There are many ways to get a long-term Vietnam visa. In this article we will cover the most common scenarios:
- You are employed by a company in Vietnam
- You own a stake in a company or represent a parent company
- You are a family member of an expatriate
Note that starting from July 1, 2020, investors of companies with capital of less than USD 130,000 can no longer get temporary resident cards (TRC). So act quickly if you are a small business owner in Vietnam.
Do foreigners need a work visa in Vietnam?
There are two ways to hire foreign nationals in Vietnam:
- As employees: an up to 24-month business visa with a work permit.
- As consultants: an up to 12-month business visa without a work permit.
Some roles in the company allow for a work permit exemption. Both the holders of work permits and work permit exemptions are eligible for temporary resident cards.
Does registering a company in Vietnam give you residency?
Registering a company makes you eligible for an investor visa which is valid for one to five years depending on the size of the company’s capital.
Starting from July 1, 2020, only investors with a capital contribution of at least USD 130,000 can get a temporary resident card.
Types of visas in Vietnam
Business e-visa for short stays
For a short-term stay of less than a month, the easiest option is to get a business e-visa. This allows the foreigner to stay in the country for up to a month and it can be obtained in just a few working days (often the same day).
One-year business visa in Vietnam
If the employee needs to stay in Vietnam for 1-12 months, the best option is to get a business visa. The visa will be processed in Vietnam and collected by the employee in the Vietnamese embassy abroad.
Note that the business visa does not expand to family members who need to get their own visas.
Long-term business visa
Under the changes, the working visa will be divided into two categories, for work permit holders, and for work permit exemption certificate holders
The business visa is available for foreign employees and directors and is valid for up to 24 months with multiple entries.
Investor visa
Investors are eligible for an investor visa that is valid for 1-5 years, depending on the size of the company’s capital.
Temporary resident card (TRC) in Vietnam
Bringing the family to Vietnam with dependent visas
From July, a temporary resident card (TRC) will no longer be available to a foreign investor if the company’s capital is less than USD 130,000 (VND 3 billion).
An alternative is to apply for the work permit as an employee in your own company. This allows the investor to get a Temporary Resident Card and also give visas to the dependants.
Who is eligible for a temporary resident card in Vietnam?
Starting from July 2020, foreign nationals that have been in Vietnam for longer than 183 days in a calendar year are eligible for a TRC on the following grounds.
| Temporary Resident Card validity | Who is eligible |
|---|---|
| 10 years | Investor if capital is higher than VND 100 billion |
| 5 years | Investor if capital is VND 50 billion to less than VND 100 billion |
| 3 years | Investor if capital is VND 3 billion to less than VND 50 billion dependent (spouse or child) Head of the representative office (NN2) |
| 2 years | Work permit holder; work exemption (not investor) |
Get a long-term Vietnam visa with Emerhub
Emerhub can help your business evaluate the correct visa option for your workers and investors, or to register your company in Vietnam and the associated steps to apply for an investor visa and temporary resident card for yourself and your dependents.
