Moving to Vietnam in 2026: visas, residency, costs
Visa-free for 45 days, then a 90-day e-visa for $25-50, after which you need a residence card through work, business or family. One person's living costs with housing run $1,200-1,800 a month.
In short
- Russian citizens need no visa for up to 45 days; an e-visa covers up to 90 days for $25-50.
- There is no separate remote work visa.
- A residence card comes through work, investment from $120,000 or family.
- One person's living costs with housing: $1,200-1,800 a month.
- After 183 days a year: tax residence and 5-35% tax.
In detail
A Russian citizen flies into Vietnam without a visa for 45 days and then gets a 90-day e-visa for $25-50. There is no separate remote work visa, so a long-term move rests on one of three grounds: work, your own business or family. The country overview is on the page Vietnam: all programmes; here is a short relocation plan.
How to enter Vietnam and how long you can stay without a visa
- Without a visa: up to 45 days.
- E-visa: up to 90 days, $25 single-entry, $50 multiple-entry, applied for online.
- Each new visa is issued from scratch; it is not residence.
You can live on e-visas for years, but any change in the rules catches such a settler off guard. A calm life needs a temporary residence card.
How to get residence in Vietnam
| Ground | What you need | Residence card |
|---|---|---|
| Work | a Vietnamese employer, a bachelor's degree and 2 years of experience | up to 2 years |
| Investment from $120,000 | your own company in Vietnam | up to 3 years |
| Investment from $2,000,000 | your own company in Vietnam | up to 5 years |
| Investment from $3,900,000 | your own company in Vietnam | up to 10 years |
| Family | marriage to a Vietnamese citizen or kinship | up to 3 years |
Under the rules in force since 7 August 2025, a work permit is issued within 10 working days, and in priority sectors one year of experience is enough. An investor with less than $120,000 invested gets no residence card, only a one-year visa. Permanent residence in Vietnam is rare: mainly for spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens after 3 years of temporary residence.
How much moving to and living in Vietnam costs
- Temporary residence card: $145 for up to 2 years, $155 for up to 5 years.
- A one-bedroom flat in an expat area of Hanoi: $700-1,200 a month, simpler ones from $350.
- One person's spending including housing: $1,200-1,800 a month.
Da Nang and Nha Trang are cheaper than Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Street food costs next to nothing, while imported groceries and international schools cost as much as in Europe.
45 visa-free days are too few to sort out a residence card
In Vietnam a move most often stalls on the ground for residence: an employer cannot obtain a permit without proven experience, a company with less than $120,000 invested gives only a one-year visa, and documents are not accepted without an apostille and translation. We choose the ground that fits your situation, register a company or check the employer, prepare the documents and obtain the work permit and temporary residence card for you and your family.
The cost of support depends on the ground and your family; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
Taxes after moving
After 183 days in a year you are a Vietnamese tax resident and pay 5% to 35% on worldwide income after a deduction of about $600 a month. A non-resident pays 20% on Vietnamese income. More on the page taxes in Vietnam.
The first 30 days in Vietnam: step by step
- An e-visa if you plan to stay longer than 45 days.
- Housing: the landlord or hotel registers you with the police within 12 hours.
- Money: Russian cards do not work in Vietnam, and cash above $5,000 is declared on entry.
- A local SIM card on your passport and health insurance.
- A ground for the residence card: an employer, your own company or family.
If you are thinking of buying a home, the rules for foreigners are in the article buying a flat in Vietnam.
FAQ
Do Russians need a visa for Vietnam?
Can you move to Vietnam permanently?
How do you get residence in Vietnam?
Does Vietnam have a remote work visa?
How much does living in Vietnam cost in 2026?
What taxes apply after moving to Vietnam?
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.
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