Destination Guide
Vietnam, one category at a time.
Vietnam's residence system is deliberately narrow compared to many destinations — permanent residence is granted only under a small number of specific legal grounds. This page sets out what genuinely applies, rather than implying broader options than exist.
Application categories for Vietnam
Each category below links to the full guide for Vietnam. Where Vietnam's own system has named, distinct programs — rather than one general category — we break that out underneath.
Visitor Visa
Full Visitor Visa guide →Many nationalities can visit Vietnam using the government e-Visa system; others apply for a DL-category visitor visa through an embassy or consulate.
Business Visitor
Full Business Visitor guide →Business visitors to Vietnam generally require a DN-category business visa, sponsored by the inviting Vietnamese company or organization; some nationalities may alternatively use the e-Visa for shorter, simpler trips.
Study Visa
Full Study Visa guide →Foreign students studying in Vietnam generally apply for a DH-category visa, sponsored by the enrolling Vietnamese educational institution, and may need a temporary residence card for longer programs.
Work Visa
Full Work Visa guide →Foreign nationals working in Vietnam generally require a work permit issued through the sponsoring employer, along with a matching work-authorized visa or temporary residence card.
Permanent Residence
Full Permanent Residence guide →Vietnam's permanent residence card is generally available to spouses, children, or parents of Vietnamese citizens, or to foreign nationals who have held valid temporary residence for an extended period with employer or family sponsorship — eligibility is comparatively narrow.
Vietnam grants a Permanent Residence Card only under a small, defined set of statutory grounds — it is not available through investment alone, and there is no general points-based or employment-based route the way many other destinations have.
Family Ties
For a foreign national with a Vietnamese-citizen spouse, parent, or child who is permanently residing in Vietnam. In practice, this most commonly follows several consecutive years holding a marriage-based Temporary Residence Card.
- Applicants with a Vietnamese-citizen spouse, parent, or child, generally after a qualifying period of temporary residence
Exceptional Contribution / Expert
For foreign nationals who have made a recognized, exceptional contribution to Vietnam's economic, social, educational, scientific, or security development, or for highly skilled experts and scientists working in Vietnam, subject to strict, case-by-case government assessment.
- Applicants with a documented, government-recognized exceptional contribution or specialist expertise
Family Sponsorship
Full Family Sponsorship guide →Foreign nationals with a spouse, parent, or child who is a Vietnamese citizen, or who is a foreign resident with valid temporary residence in Vietnam, may be eligible for a TT-category visa and an accompanying temporary residence card.
Parent & Grandparent Visa
Full Parent & Grandparent Visa guide →Vietnam does not have a separate long-stay visa category specifically for parents or grandparents. Extended family visits are generally arranged through a visitor visa or, for closer family ties, a family-reunification visa category. See our Visitor Visa service for the applicable process.
Refusals
Full Refusals guide →Vietnamese visa refusals are not always accompanied by detailed written reasons, which can make understanding what to address before reapplying more challenging — we help organize what documentation and information is available.
Vietnamese Citizenship
Vietnamese naturalization generally requires applicants to renounce their existing foreign citizenship unless they can document that dual nationality is permitted under both Vietnamese law and their home country's law — this renunciation step sits outside the normal processing timeline and can add significant time to the overall process.
- Meet the residence and other statutory eligibility conditions set out in Vietnam's Law on Vietnamese Nationality
- Provide valid documentation that dual nationality is permitted under your home country's law, where you wish to retain it
- Where dual nationality isn't permitted or documented, complete formal renunciation of your existing citizenship within the required window
Vietnamese nationality law, dual-citizenship recognition, and renunciation procedures are set by the Ministry of Justice and can change. Covalyn Migration does not guarantee approval and does not provide legal advice on dual-nationality recognition — confirm your specific situation with the relevant Vietnamese authority directly.
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