Vietnam Visas

Vietnam's immigration system is run by the Vietnam Immigration Department (Cục Quản lý Xuất nhập cảnh) under the Ministry of Public Security, with consular issuance handled by Vietnamese embassies and consulates abroad. The two main entry mechanisms are the e-Visa, available online to citizens of all countries since August 2023, and traditional visas issued at consulates or via the Visa-on-Arrival (VOA) approval-letter system arranged through licensed Vietnamese sponsors.

Vietnam expanded its visa-free entry list and increased validity periods in 2023. Citizens of selected countries — including most ASEAN states, Japan, South Korea, and several Western European nations — can enter visa-free for stays of up to 45 days. The e-Visa is now valid for up to 90 days with single or multiple entries, simplifying both tourism and short-business travel. For longer stays, a Temporary Residence Card (Thẻ Tạm Trú, TRC) up to 5 years is available to investors, work-permit holders, foreign workers' family members, and certain other categories.

Working in Vietnam requires a coordinated work-permit and visa workflow. The local employer first obtains a Demand Approval (Position Approval) from the Department of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs (DOLISA), then files a Work Permit (Giấy phép Lao động) application — separate from the visa itself. Once the Work Permit is issued, the worker applies for a corresponding LD or LD2 visa or, if the work permit is more than 12 months, for a TRC. The guides in this hub focus on the document choreography between DOLISA, the Immigration Department, and the local police that determine processing timelines.

After arrival, the residence sequence runs through three institutions. The Immigration Department issues the visa or TRC; the Department of Labour issues the Work Permit (separately, and tied to a specific employer); and the local police register your residence address (Tạm Trú) with your landlord within 24 hours of moving in. Long-stay foreigners must report any address change to the police, renew the Work Permit before the visa or TRC is renewed, and keep the passport, visa, TRC, and Work Permit aligned at every step. Misalignment between these documents is the single biggest cause of immigration irregularities for working foreigners.