The Vietnam Tourism Advisory Council has proposed introducing a golden visa program valid for 5 to 10 years, as this would allow Vietnam to compete with offers from neighboring countries.
This proposal was sent to the country's Prime Minister, warning that Vietnam's tourism and immigration sectors risk falling significantly behind those of Thailand and Malaysia, despite a gradual return to pre-pandemic levels. Both neighboring countries currently offer long-term visa options for foreign citizens.
The proposal includes three visa options:
a standard 10-year golden visa;
a 10-year golden visa, which provides the opportunity to obtain permanent residence after 5 years if the applicant maintains their investment;
a 5-year "talent visa" with a simplified renewal procedure.
The government plans to pilot these programs in tourist destinations including Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang.
It should be noted that the golden visa will differ from Vietnam's current investor visa system.
Existing DT visas (DT1-DT4) require investments ranging from VND 3 billion (US$120,000) for a one-year DT4 visa to VND 100 billion (US$4 million) for a five-year renewable DT1 visa.
Unlike Golden Visas, which allow passive investment, current DT visas require active participation in business operations in Vietnam.
Vietnam's Asian competitors have already made progress in this area. Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia offer residency programs through capital investment. The expansion of Vietnam's visa policy aims to attract more foreign tourists and immigrants and build the country's reputation as a welcoming destination.
The government also extended visa-free travel for citizens of 12 countries until 2028, and the Prime Minister instructed ministries to consider introducing visa-free travel for visitors from Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Specific investment thresholds for the new Golden Visa have not yet been announced, but the initiative is clearly aimed at creating a more accessible path to long-term residency than the current DT visa system.
The current path to permanent residency takes three years, followed by the possibility of naturalization after five years if applicants demonstrate proficiency in the Vietnamese language and renounce other citizenships.
If you are planning to obtain a residence permit, invest in a country's economy, or purchase foreign real estate, we invite you to a consultation with our company. During a personal online meeting, we will thoroughly examine your questions and create a step-by-step action plan for you.
This proposal was sent to the country's Prime Minister, warning that Vietnam's tourism and immigration sectors risk falling significantly behind those of Thailand and Malaysia, despite a gradual return to pre-pandemic levels. Both neighboring countries currently offer long-term visa options for foreign citizens.
The proposal includes three visa options:
a standard 10-year golden visa;
a 10-year golden visa, which provides the opportunity to obtain permanent residence after 5 years if the applicant maintains their investment;
a 5-year "talent visa" with a simplified renewal procedure.
The government plans to pilot these programs in tourist destinations including Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang.
It should be noted that the golden visa will differ from Vietnam's current investor visa system.
Existing DT visas (DT1-DT4) require investments ranging from VND 3 billion (US$120,000) for a one-year DT4 visa to VND 100 billion (US$4 million) for a five-year renewable DT1 visa.
Unlike Golden Visas, which allow passive investment, current DT visas require active participation in business operations in Vietnam.
Vietnam's Asian competitors have already made progress in this area. Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia offer residency programs through capital investment. The expansion of Vietnam's visa policy aims to attract more foreign tourists and immigrants and build the country's reputation as a welcoming destination.
The government also extended visa-free travel for citizens of 12 countries until 2028, and the Prime Minister instructed ministries to consider introducing visa-free travel for visitors from Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Specific investment thresholds for the new Golden Visa have not yet been announced, but the initiative is clearly aimed at creating a more accessible path to long-term residency than the current DT visa system.
The current path to permanent residency takes three years, followed by the possibility of naturalization after five years if applicants demonstrate proficiency in the Vietnamese language and renounce other citizenships.
If you are planning to obtain a residence permit, invest in a country's economy, or purchase foreign real estate, we invite you to a consultation with our company. During a personal online meeting, we will thoroughly examine your questions and create a step-by-step action plan for you.