Vietnam Visa Reforms 2025

Stunning Vietnam

Vietnam is speeding up reforms to its visa policy in 2025. The government is completing long-stay visa reforms, proposing a five-year waiver for investors, researchers, and athletes, and a golden visa valid for up to 10 years for high-value residents.

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, Vietnam welcomed over 10.6 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2025 alone, a 20.7 percent increase from the previous year, highlighting a growing interest in Vietnam’s culture and market. China and South Korea had the highest number of arrivals in Vietnam.

In this scenario, various reforms to Vietnam’s visa policy are being expedited to attract not only tourists but also long-stay professionals, investors, and skilled individuals through extended stay options and more flexible entry rules.

Since August 2023, Vietnam’s electronic visa (e-visa) system has expanded to include citizens from all countries and territories. The e-visa validity has been extended from 30 days to 90 days, allowing both single and multiple entries within that period.

Applicants can apply online through Vietnam’s national portals. This change removes previous country restrictions and aims to make short-term visits for tourism, business, or family purposes more accessible.

Under Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP, issued in March 2025, Vietnam has extended visa waivers for nationals of 12 countries until March 14, 2028. These include visitors from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Travelers from these countries can stay in Vietnam for up to 45 days per entry.

This exemption applies regardless of travel purpose and can be used repeatedly, provided each stay does not exceed the 45-day limit. It represents a shift from previous exemptions, which limited stays to 15 days.

Vietnam also has bilateral visa-free agreements with 15 countries. Additionally, a temporary arrangement is in place for Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. Nationals from these countries can enter Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days from March 1 to December 31, 2025, if traveling through tour packages organized by registered Vietnamese operators.

Visitors arriving directly to Phu Quoc Island can stay up to 30 days without a visa, provided they do not visit other parts of the country during that time. This exemption applies to all foreign nationals and is part of the government’s effort to promote tourism to the island.

These visa policy changes are part of Vietnam’s broader tourism promotion strategy. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is leading a campaign under the banner “Vietnam –

The campaign strategy involves digital outreach through platforms such as Google, TikTok, Facebook, and international online travel agencies. The tourism ministry’s marketing campaigns currently target priority markets like Japan, South Korea, India, the US, Australia, and Western Europe.

The government is also supporting destination branding in specific regions and plans to open overseas tourism offices in major locations.

In July 2025, the Ministry of Public Security is reviewing a draft decree to create new visa categories for long-term foreign residents and target specific high-skill groups. These include business leaders, scientists, artists, medical professionals, and digital creators.

The draft outlines eligibility across multiple categories:

• Executives and investors from global top 100 firms by market capitalization;

• STEM experts, economists, and scholars from Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries with doctoral qualifications;

• Medical scientists affiliated with high-level hospitals or universities;

• Artists, athletes, and public figures with international recognition or awards;

• Tech professionals and engineers involved in national priority sectors like semiconductors or artificial intelligence (AI); and

• Vietnam’s tourism ambassadors and social media content creators with over 1 million followers, subject to official endorsement.

The visa exemption would come with a card valid for five years. Each stay would allow up to 90 days, with the total card duration determining the maximum allowable stay. Visa holders may also receive electronic identification (e-ID) accounts for official processes.

The Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board has separately proposed a new golden visa aimed at long-term residents. This visa would be valid for five to ten years and could be renewed. It would be available to individuals who could make economic, scientific, or cultural contributions to Vietnam.

The Tourism Advisory Board has suggested piloting this visa in major urban centers and economic hubs like Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang. This visa aims to attract global talent in innovation, finance, arts, and tourism.

It would differ from existing investor categories by offering longer stays and broader eligibility, including passive investment or innovation-based contributions.

Vietnam currently offers four investor visa tiers under the Investor Visa DT category. These are linked directly to investment amounts:

Visa type	Investment threshold (VND)	Investment threshold (US$)	Validity period
DT1	Over 100 billion	Over 3.8 million	5 years
DT2	50 to 100 billion	1.9 to 3.8 million	5 years
DT3	3 to 50 billion	114,733 to 1.9 million	3 years
DT4	Under 3 billion	Under 114,733	1 year

DT4 is the most widely used by small-scale investors, though its short validity has been flagged by business groups as a limitation. There are also issues due to the lack of options for portfolio investors or entrepreneurs without direct capital investment.

The proposed golden visa could potentially address these gaps.

In brief

Vietnam is welcoming tourists, investors, and creative artists by reforming its visa policy around long-term value rather than short-stay volume. The proposed visa exemption for individuals who can contribute to Vietnam, and the golden visa, are great opportunities to set up business, study, work, and tour in Vietnam.

If successfully approved and implemented, these changes would close long-standing gaps in the current system, offering an easier path for those looking to contribute to Vietnam beyond limited one- or two-year permits.