What Is a Vietnam Investor Visa? Latest Requirements, Documents and Procedures
What Is a Vietnam Investor Visa?
Vietnam investor visa is issued to foreign investors in Vietnam or representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam. Depending on capital contribution value, investment sector, investment area or project nature, investor visas are classified under different symbols: ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3 and ĐT4.
This visa group is suitable for foreign nationals who contribute capital, establish enterprises, participate in investment activities or represent foreign organizations with lawful investment activities in Vietnam. Correctly identifying the investor visa symbol is important because each visa type has a different validity period and may affect temporary residence card eligibility, family sponsorship and long-term stay planning in Vietnam.
Current Types of Vietnam Investor Visas
Under current regulations, Vietnam investor visas are divided into 4 main categories: ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3 and ĐT4.
| Visa type | Eligible applicants | Visa validity |
| ĐT1 visa | Foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with capital contribution of VND 100 billion or more, or investing in sectors/areas eligible for investment incentives as decided by the Government | Up to 05 years |
| ĐT2 visa | Foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with capital contribution from VND 50 billion to under VND 100 billion, or investing in sectors encouraged for development as decided by the Government | Up to 05 years |
| ĐT3 visa | Foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with capital contribution from VND 03 billion to under VND 50 billion | Up to 03 years |
| ĐT4 visa | Foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with capital contribution under VND 03 billion | Up to 12 months |
It should be noted that ĐT4 visa has a shorter validity period and is generally not in the group commonly considered for long-term investor temporary residence cards like ĐT1, ĐT2 and ĐT3. Therefore, investors should check capital contribution value, investment status and legal documents before determining the application direction.
Requirements for a Vietnam Investor Visa
To apply for a Vietnam investor visa, a foreign national must meet basic requirements under Vietnam’s regulations on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners.
Common requirements include:
- Having a valid passport or international travel document;
- Having an enterprise, agency or organization in Vietnam to invite and sponsor the applicant;
- Having documents proving foreign investor status or representative status of a foreign organization investing in Vietnam;
- Not falling under cases of entry suspension under Vietnamese law;
- Having an entry purpose consistent with the requested investor visa symbol;
- Having a valid sponsorship dossier and legal documents from the Vietnamese enterprise.
Documents proving investment activities may include investment registration certificate, enterprise registration certificate, documents showing capital contribution, member/shareholder information or other documents issued by competent authorities depending on the case.
Do Foreign Investors Need a Work Permit?
Foreign investors in Vietnam may fall under cases where a work permit is not required if they meet conditions under Vietnamese labor regulations. However, it should not be assumed that every foreigner holding an investor visa is automatically exempt from work permit requirements in all situations.
Enterprises should clearly distinguish:
- A foreign national acting as an investor, contributing capital and exercising investor rights and obligations;
- A foreign national who also directly works, manages, holds a professional position or participates in an employment relationship in the enterprise;
- A foreign national representing a foreign organization investing in Vietnam;
- A foreign national who may need an investor visa, work permit, work permit exemption confirmation or temporary residence card depending on the specific case.
Therefore, before proceeding with an investor visa application, the enterprise should review investment documents, job title, actual role of the foreign national and any related labor procedures if applicable.
Benefits of a Vietnam Investor Visa
Foreign nationals granted Vietnam investor visas may enjoy certain benefits depending on visa type, validity and dossier conditions.
Common benefits include:
- Entering and staying in Vietnam during the granted visa validity;
- Conducting activities suitable to investor status or representative status of a foreign organization investing in Vietnam;
- Being considered for new visa issuance or stay extension if requirements are met;
- Being considered for temporary residence cards under ĐT1, ĐT2 and ĐT3 categories if eligible;
- Sponsoring spouse and children under 18 under a suitable dependent visa category if requirements are met;
- Multiple entries and exits if the granted visa or temporary residence card is multiple-entry;
- Having a more suitable legal basis for managing investment, business and residence activities in Vietnam.
These benefits should not be understood as automatically applicable to every application. The competent authority will review based on visa type, legal dossier, sponsorship status and actual conditions of each case.
Can Investor Visa Holders Apply for a Temporary Residence Card?
Foreign nationals under ĐT1, ĐT2 and ĐT3 categories may be considered for temporary residence cards if requirements are met. The validity of the temporary residence card depends on the relevant symbol.
| Temporary residence card symbol | Applicant group | Validity |
| ĐT1 | Investors or representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam under ĐT1 category | Up to 10 years |
| ĐT2 | Investors or representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam under ĐT2 category | Up to 05 years |
| ĐT3 | Investors or representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam under ĐT3 category | Up to 03 years |
For ĐT4 visa, foreign nationals are generally not in the group eligible for long-term investor temporary residence cards like ĐT1, ĐT2 and ĐT3. If an investor needs long-term residence, capital contribution value, investment status and other suitable dossier options should be reviewed.
Required Documents for a Vietnam Investor Visa
Investor visa documents may vary depending on whether the investor is outside Vietnam or already in Vietnam, the sponsoring enterprise, the requested ĐT visa type and investment dossier status.
In general, documents should be prepared under the following groups:
Documents of the Foreign Investor
- Valid passport;
- Photos in the required format if requested;
- Expected entry information, visa receiving location and stay period;
- Documents proving investor status or representative status of a foreign organization investing in Vietnam;
- Family relationship documents if dependants accompany the investor or family sponsorship is required;
- Other documents requested by the competent authority depending on the case.
Legal Documents of the Sponsoring Enterprise in Vietnam
The sponsoring enterprise must prepare legal documents relating to its operating status and invitation/sponsorship of the foreign national.
Common documents include:
- Enterprise registration certificate;
- Investment registration certificate if available;
- Documents showing capital contribution, ownership ratio or investor representative status;
- Seal and signature registration form if not previously registered or if there are changes;
- Request for entry approval/invitation approval using the suitable form;
- Electronic transaction account or registration dossier for invitation/sponsorship procedures if completed online;
- Introduction letter or authorization for the person submitting the dossier if submitted directly;
- Additional documents requested by the Immigration Department.
Entry Approval Dossier for Investors Outside Vietnam
If the investor is outside Vietnam and needs to enter Vietnam under investor status, the sponsoring enterprise in Vietnam usually needs to apply for entry approval or personnel approval for entry.
Documents may include:
- Request for approval for foreigner’s entry;
- Investor’s passport information;
- Expected entry date, border gate and visa receiving location;
- Legal documents of the sponsoring enterprise;
- Documents proving investment status;
- Required forms;
- Explanation or additional documents if requested.
According to the Ministry of Public Security public service portal, the inviting/sponsoring agency or organization may access the immigration e-portal or public service portal to enter the foreign national’s information as required. After entry approval is granted, the sponsoring agency/organization informs the foreign national to proceed with visa issuance according to the approved content.
Vietnam Investor Visa Application Process
The investor visa process differs depending on whether the investor is outside Vietnam or already in Vietnam. Below is the common process for investors outside Vietnam.
Step 1: Identify the Correct ĐT Visa Type
The enterprise should check capital contribution value, investment documents, investor status or representative status of a foreign organization investing in Vietnam to determine whether the application falls under ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3 or ĐT4.
Step 2: Prepare Enterprise and Investor Documents
The sponsoring enterprise prepares legal documents, investment documents, required forms, passport information and related materials. If foreign-issued documents are used in Vietnam, translation, notarization/certification or consular legalization may be required depending on document type.
Step 3: Submit Entry Approval or Personnel Approval Application
The sponsoring enterprise submits the dossier to the competent immigration authority or through the electronic transaction system if eligible. The receiving authority will review the dossier and may request additional documents if necessary.
Step 4: Receive Entry Approval Result
If the dossier is approved, the sponsoring enterprise receives the result and sends the information to the foreign investor to proceed with visa issuance at the approved location.
Step 5: Receive the Vietnam Investor Visa
The foreign investor may receive the visa at:
- A Vietnamese representative mission overseas;
- An international border gate;
- An international airport in Vietnam;
- Or another location stated in the entry approval.
When receiving the visa, the investor should prepare the original passport, photos, required application form, printed entry approval and visa issuance fee as prescribed.
Where to Submit a Vietnam Investor Visa Application
For the entry approval or personnel approval step, the sponsoring enterprise usually works with the competent immigration authority. Currently, certain procedures may be completed through the public service portal or electronic transaction system of the immigration authority if the enterprise meets the requirements.
For visa issuance, the investor may receive the visa at a Vietnamese representative mission overseas or at an international border gate as stated in the entry approval.
Because dossier receiving procedures, submission methods and processing locations may change from time to time, enterprises should check current information before proceeding, especially if the case is urgent or the investor is in a country without a Vietnamese representative mission.
Vietnam Investor Visa Fees
Vietnam visa fees depend on visa type, validity and number of entries. From 1 April 2026, Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance takes effect, regulating fee collection and payment in the field of exit, entry, transit and residence in Vietnam.
Common visa issuance fees include:
| Visa type | Reference fee |
| Single-entry visa | USD 25 per visa |
| Multiple-entry visa, valid for up to 90 days | USD 50 per visa |
| Multiple-entry visa, over 90 days to 180 days | USD 95 per visa |
| Multiple-entry visa, over 180 days to 01 year | USD 135 per visa |
| Multiple-entry visa, over 01 year to 02 years | USD 145 per visa |
| Multiple-entry visa, over 02 years to 05 years | USD 155 per visa |
| Visa issued to persons under 14 years old, regardless of validity | USD 25 per visa |
In addition to visa issuance fees, clients may incur translation, notarization/certification, consular legalization, courier, travel, dossier support service fees or costs for additional requirements if any.
Processing Time for Vietnam Investor Visa Applications
The statutory processing time refers to the period in which the competent authority reviews the application after receiving a complete and valid dossier. In practice, the total time to complete an investor visa application may be longer because it also includes consultation, investment dossier review, enterprise document standardization, form preparation, submission, result tracking, entry approval receipt and coordination with the investor for visa issuance.
Therefore, statutory processing time should not be understood as the entire actual timeline when using a service. Depending on nationality, dossier status, visa receiving location, submission timing and additional requests if any, the actual timeline may vary.
Nhị Gia will advise the estimated timeline after reviewing the investor’s and sponsoring enterprise’s specific documents.
Can a Vietnam Investor Visa Be Extended?
A foreign national staying in Vietnam under an investor visa may be considered for stay extension or new visa issuance if requirements are met. However, extension should not be understood as automatically approved.
Documents commonly reviewed include:
- Original valid passport;
- Current visa or residence document;
- Legal documents of the sponsoring enterprise;
- Documents proving investment status;
- Temporary residence information in Vietnam;
- Request letter from the sponsoring enterprise;
- Introduction letter or authorization for the submitting person;
- Additional documents required by the immigration authority.
If the investor wishes to stay longer, the enterprise should check eligibility for a ĐT1, ĐT2 or ĐT3 temporary residence card instead of repeatedly handling short-term visa extensions.
Common Mistakes When Applying for a Vietnam Investor Visa
Common mistakes include:
- Incorrectly identifying the ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3 or ĐT4 visa symbol;
- Failing to clearly prove investor status or representative status of a foreign organization investing in Vietnam;
- Inconsistency among investment registration certificate, enterprise registration certificate or capital contribution information;
- Investor’s passport not having sufficient validity;
- Sponsoring enterprise not completing seal/signature registration or electronic transaction account requirements;
- Choosing a visa receiving location inconsistent with the investor’s actual travel plan;
- Wanting a temporary residence card while the dossier falls under ĐT4;
- Confusing investor visa with work visa, business visa or temporary residence card;
- Not checking family sponsorship conditions before submission;
- Using outdated information on fees, forms or submission locations.
These mistakes may lead to additional requests, longer processing time or failure to meet the investor’s intended stay plan.
Vietnam Investor Visa Support Service by Nhị Gia
Vietnam investor visa applications must be handled carefully because they involve enterprise legal documents, investment records, investor status, entry, residence and long-term stay planning in Vietnam. If the visa type is incorrectly identified or investment documents are incomplete, additional adjustments may be required.
With more than 20 years of experience in visas, entry approval letters, temporary residence cards, work permits and legal dossiers for foreigners in Vietnam, Nhị Gia supports investors and sponsoring enterprises in preparing applications based on each specific case.
Nhị Gia supports clients with:
- Advising on the suitable investor visa type: ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3 or ĐT4;
- Reviewing investment documents, capital contribution and investor status;
- Checking the sponsoring enterprise’s legal dossier;
- Guiding preparation of entry approval applications;
- Supporting standardization of forms, passport information, visa receiving location and entry date;
- Advising on visa issuance at Vietnamese representative missions overseas or international border gates;
- Advising on ĐT1, ĐT2 or ĐT3 temporary residence card eligibility if requirements are met;
- Supporting suitable dependent sponsorship dossiers;
- Tracking application progress and supporting additional requests if any;
- Maintaining confidentiality of personal information, enterprise dossiers and investment documents.
Nhị Gia does not guarantee outcomes for every application, as the final decision belongs to the competent authority. However, identifying the correct visa type and preparing a complete, consistent dossier from the beginning can help reduce errors and support a more proactive entry, investment and residence plan in Vietnam.
Nhị Gia Service Timeline
The statutory processing time refers to the processing period of the competent authority after receiving a complete and valid dossier. It is not the entire actual timeline when clients use Nhị Gia’s service.
When using Nhị Gia’s service, the actual timeline depends on investment dossier status, sponsoring enterprise documents, how quickly clients provide documents, translation/notarization/consular legalization needs, submission method, visa receiving location, additional requests if any and immigration authority processing progress.
Nhị Gia will advise the estimated timeline after reviewing the client’s specific dossier.
Contact Nhị Gia for Vietnam Investor Visa Consultation
If you are a foreign investor, representative of a foreign organization investing in Vietnam or an enterprise needing to sponsor an investor’s entry into Vietnam, you should check the correct investor visa type and legal dossier before proceeding.
Please contact Hotline 1900 6654 or email info@nhigia.vn for case-specific consultation from Nhị Gia’s specialists.
