FULL COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE ON VIETNAM BUSINESS & WORKING & INVESTMENT VISA FOR FOREIGN EXPATRIATES

Category

VIETNAM BUSINESS VISA

VIETNAM WORKING VISA

VIETNAM INVESTMENT VISA

Type

DN

LĐ

ĐT

Validity

Up to 3 months

Up to 2 years

Up to 10 years

Who this Vietnam visa is for

• Foreigners entering Vietnam for short-term work or business with local enterprises;
• Most common visa, often obtained before other visa types.

• Foreigners working for local enterprises;
• Must prove employment with these organizations by Vietnam Work Permit.

• Foreign investors investing in Vietnamese companies.

Requirements for Vietnam Visa

• Must be sponsored by a Vietnamese company;
• Provide legal documents of the sponsoring company.

• Must be sponsored by a Vietnamese company;
• Provide legal documents of the sponsoring company;
• Must have a valid Work Permit or Work Permit Exemption.

• Must be sponsored by a Vietnamese company
• Provide legal documents of the sponsoring company
• Must hold an Investment Registration Certificate, Enterprise Registration Certificate, and the Company tax report (if any).

VIETNAM BUSINESS AND WORKING VISA

Step in order

Actions and Requirements for each Step of Vietnam Visa Procedure

Step 1:
Obtain Vietnam Business Visa

📌 Sponsorship: A Vietnamese company/organization must sponsor the foreigner and submit entry approval forms to the Immigration Department.

📌 Visa stamping locations:

• ✈️ International airports in Vietnam
• 🚉 Land border checkpoints
• 🏢 Vietnamese embassies/consulates abroad

📄 Required documents:

• 📝 Foreigner’s information (nationality, purpose, entry date, visa type & duration, place to get visa)
• 🛂 Passport copy
• 🏢 Business license of sponsor company
• 📑 Other required forms

Step 2:
Apply For a Vietnam Work Permit

📌 Issued by: Department of Home Affairs where the employer is registered.

📄 Required documents:

• 📝 Application form (Form No. 03 – Decree 219/2025/ND-CP taking effect from 07 August 2025)
• 📜 Criminal record (Vietnamese or legalized foreign certificate) – issued within 6 months
• 🏥 Health certificate (Vietnamese or legalized foreign certificate) – issued within 12 months
• 📸 2 photos (4x6 cm, white background, taken within 6 months)
• 🛂 Valid passport
• 🎓 Degree/certificate & two years’ work experience (for experts)
• 👔 Managerial proof: charter, appointment letters, establishment license (if applicable)

Step 3:
Obtain Vietnam Working Visa

📄 Required documents:

• 🛂 Passport
• 🎫 Current Vietnam visa
• 📑 Work permit or exemption certificate
• 📝 Entry approval letter
• 📸 Photo 3x4 cm (Chinese nationals only)
• 🏠 Temporary residence registration
• 📄 Visa extension form (NA5)
• 🖋 Seal/signature introduction (NA16)
• 💼 Business registration certificate

VIETNAM INVESTMENT VISA

Step in order

Actions and Requirements for each Step of Vietnam Visa Procedure

Step 1:
Register Investment & Enterprise Certificates

Foreign individuals and organization investors are applying for an Investment Registration Certificate & Enterprise Registration Certificate – One of the most important documents for investment purposes in Vietnam.

• 💰 Capital below 3 billion VND: Eligible for max 1-year multiple entry visa;
• 💰 Capital 3–5 billion VND: Eligible for max 3-year visa.

Step 2:
Apply for VIetnam Investment Visa

📌 Process:

• 📝 Get pre-visa approval from the Immigration Department
• 🏢 Collect visa at embassy/consulate abroad or port of entry in Vietnam

📄 Required documents:

• 📝 Foreigner’s information (nationality, purpose, entry date, visa type & duration, place to get visa)
• 🛂 Passport copy
• 📑 Investment Registration & Business Registration certificates listing the investor’s name
• 📂 Other supporting documents proving investor status