How to get residency in Vietnam in 2026: every route

11 min read · Published 7 October 2026 · Updated 8 October 2026

Work, your own company, family and study: which residence card each route gives, what it costs and how to reach permanent residence

Free consultation

Key facts	2026
What residency means	a temporary residence card for 2 to 10 years
Work	degree, 2 years of experience and a work permit, card for up to 2 years
Own company	capital from $120,000 - card for up to 3 years, from $3.9 million - up to 10 years
Family	spouse or relative of a Vietnamese citizen, card for up to 3 years
Card fee	$145 to $165 depending on the term
Permanent residence	after 3 years on a card, mainly for families of Vietnamese citizens
Visa-free entry	45 days for citizens of Russia, Belarus and several European countries, e-visa up to 90 days

Data checked: 08.10.2026

Residency in Vietnam takes the form of a temporary residence card. It is issued for a specific basis - work, investment in your own company, family or study - for 2 to 10 years. Tourist visas, even 90-day multiple-entry e-visas, are not residence: you cannot work on them, and living on visas for years works only until the rules change.

Vietnam has no programmes for retirees, people living on passive income or remote workers. Buying a flat does not give a card either. So there are three real routes: working for a Vietnamese employer, your own company in Vietnam, and marriage or kinship with a Vietnamese citizen.

Below are all the routes in one table with amounts in dollars at the Central Bank of Russia rate on 7 October 2026, then each route in turn, fees, common refusals, rules for certain nationalities and the path to permanent residence.

We will work out online the investment or income your family needs and what the permit costs for each member.

Calculate online

Every way to get residency in Vietnam: comparison

Route	Main condition	From	Processing time	Details
Work	degree, 2 years of experience and an employer in Vietnam	$145 card fee	work permit, then 5 working days for the card	our guide
Own company, card up to 3 years	capital fully paid into the company	from $120,000	company registration, then 5 working days for the card	our guide
Own company, card up to 5 years	capital fully paid into the company	from $2 million	company registration, then 5 working days for the card	our guide
Own company, card up to 10 years	capital fully paid into the company	from $3.9 million	company registration, then 5 working days for the card	our guide
Family	spouse, child or parent of a Vietnamese citizen	$145 card fee	5 working days after the family visa	-
Study	invitation from a university or language centre	card fee from $145	5 working days after the student visa	-

"From" is the minimum capital or card fee per applicant. By law the card is issued within 5 working days of a complete application; the work permit and company registration take longer.

Work: a work permit and a card for 2 years

The most common route. A Vietnamese company or a foreign company's representative office hires you and obtains a work permit, after which the immigration service issues a temporary residence card for the term of the permit, up to 2 years. New rules for foreign workers apply from 7 August 2025: an expert needs a university degree and 2 years of experience in the field, a technical worker at least a year of training and 2 years of experience. Managers are assessed by their position in the company.

A work permit is issued for up to 2 years and can be extended once for another 2 years, after which a new one is needed. Foreigners married to Vietnamese citizens, investors and some other categories work without a permit but obtain a certificate of exemption.

Managers, experts and technical workers who come for short periods can now work without a permit for up to 90 days per calendar year; previously the limit was 30 days per trip.

passport and photo
diploma with an apostille and a notarised Vietnamese translation
letters from employers confirming experience
criminal record certificate issued within the last 6 months
medical certificate from an approved clinic
employment contract and employer documents

Your own company: an investor card for 3, 5 or 10 years

A foreigner who sets up a company in Vietnam or buys into its capital gets an investor visa and, with it, a card. The card's term depends on the capital invested: from $120,000 gives a card for up to 3 years, from $2 million up to 5 years and from $3.9 million up to 10 years. Below $120,000 there is no card, only an investor visa of up to 12 months that has to be renewed.

The money must actually be paid into the charter capital, not just written into documents: the immigration service checks proof of contribution and the company's reporting. The company pays taxes and files reports, so a small business with $120,000 of capital needs a real plan, not just the wish to get a card.

Company registration in Vietnam takes two steps: first an investment registration certificate, then enterprise registration. Timelines and taxes are covered on our page about company registration in Vietnam.

Family: marriage and kinship with a Vietnamese citizen

The spouse, children and parents of a Vietnamese citizen get a family visa and, with it, a temporary residence card for up to 3 years. A marriage registered abroad must be recognised in Vietnam and the documents apostilled and translated. A foreigner married to a Vietnamese citizen needs no work permit, only a certificate of exemption.

The spouse and children under 18 of a foreigner with a work, investor or student card also get a family visa and card. Their cards are tied to the main applicant's card.

Study and internships

A student visa is issued for study at a university or language centre and for internships, on the institution's invitation. It can lead to a card for the length of study, up to 5 years. You cannot work on a student card without a work permit.

Short language courses are often used to stay in Vietnam longer, but the immigration service checks whether the student attends. If the study is a formality, the card will not be renewed.

Without a job or company: what Vietnam does not offer

Vietnam has no retirement visa, no residence permit for people living on passive income and no digital nomad visa. A foreigner can buy a flat in an apartment building with 50-year ownership, but buying a home does not give a card.

Remote work for a foreign employer on a tourist or electronic visa is formally not allowed. If you want to live in Vietnam long term and work remotely, the legal route is your own company with capital from $120,000 or work for a local company.

Health insurance for a residence permit

By law, health insurance is not required for a temporary residence card. Foreign employees with an employment contract join compulsory health insurance, and those with contracts of a year or more also join social insurance. For the health part the employer pays 3% of salary and the employee 1.5%.

Public insurance covers treatment at the hospitals you are registered with. Most foreigners also buy a private policy covering international clinics in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, especially for children.

Fees and timelines: what residency in Vietnam costs

Item	Amount
Temporary residence card up to 2 years	$145
Card for 2 to 5 years	$155
Card for 5 to 10 years	$165
Permanent residence card	$100
Single-entry e-visa	$25
Multiple-entry e-visa	$50
Company capital for an investor card	from $120,000

Fees are per person. Apostilles and translation of documents, certificates, the medical check and company registration come on top. The Apostille Convention has applied to Vietnam since 11 September 2026; consular legalisation remains only for documents from Germany, Austria and Czechia, which objected to Vietnam's accession. Our consultant will work out the total for your family in the chat.

Support up to your Vietnamese residence card

In Vietnam the card itself is issued quickly; the time goes into preparation: apostilles for the diploma and criminal record certificate, the work permit, registering a company and paying in the capital. We pick the route, prepare documents, apostilles and translations, register a company for an investor card and handle the immigration application until the card is issued.

Our consultant will quote the cost of support in the chat.

Get a quote for support

Common reasons for refusal

the diploma or criminal record certificate has no apostille or is older than 6 months
experience is not confirmed by employer letters or does not match the position
the company's capital has not been fully paid in or the contribution is not confirmed by a bank
the study is a formality: the student does not attend classes
a marriage registered abroad is not recognised in Vietnam
past violations: overstays or work without a permit

Overstays and unauthorised work in Vietnam lead to fines and possible deportation with an entry ban, so it is better to sort out your status before the visa expires.

Restrictions for certain nationalities

Citizens of Russia, Belarus and several European countries enter Vietnam visa-free for 45 days, citizens of Kazakhstan for 30 days, and most others on an e-visa of up to 90 days. You can switch to a work, investor or family visa inside the country if you already have a work permit, investor documents or are a relative of a Vietnamese citizen.

There are no nationality-based restrictions on residence: all routes are open on general terms.

Path to permanent residence and citizenship in Vietnam

Permanent residence in Vietnam is for a narrow group: spouses, children and parents of Vietnamese citizens who live permanently in the country, scientists and experts, and people with merits to Vietnam. The main condition for family members is at least 3 years of continuous residence on a temporary card, legal housing and a stable income. The permanent residence card is issued for 10 years, and the fee is $100.

Work and investment usually do not lead to permanent residence: such foreigners renew temporary cards for years. Citizenship comes after 5 years of permanent residence, with Vietnamese and means of support; the previous citizenship usually has to be given up. From 1 July 2025 the rules were relaxed for relatives of Vietnamese citizens. More in our guide to Vietnamese citizenship.

This topic in other countries

How to get residency in other countries:

FAQ

How do I get residency in Vietnam?

You need a basis: work for a Vietnamese employer with a work permit, your own company with capital from $120,000, marriage or kinship with a Vietnamese citizen, or study. On that basis the immigration service issues a temporary residence card for 2 to 10 years.

Can I get Vietnamese residency through investment?

Yes, through your own company. Capital from $120,000 gives a card for up to 3 years, from $2 million up to 5 years and from $3.9 million up to 10 years.

Can I get Vietnamese residency by buying property?

No. A foreigner can buy a flat with 50-year ownership, but it does not come with a residence card.

How much does Vietnamese residency cost?

The card fee is $145 for up to 2 years, $155 for up to 5 years and $165 for up to 10 years. Add the costs of the basis: a work permit, apostilled documents or company capital from $120,000.

Are there nationality restrictions on residency in Vietnam?

No, every route is open on general terms. Citizens of Russia, Belarus and several European countries enter visa-free for 45 days and, like everyone else, can switch status inside the country once they have a work permit, investor documents or a marriage to a Vietnamese citizen.

Can I live in Vietnam on an e-visa?

An e-visa gives up to 90 days per entry, after which you must leave and get a new one. You cannot work on it, and it is not residence.

Does Vietnam have a retirement or digital nomad visa?

No. For a long stay without local work, the options are your own company or family.

Can I get permanent residence in Vietnam?

Yes, but mainly spouses, children and parents of Vietnamese citizens after 3 years on a temporary card, as well as scientists, experts and people with merits to the country.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.

Free consultation

Or message us on Telegram →

FreeConfidentialInstant reply