Reviewed 2026-11-01. General independent information; check current official immigration, financial and medical guidance before acting.
Expert take — Cost of Asia editorial team As of November 2026, Vietnam has no digital nomad visa and no retirement visa. An August 2026 Politburo directive only told ministries to draft remote-worker pilots, with no forms, thresholds or start date. Without a job, an investment or a family tie in Vietnam, your realistic option is still the 90-day e-visa, renewed after each exit. Plan your budget and travel around that cycle, and don't count on a nomad visa arriving soon.
This page is for anyone planning to spend more than a few months in Vietnam. Your reason for being here decides your visa more than your budget does. Vietnam gives multi-year residence cards for work, investment and family, and short visas to everyone else.
The trade-off: the e-visa is cheap and open to all, but you leave every 90 days. A temporary residence card (TRC) ends the border trips, but needs a sponsor such as an employer, your own company, or a relative.
At a glance
| Best for | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Remote workers and retirees | 90-day e-visa (multiple entry) | Open to every nationality, USD 50 for multiple entry |
| Scouting trips | 45-day visa exemption | Free for 12 nationalities, including the UK, France and Germany |
| Employees of Vietnamese companies | Work permit plus LĐ TRC | Residence card of up to 2 years |
| Business owners | Investor (ĐT) visa and TRC | Up to 3, 5 or 10 years, depending on capital |
| Families | TT family TRC or 5-year exemption certificate | Up to 3 years, or 5 years for Overseas Vietnamese families |
How we chose
- Length of stay per visa or card, and how often you must leave
- Who qualifies, and whether you need a sponsor
- Published fees and thresholds from legal and government-based sources
- Admin risk, such as residence declarations and pending rule changes
Checked on 1 November 2026.
1. 90-day e-visa: best for remote workers and retirees
Vietcetera reports that the e-visa is open to every nationality, for up to 90 days from your declared entry date. The non-refundable fee is USD 25 for single entry and USD 50 for multiple entry, which lets you take side trips without a new visa.
After 90 days you leave and apply again. It suits remote workers paid from abroad and retirees, since neither has a dedicated visa yet.
2. 45-day visa exemption: best for scouting trips
Under Resolution 44/NQ-CP, citizens of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland can enter visa-free for 45 days. The resolution runs from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028, according to Vietcetera. ASEAN neighbors get shorter reciprocal stays: 30 days for Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos.
Use it to view neighborhoods and apartments before committing, not to live here.
3. Work permit plus LĐ residence card: best for employees
A Vietnamese employer sponsors your work permit and then an LĐ residence card. Tan Van Lang's 2026 guide gives a maximum of two years for LĐ1 and LĐ2 cards, but notes that the maximum isn't automatic. Passport validity and work permit length are taken into account. A TRC replaces the visa and allows multiple entries. Since it's tied to your job, ask what happens to it if your contract ends.
What would this move really cost you?
Use your own rent, insurance, transport and visa assumptions. Compare options before committing.
4. Investor (ĐT) visa and residence card: best for business owners
Vietnam Briefing sets out the investor tiers under the 2023 law. ĐT1 needs 100 billion VND or more, or a project with special incentives, for a TRC of up to 10 years. ĐT2 needs 50 to 100 billion VND, for up to 5 years. ĐT3 needs 3 to 50 billion VND, for up to 3 years. ĐT4, below 3 billion VND, gives only a visa of up to 12 months, with no TRC.
Before you incorporate, have a lawyer confirm how your capital will be counted.
5. Family routes: best for spouses and children
Family members of foreigners holding TRCs can apply for a TT card, valid for up to three years according to Tan Van Lang. Overseas Vietnamese, and their foreign spouses and children, can apply for a visa exemption certificate under Decree 82/2015. Vietcetera says it lasts up to five years and allows stays of up to 180 days per entry, with longer stays needing an extension through a sponsoring relative.
Get marriage and birth certificates translated and legalized early.
What to check before you decide
- Residence declaration. Since rules took effect on 1 July 2026, your landlord or host must declare your stay to local police within 12 hours (24 in remote areas), according to Vietcetera. Late filings can complicate extensions and TRC applications.
- Insurance. The August 2026 directive calls for mandatory insurance for arrivals, but minimum amounts are still pending, according to Stamped Nomad. Recheck before you fly.
- TRC length. Ask your sponsor what validity to expect, not the legal maximum.
- Tax. Ask a qualified adviser when long stays make you tax resident.
Note: Vietnam merged and renamed many districts and wards in 2025. Police and immigration offices may now use new administrative names for areas you know by their old ones.
FAQ
Can I get a long-term visa in Vietnam without a job?
Not a residence card. Without a job, investment or family tie, the longest grant is the 90-day e-visa.
Is Vietnam launching a digital nomad visa?
An August 2026 directive asked ministries to design remote-worker pilots. Stamped Nomad reports no forms, thresholds or start date yet.
How long can I stay on a Vietnam e-visa?
Up to 90 days from the entry date you declare. Vietcetera says it costs USD 25 for single entry or USD 50 for multiple entry.
Related guides
- Vietnam cost of living
- Immigration and visa support
- Vietnam visa requirements
- Vietnam digital nomad visa
- Moving to Vietnam: startup budget
- Budget calculator
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