of these 3 options, the last one is preferred by most foreigners who want to retire to Vietnam. Its advantage is the possibility to make various investments, thus also gaining an income here. In this last situation, we also advise discussing financial aspects with our accountants in Vietnam, given the fact that you will need to pay certain taxes here.
Documents to be required for retirement to Vietnam
Considering there is no specific Vietnamese retirement visa, the documents you need to prepare to move here will depend on the type of visa or residence permit you apply for. On a general note, you will have to submit the following:
- a valid passport;
- proof of visa fee payment;
- a valid health insurance;
- proof of accommodation in Vietnam;
- proof of funds to sustain your stay here.
When discussing the investor visa, you must know that the investment visa requires more money than a regular residence permit which can replace a retirement visa. As such, we recommend reaching out to our lawyers in Vietnam for support in gathering the paperwork.
Retirement requirements in Vietnam
Even if there is no special Vietnamese retirement visa, an important requirement to enjoy your stay here as a pensioner is to be legally retired in your home country. For this purpose, you need to submit the official documents indicating your status. These must be translated and authenticated to be used to apply for a residence permit.
You can get in touch with our lawyers in Vietnam for support in having official documents recognized here. Also, we can assist with other services related to immigration to Vietnam.
The best places to retire in Vietnam
Vietnam is a great country to retire to, especially from a living costs point of view when compared to Western countries. Some of the cities in which large communities of expats are met are:
- Ho Chi Minh,
- Hanoi,
- Da Nang,
- Nha Trang.
If you are considering retiring to Vietnam, here are other interesting facts about this country:
- in 2024, it ranked among the top 10 destinations for expats in the world;
- it is one of the easiest countries to settle in, ranking 13th out of a total of 53 countries;
- it also ranked 1st in terms of personal finances, thanks to the low costs here.
If you need assistance in finding a suitable alternative to a Vietnamese retirement visa and need information about its requirements, please contact us.