How to Apply for a Vietnam Golden Visa (5 to 10 Years)

Similar to the long-term visa programs in some Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia, Vietnam is considering a Golden Visa program for foreign citizens with a long duration of stay from 5 to 10 years. This aims to attract experts and foreign investment to Vietnam. If approved, this visa program is expected to first launch in major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc.

Although the Golden Visa is still under review, Vietnam's existing policies already allow foreigners to obtain long-term investor visas (ĐT visas) of 1 to 5 years, gradually approaching this program. Experts often view these current provisions as a Golden Visa.

What is a Vietnam Golden Visa?

As mentioned above, the Golden Visa has not been approved in Vietnam. However, Vietnamese experts use this term for the existing 5-year investor visa to reflect special benefits for long-term foreign investors.

Visa validity: 1 to 5 years, based on visa type (ĐT 1, 2, 3, 4) and investment capital (under VND 3 billion to over VND 100 billion) (according to Article 9 of the Law on Entry and Exit, Transit).
Number of entries: Multiple entries, unlimited times of entry/exit within the visa validity.
Extension: Golden visa 5-year can be extended if investors continue to meet investment conditions and maintain valid investment activities in Vietnam (according to Clause 7, Article 9 of the Law on Entry and Exit, Transit).

Additional benefits:
- Exempt from or eligible for work permit issuance under specific conditions according to current labor laws (Article 154 of the Labor Code).
- Sponsor spouses and children under 18 years old for a TT visa (Visiting relative visa) according to Clause 18, Article 8 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam.

Who is eligible?

Golden Visas are eligible for foreign investors and individuals involved in investment activities in Vietnam, including:

Foreigners contributing capital, buying shares, or establishing an enterprise in Vietnam.
Foreigners who are legal representatives of foreign-invested enterprises.
Foreigners who are authorized representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam, coming to supervise investment activities in Vietnam.
Foreigners within foreign-invested organizations coming to work in a Vietnamese subsidiary or branch.

Conditions

To apply for a golden visa (investor visa), foreigners must comply with the following conditions:

Have a legal status as an investor with an Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) or an Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC)
Have an appropriate investment capital according to each visa type
Have a valid passport
Have real and legal investment activities
Have a guarantee from a relevant agency or organization
Not subject to any ban on entry or residence in Vietnam

Investor Visa Types

Vietnam's investment visa program offers different visa types and durations based on the level of investment. Generally, a higher capital contribution can lead to a longer visa validity.

Visa type	Description	Validity	Temporary residence card
ĐT1	- Significant investment (over VND 100 billion) - Investment in specially incentivized industries	5 years	Yes
ĐT2	- Large investment (VND 50 - under 100 billion) - Investment in promoted industries	5 years	Yes
ĐT3	- Medium investment (VND 3 - under 50 billion) - Investment in popular industries, medium or small enterprises	3 years	Yes
ĐT4	- Small investment (under VND 3 billion) - New entrepreneurs, small businesses	1 years	No

Apply for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC)

Foreign investors with a Golden Visa (ĐT1, ĐT2, or ĐT3) can apply for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) in Vietnam. This provides better legal stability, more convenient administrative and business transactions, and enables sponsorship for their spouse and children under 18 to enter Vietnam.

Preparation

Documents proving that foreign investors enter Vietnam with an investor visa symbolized ĐT1, ĐT2, and ĐT3.
TRC applications form NA6, NA8 with attached photo
A valid passport
An invitation letter from the agency, organization, or individual conducting the sponsorship procedure.

Procedure

Step 1: Foreign diplomatic missions, consular offices, or authorized foreign agencies in Vietnam submit TRC applications (form NG3) to the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Step 2: Inviting/sponsoring agencies, organizations, or individuals submit TRC applications for foreigners to the immigration authority based on the agency or organization headquarters or the individuals' residence.
Step 3: Review process takes 5 working days upon receipt of complete documentation.

Receiving and processing agencies

Each government agency has distinct responsibilities for handling visa-related procedures. Specifically:

Agency	Responsibilities
Ministry of Public Security	Issues all types of visas and temporary residence cards for foreigners. Issues and updates forms NA5 (visa) and NA7 (temporary residence card); controls immigration and emigration at border gates.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs	Issues, amends, supplements, and cancels visas at Vietnamese representative agencies abroad. Extends temporary stays (via Consulates, Embassies) upon request and in accordance with the Law.
Ministry of National Defence	Issues, amends, cancels visas, and issues temporary residence certificates at border gates managed by the military.
Provincial/Municipal and Commune/Ward People's Committees	Manages and registers temporary residence; confirms temporary residence for temporary residence card applications. Inspects and handles violations of residence, immigration, and emigration in the locality.

TRC validity

While an investor visa is valid for up to 5 years, ĐT1 visa holders can apply for a TRC with a maximum validity of 10 years. This extended duration is a special offer for significant investors.

A TRC allows multiple entries and exits without a visa if both the TRC and passport are valid. A TRC usually expires at least 30 days before your passport. Expired TRCs can be renewed.

ĐT1 TRC (corresponding to a ĐT1 visa): Up to 10 years
ĐT2 TRC (corresponding to a ĐT2 visa): Up to 5 years
ĐT3 TRC (corresponding to a ĐT3 visa): Up to 3 years

Vietnam Permanent Resident Card (PRC)

A Vietnam Permanent Residence Card (PRC) is a document issued by Vietnamese immigration authorities, allowing foreigners to reside indefinitely in Vietnam. It represents a higher residency status than a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) and is also valid as a visa. Foreigners will not need to renew their visa periodically and benefit from citizen rights in terms of residence, investment, and work if holding a PRC in Vietnam.

Foreigners with a Golden Visa (ĐT visa), after a period of continuous living and investing in Vietnam, may apply for a PRC if they meet specific conditions prescribed by Vietnamese law.

Who is eligible?

Foreigners having significant contributions to Vietnam's protection and development, recognized by state medals or honorary titles.
Foreign scientists or experts temporarily residing in Vietnam.
Foreigners sponsored by their parents/spouse/children who are Vietnamese citizens permanently residing in Vietnam.
Stateless people continuously residing temporarily in Vietnam since 2000 or earlier.

Conditions

Have legal residence and stable income to support their life in Vietnam.
Foreign scientists and experts need a request from the minister or head of a ministerial-level agency or government agency managing their professional field.
Sponsors (parents/spouse/children who are Vietnamese citizens) must have resided temporarily in Vietnam for at least 3 continuous years.

Documentations

Application form for permanent residence
Criminal record
Diplomatic note from the applicant's country
Certified copy of passport
Documents proving eligibility for permanent residence
Sponsor letter (for those in the sponsored group)

Procedure

Step 1: Application submission
Submit all required documents to the Ministry of Public Security.
Step 2: Review process
The Ministry of Public Security reviews the application within 4 months after full receipt of documents.
Step 3: Approval notification
The immigration authority notifies in writing, both applicants and the provincial/city police where applicants applied.
Step 4: Local approval notification
The provincial/city police notifies foreigners within 5 working days of receiving notification from the immigration authority.
Step 5: PRC collection
Foreigners come to the provincial/city's immigration management agency to collect PRC within 3 months of receiving their notification.

Processing time

The review process by the Ministry of Public Security is 4 months after receiving complete documents. However, it can extend no more than 2 months if further examination is needed.

FAQs

What is the maximum duration of a golden visa?
The proposed Golden Visa has a validity of 5 - 10 years. However, the unofficial "Golden Visa" (investor visa) has a maximum duration of 5 years.
How long is a permanent residence card valid?
A permanent residence card does not have an expiry date. Foreigners can reside indefinitely in Vietnam.
Does a PRC need to be renewed?
Yes, although a PRC does not have an expiry date, foreigners must renew it every 10 years to ensure the accuracy of the information.
Do I need a visa to enter/exit if I have a temporary residence card?
No, a temporary residence card is considered a "long-term visa", allowing multiple entries and exits without a separate visa, provided that your passport is valid.
Can I apply for a temporary residence card if I have an investor visa?
Yes, but only available to foreigners holding ĐT1, ĐT2, and ĐT3 investor visas.