New UĐ1 and UĐ2 visas support priority talent, while e-visa access, residence-card validity, fees and temporary-stay declarations are updated.
About this article
Information updated to August 2026. The content is for reference information only and does not replace legal advice for a specific case.
Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amends 10 laws on security and order, including the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam. The Law takes effect on 1 July 2026. Together with a series of resolutions and circulars issued in 2025 and 2026, it changes many of the rules on visas and residence for foreign nationals.
The current consolidated text is Consolidated Document No. 62/VBHN-VPQH of the Office of the National Assembly.
Two new visa types: UD1 and UD2
The most notable change is two new visa types for the talent that Vietnam wants to attract:
- UD1: granted to foreign nationals who are high-quality human resources in the digital technology industry, leading experts, scientists, and other preferential cases as provided by law. The visa term is up to 05 years.
- UD2: granted to the spouse and children under 18 years of age of a holder of a UD1 visa. The term is likewise up to 05 years.
More importantly, UD1 and UD2 holders receive a temporary residence card valid for up to 10 years, the same as DT1 investors. This is the longest term in the current system.
Each working or investment purpose has its own visa symbol
| Symbol | Granted to | Maximum term |
|---|---|---|
| LD1 | Persons working with a written confirmation of work permit exemption | 02 years |
| LD2 | Persons working who are required to hold a work permit | 02 years |
| DT1 | Investors contributing capital of VND 100 billion or more, or investing in preferential business lines or geographical areas | 05 years |
| DT2 | Capital contribution of VND 50 billion to under VND 100 billion, or business lines in which investment is encouraged | 05 years |
| DT3 | Capital contribution of VND 3 billion to under VND 50 billion | 03 years |
| DT4 | Capital contribution of under VND 3 billion | 01 year |
| DN1 | Persons entering to work with an enterprise or organisation having legal entity status in Vietnam | 01 year |
| DN2 | Persons entering to offer services or establish a commercial presence | 01 year |
| LS | Foreign lawyers practising in Vietnam | 05 years |
| TT | Spouses and children under 18 of LV1, LV2, LS, DT1 to DT4, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LD1 and LD2 visa holders; relatives of Vietnamese citizens | 01 year |
| UD1 (new) | High-quality human resources in the digital technology industry, leading experts, scientists | 05 years |
| UD2 (new) | Relatives of holders of a UD1 visa | 05 years |
| EV | Electronic visa | 90 days |
A visa must have a term at least 30 days shorter than the term of the passport.
The term of a temporary residence card depends on the visa symbol
| Symbol | Maximum term |
|---|---|
| DT1, UD1, UD2 | 10 years |
| NG3, LV1, LV2, LS, DT2, DH | 05 years |
| NN1, NN2, DT3, TT | 03 years |
| LD1, LD2, PV1 | 02 years |
The Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security or the immigration division of the provincial police issues most cards, including LD1, LD2, the DT group and TT. The Consular Department or the Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues NG3 cards.
The competent authority processes an application within 5 working days of receiving a complete file.
A new fee schedule applies from 1 April 2026
Circular No. 28/2026/TT-BTC (issued on 27 March 2026) replaces Circular No. 25/2021/TT-BTC. Fee tables that still refer to the old circular should be updated to the current rates.
| Type of document | Fee |
|---|---|
| Single-entry visa | USD 25 |
| Multiple-entry visa, up to 90 days | USD 50 |
| Multiple-entry visa, up to 180 days | USD 95 |
| Temporary residence card of no more than 2 years | USD 145 |
| Temporary residence card of over 2 years up to 5 years | USD 155 |
| Temporary residence card of over 5 years up to 10 years | USD 165 |
Electronic visas are accepted at 83 border gates
| Item | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Term | Up to 90 days |
| Number of entries | Single entry or multiple entries |
| Eligible persons | Citizens of all countries and territories (Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP) |
| Border gates | 83 border gates (Resolution No. 389/NQ-CP from 2 December 2025, adding 41 border gates to the 42 previously in place) |
| Processing time | No more than 03 working days |
| Filing | dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn or e-services.mps.gov.vn |
Citizens of every country can now obtain an e-visa. The list of 80 countries under Resolution No. 79/NQ-CP of 2020 no longer applies, because Resolution No. 127/NQ-CP allows e-visas for citizens of all countries and territories. Resolution No. 389/NQ-CP has also increased the number of border gates from 42 to 83.
Unilateral visa exemption covers 24 countries under two different regimes
This topic often causes mistakes, because different conditions apply to the two groups of countries.
Group 1 under Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP: 12 countries, from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028
This group covers Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.
Citizens of these countries may stay for 45 days, whatever their passport type and whatever the purpose of their visit.
Group 2 under Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP: 12 countries, from 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028
This group covers Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.
Citizens of these countries may also stay for 45 days, but only for tourism.
The purpose of entry determines whether the exemption applies. Citizens of group 1 may enter visa-free for any purpose. Citizens of group 2 who come to work, attend meetings or explore investments are not visa-exempt and must apply for the appropriate visa. In practice, some experts have been refused entry because their employers confused the two groups.
Vietnam also grants bilateral visa exemptions under treaties with some ASEAN and other countries, with different stay periods. Enterprises should check the specific agreement at the time of travel.
Visa exemption is widened from 1 July 2026
- The law adds a time-limited visa exemption for special categories serving socio-economic development, namely large investors, high-tech experts and international scientists. The Government will specify the categories, taking national security into account.
- A unilateral visa exemption lasts no more than 5 years and must be reviewed before it is extended.
- Visa exemption is extended to qualifying coastal economic zones, namely zones with an international airport and defined geographical boundaries.
- Grandparents who are Vietnamese citizens may sponsor visits by their foreign grandchildren.
Immigration procedures are simplified from 1 July 2026
- People who enter without a temporary or permanent residence card can obtain a temporary residence certificate at the border gate.
- Invitation and sponsorship applications may be filed by post or online, and e-visas are issued through the National Public Service Portal using an electronic identification account and a digital signature.
- Authorities draw data directly from national databases, so applicants do not have to resubmit documents already in the system.
- Applicants no longer have to report the loss of a permanent residence card to obtain a replacement, and the fee for notification of visa issuance is abolished.
Enterprises that provide housing must declare foreigners' temporary residence
In practice, many enterprises that house foreign experts do not realise that this obligation applies to them.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Who is responsible | The accommodation establishment, including hotels, guesthouses, rental houses, dormitories, and housing arranged by an enterprise for experts |
| Time limit | Immediately upon the arrival of the foreign national (Circular No. 87/2026/TT-BCA, from 24 July 2026); or within 12 hours if using declaration form NA17, and 24 hours in remote and isolated areas |
| Method | The electronic temporary residence declaration system of the immigration authority, or declaration form NA17 filed with the commune or ward Police |
| Accompanying obligation | Ask the foreign national to show a passport or international travel document before letting them stay |
| Fee | None collected |
Fine levels under Decree No. 282/2025/ND-CP (from 15 December 2025)
| Conduct | Fine level (individuals) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation establishment failing to declare temporary residence for 1 to 3 foreign nationals | VND 3 million to VND 5 million |
| Accommodation establishment failing to declare temporary residence for 4 to 8 persons | VND 10 million to VND 15 million |
| Accommodation establishment failing to declare temporary residence for 9 persons or more | VND 15 million to VND 20 million |
| Foreign national failing to produce a passport to the accommodation establishment | VND 3 million to VND 5 million |
Organisations are fined double these amounts and, depending on the nature and seriousness of the breach, the foreign national may be expelled.
Current fines are much higher than before. Decree No. 167/2013/ND-CP and Decree No. 144/2021/ND-CP are no longer in force. The fines under Decree No. 282/2025/ND-CP are much higher than the VND 500,000 to VND 2,000,000 range under the old decrees, and organisations pay double the amounts in the table.
What enterprises should do
- Review which employees could move to UD1. Enterprises with digital technology experts, scientists or leading experts can extend their temporary residence cards to up to 10 years under UD1, instead of 2 years under LD2. This greatly reduces the number of renewals.
- Check the temporary residence declaration process for experts staying in company-arranged housing. From 24 July 2026, the declaration must be made as soon as the foreign national arrives, not at the end of the day.
- Update internal guidance on visa exemption. Distinguish clearly between the 12 countries under Resolution No. 44 (any purpose) and the 12 countries under Resolution No. 229 (tourism only). Confusing the two may get an expert refused entry.
- Update cost estimates to the new fees under Circular No. 28/2026/TT-BTC.
- Prepare for online filing: the sponsor needs an electronic identification account and a digital signature to file online from 1 July 2026.