Vietnam goals
Identify your goal first — then see the visa paths and preparation steps that fit your situation. Each goal page explains which visas apply, what documents you need, and how to plan your timeline.
8 goals · 6 common situations
Browse by goal
Vietnam immigration goals — working, joining family, or studying — each involve different visa pathways. Pick a goal to see matched visas, documents, and timelines.
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Showing 8 of 8 goals
Popular goals
Work in Vietnam
Work visas, work permits, and employment authorization in Vietnam.
Study in Vietnam
Student visa requirements and academic programs in Vietnam.
Obtain Vietnamese Citizenship
Naturalization requirements under the Law on Vietnamese Nationality, pathways to citizenship through residency, marriage, or descent, and the 2025 amended nationality law.
Planning tips
- Start with your goal, not a specific visa — the right pathway depends on your situation.
- Check processing times early — some routes take months and affect your planning window.
- Gather documents before applying — missing paperwork is the most common cause of delays.
- Verify official sources — rules change often; always cross-check with government websites.
VisaMind provides guidance based on official sources — not legal advice or eligibility decisions.
FAQ
Vietnam immigration FAQ
The questions readers ask most about applying to live, work, study, and visit Vietnam
Yes. Any salaried role for more than 30 working days requires a Vietnamese Work Permit (Giấy phép Lao động). Your employer first obtains a Demand Approval from DOLISA confirming the role, then files the Work Permit application. Once issued, you apply for an LD/LĐ visa or, for stays over 12 months, a Temporary Residence Card. Working without a Work Permit risks deportation and a 3- to 5-year ban.
A visa allows entry and stay for the visa's validity period; a TRC (Thẻ Tạm Trú) is a temporary residence card that replaces the multi-entry visa for long-stay foreigners. TRCs come in 1, 2, 3, and 5-year terms based on the underlying purpose (work, investment, family). TRC holders can re-enter Vietnam without a separate visa for the entire validity period.
e-Visas are not directly extendable; you must exit and re-enter, or apply for a different visa category through a licensed sponsor. Visa-exempt stays can sometimes be extended through a licensed Vietnamese travel agency or sponsor by converting to a different visa type, but the policy varies and consular services are increasingly strict on overstays.
Vietnam tiers Investor visas by capital contributed: DT1 (over VND 100B / ~US$4M, up to 5 years), DT2 (VND 50–100B, up to 5 years), DT3 (VND 3–50B, up to 3 years), DT4 (under VND 3B, up to 12 months). Higher tiers also unlock longer Temporary Residence Cards. The investment must be reflected in the company's registered capital with the Department of Planning and Investment.
Yes. Spouses and minor children of LD work-permit holders can apply for the TT (family) visa or TT Temporary Residence Card matched to your validity period. They can study but cannot work without a separate Work Permit. Family members of Vietnamese citizens have a slightly different TT category with broader rights and a clearer path to a long-stay TRC.
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