In the past few years, Vietnam has become one of the most appealing tourism destinations in Southeast Asia. Also for remote workers, the country is an excellent location. This is why becoming a digital nomad in Vietnam is pretty advantageous when it comes to enjoying the spectacular views with the low living costs compared to other countries. From a legal point of view, it is important to note that Vietnam has no digital nomad visa program at the moment. So, foreign citizens must consider the visa requirements applicable to their countries. Our immigration lawyers in Vietnam explain below the main steps to work remotely from here.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Availability of a specific digital nomad visa (YES/NO) | No |
|
Possibility to work remotely from Vietnam (YES/NO) |
Yes, foreign citizens can work remotely from Vietnam. |
|
Alternatives to a digital nomad visa (if any) |
Foreign citizens can apply for business and visitor visas for Vietnam. |
| Possibility to work from Vietnam without a visa (YES/NO) | Yes, foreign citizens from 25 countries can stay in Vietnam without a visa for up to 30 days. |
| E-visa availability (YES/NO) |
Yes, Vietnam has an electronic visa system in place which can also be used by digital nomads. |
| Types of residence permits available |
Temporary residence permits are available for digital nomads in Vietnam. |
| Activities permitted |
There are no restrictions on the activities that can be carried out by digital nomads in Vietnam. |
| Eligibility conditions for applicants |
– having a local address in Vietnam, – having sufficient funds to support their stay in the country. |
| Documents |
– valid passport, – proof of accommodation, – proof of self-sustenance, – flight ticket with a return date |
| Minimum income requirements (if any) | There are no minimum income requirements, considering the lack of a digital nomad visa. |
| Special conditions |
There are no special conditions to be met by digital nomads. |
| Minimum income requirements (if any) |
Yes, for certain activities |
| Possibility to move with the family (YES/NO) |
Yes, digital nomads can also move with their families. |
| Advantages of being a digital nomad in Vietnam |
– no minimum income requirements, – low living costs, – various visa possibilities, – flexible duration of stay. |
| Support in moving to Vietnam as a remote worker (YES/NO) | Yes, our lawyers in Vietnam can assist you in applying for various types of visas. |
Table of Contents
Digital nomads and the Vietnamese legislation
Digital nomads or remote workers are persons (employees, self-employed individuals, or entrepreneurs) who can complete their activities from any other place in the world apart from their countries. They usually work for companies or have businesses in other countries which means the Vietnamese Employment Law does not apply to them. At the same time, Vietnam has no legislation applicable to digital nomads which means that they need to obtain other visas for their stay here.
One of the good news is that recently Vietnam has enabled visa-free access to citizens of approximately 25 countries. Among these there are: the UK, France, Denmark, Malaysia, Italy, Chile, and Singapore, thus covering most parts of the world. Citizens of these countries can stay here based on electronic visas between 15 and 30 days.
The e-visa that can be used as a remote work visa in Vietnam. However, there are also other visas that can be obtained by remote workers and their requirements can be explained by our Vietnamese lawyers.
Many foreign citizens decide on immigration to Vietnam as the country as seen great development in the past few years. The economy is one of the largest and most stable in Southeast Asia and it acts like a magnet to investors, in most cases. If you need support in moving and starting a business here, contact us.
Vietnam’s digital visa alternatives
Immigration to Vietnam by becoming a digital nomad in Vietnam has several advantages, among which the low living costs. Foreign citizens seeking to work remotely from here have the following alternatives:
- the Vietnamese tourist or DL visa, which is issued to tourists, and so, it can be used for remote working;
- the business or DN visa, which can be used by entrepreneurs coming for meeting, conferences or other business-related matters and can be used to complete various activities from Vietnam;
- the student, internship, or DH visa, which is issued to students who have part-time jobs or other arrangements with companies in their home countries.
The validity of these visas depends on the country of origin of the applicants. In most cases, these allow stays of up to 30 days, except for the student visa which can have a longer validity period.
Depending on the type of visa requested, it can be obtained online from the Vietnamese embassy/consulate or upon arrival in the country.
If you want to come to Vietnam through a freelance visa, we invite you to discuss your options with our local immigration specialists. We are also at your service if you are interested in long-term immigration to Vietnam, including through residency by investment.
Here is also an infographic on this subject below:
If you are interested in residency in Vietnam, contact us. We can help you apply for an entry visa, if you want to come to the country first, or apply for the residence permit directly, should you meet the conditions to obtain it. Please mind that an entry visa may still be required even in the second scenario.
Quick alternatives to the Vietnamese remote work visa
Even if there is no specific Vietnamese freelance visa, for some foreign digital nomads, the country has a few appealing alternatives. They cover:
- the visa exemption Vietnam offers citizens of no less than 23 countries around the world, based on which applicants can stay 14 or 30 days here;
- the e-visa which can be accessed by nationals of 46 countries and enables them to spend a maximum period of 30 days in Vietnam;
- the visa on arrival or the 90-day visa which enables citizens of most states in the world to spend a maximum of 3 months in Vietnam.
Should you need information about which alternative to a Vietnamese digital nomad visa suits you the most, our lawyers can provide it to you.
Documents required when filing for a visa for Vietnam
Generally speaking, the following documents must be prepared no matter the Vietnamese freelance visa alternative you choose:
- a valid passport (please ensure a minimum validity of 6 months for your travel document);
- a photograph of your passport;
- a passport-size photo;
- a valid debit or credit card;
- a valid e-mail address;
- proof of accommodation in Vietnam;
- documents indicating the date of entry and exit in Vietnam (the flight ticket or accommodation reservation dates);
- proof of payment of the visa fee, which varies in accordance with the selected visa type.
Considering you are not planning permanent immigration to Vietnam, you can choose to stay in a resort, a hotel, or even rent a house.
Our lawyers in Vietnam can offer additional information in case changes occur with the visa requirements. As such, we recommend you get in touch with us prior to making a decision on the Vietnamese remote work visa alternative.
Advantages of lacking a digital nomad visa in Vietnam
Digital nomad visas are common in a lot of countries nowadays, which is why you may already know that even if they come with certain benefits, they also imply more conditions to be obtained. From this point of view, in Vietnam you will not have to worry about:
- a minimum income which must be proved with an employment contract or other business agreements;
- longer waiting periods, such is the case of applying for a residence permit in Vietnam, as regular visas and e-visas are issued quickly;
- you will not need to pay taxes in Vietnam, considering the short period of time spent in the country.
However, if you consider moving for longer periods of time, we recommend you discuss taxation with our accountants in Vietnam. In this case, you will also need a temporary residence permit, a case in which our Vietnamese law firm can assist.
Why move to Vietnam as a digital nomad?
Vietnam is unique through its landscapes, which makes it a great destination to live in, even temporarily. In recent years, it has also become a great digital nomad hub with plenty of co-working spaces for remote employees.
If you are interested in a Vietnamese digital nomad visa, the country recently ranked 8th most loved destination by remote workers in the world, according to a Canadian magazine. Apart from this:
- the average monthly living costs per person can range from USD 700 to USD 1,400;
- expat communities in Vietnam are mostly made of people aged 18 to 35;
- Hanoi and Ho Chi Min City are 2 of the most appreciated expat destinations in Vietnam.
If you want to move to Vietnam as a digital nomad, contact our local law firm for guidance. Our immigration lawyers in Vietnam are at your disposal with tailored services.