IMMIGRATION

Administrative procedures—especially those related to obtaining the necessary immigration documents to live in a foreign country—can be extremely tedious. Vietnam is no exception.

Relocation Vietnam handles these procedures on your behalf. We work with authorized and qualified local experts to ensure an efficient and seamless process for obtaining your immigration documents. We also take care of immigration matters for your family and even your pets.

Administrative procedures in Vietnam - overview

The objective of this program is to help you obtain all the necessary documents in a minimum amount of time.

Relocation and immigration: Needs Analysis

Individual pre-arrival consultation*
Comprehensive questionnaire detailing specific immigration needs and inquires

Relocation and immigration: Pre-arrival assistance with administrative procedures in Vietnam

In-depth assessment of the immigration profile
Preparation of all required legal documents
Advice, information and support*

Relocation and immigration: Assistance and support in your administrative procedures

Business Visa
Work Permit
Temporary Resident Card

Assistance and support for the resettlement of your pets in Vietnam

Import permits and other necessary administrative and legal formalities
Recommendations and advice for the transport of animals
Any additional information or assistance regarding your pet (see our Pet Relocation Services)

Stay in touch

Consultation: follow-up*

*Consultation and support services are provided by mail, telephone and/or video call.

Short Term journey in Vietnam for citizens from abroad

Options to Enter Vietnam For a Short Term Period
Depending on your nationality and your needs, several options are available:

45-day visa exemption (depending on your nationality)
90-day e-Visa (single or multiple entry, available to all),

Visa Exemption

Since August 15, 2025, Vietnam has expanded its visa exemption program. Twelve new European countries – Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland – now benefit from the 45-day visa exemption.

This measure comes in addition to the exemptions already in place for many countries in Europe and Asia, further enhancing Vietnam’s appeal for short-term stays.

90 days e-Visa

In parallel, the Vietnamese government has implemented a major reform: since August 2023, the electronic visa (e-Visa) application has been available to all nationalities. This e-Visa is valid for stays of up to 90 days, with the option of single or multiple entry.

General conditions:

The passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended date of entry.
The e-Visa cannot be extended within Vietnam: to prolong your stay, you must leave the country and apply for a new one.

To apply, applicants must complete the online form available on the official government website (https://thithucdientu.gov.vn), upload a passport-style photo and a copy of the passport information page, and pay a non-refundable fee of 25 USD (single entry) or 50 USD (multiple entries) online.

Work permit regulations for expats in Vietnam

Immigration in Vietnam – First Step : Business Visa

The Business Visa allows foreigners to enter Vietnam and stay for 1 to 3 months in order to conduct professional activities (meetings, market research, contract signing, etc.). However, it does not authorize salaried employment, which requires a Work Permit.

Obtaining a Business Visa requires sponsorship from a local company, which provides an invitation letter submitted to the Vietnamese immigration authorities. Once issued, it allows entry into Vietnam and a stay for the specified period.

This generally provides enough time to finalize the requirements for a Work Permit application, in order to acquire the right to work legally in Vietnam.

Required documents for a Business Visa application:

Official Visa application form
Applicant’s passport
Passport-sized photos
Invitation letter from the sponsoring company in Vietnam
Company registration license
Visa fees

Immigration in Vietnam – Second Step : Work Permit

The Work Permit is the official document authorizing employment in Vietnam. The application is filed with the Department of Labor and requires, in particular, notarized copies of diplomas, a criminal record certificate, and a medical certificate issued in Vietnam. The Business Visa therefore allows entry into the country to undergo the medical examination and gather the final paperwork needed to complete the Work Permit application. Once granted, it is valid for two years, renewable for an additional two years under simplified procedures. Beyond this period, a full new application must be submitted.

Required documents for a Work Permit application:

Official Work Permit application form
Applicant’s passport
Passport-sized photos
Criminal record certificate
Medical certificate issued by an accredited hospital in Vietnam
Notarized and Vietnamese-translated diplomas and qualification certificates (academic, technical, etc.)
Letter of professional experience
Company registration license
Letter justifying the need to hire a foreigner
Employment contract

Immigration in Vietnam – Special Case : Work Permit Exemption

Certain categories of foreign workers do not need a Work Permit in Vietnam but must instead obtain a Work Permit Exemption Certificate issued by the Ministry of Labor. Exemption does not mean no procedure: it must still be officially requested and recognized by the authorities. It is valid for a maximum of two years. Eligible persons include investors and members of the board of directors of Vietnamese companies, intra-corporate transferees within multinational companies, experts and teachers invited by a university or a ministry, individuals on short-term assignments (less than 30 consecutive days and 90 days in total per year), as well as directors of representative offices or NGOs.

Required documents for a Work Permit Exemption application:

Official exemption application form
Applicant’s passport
Passport-sized photos
Employer’s request letter
Company registration license
Documents and certificates specific to the applicant’s category

Immigration in Vietnam – Third Step : Temporary Resident Card

The TRC (Temporary Resident Card) allows a foreigner to legally reside in Vietnam for an extended period, generally 1 to 2 years for employees, 2 to 5 years for investors, or for the duration of the program for students. It is directly tied to the purpose of stay: employment, investment, family, or studies.

It allows multiple entries into Vietnam without the need to frequently renew a visa and simplifies administrative procedures within the country.

Required documents for a Temporary Resident Card application:

Official TRC application form
Applicant’s passport
Passport-sized photos
Proof of residence (rental contract or landlord/hotel declaration to the local police)
Copy of Work Permit or Work Permit Exemption Certificate and employer’s letter (for a work TRC)
Valid TRC or visa of the sponsoring family member, legalized and Vietnamese-translated marriage/birth certificate (for a family TRC)
Proof of invested capital and company license (for an investor TRC)
Admission letter and proof of enrollment (for a student TRC)

Immigration in Vietnam – Special Case : Permanent Resident Card

In specific cases (marriage to a Vietnamese citizen, long-term investments, experts invited by the government, international humanitarian missions), it is possible to apply for a PRC (Permanent Resident Card), which allows indefinite residence in Vietnam. The PRC provides multiple entry rights and the ability to settle permanently without having to renew a visa or TRC.

Required documents for a Permanent Resident Card application:

Official PRC application form
Applicant’s passport
Passport-sized photos
Valid TRC
Criminal record certificate
Vietnamese medical certificate
Proof of stable income and accommodation (rental contract)
Documents proving family relationship, investment, or ministerial invitation

Administrative procedures in Vietnam - Everything About Intragroup Transfers

Intra-group transfers apply to employees classified as managers, executive directors, experts, or technical workerswho are assigned to Vietnam by their company or another entity within the same corporate group. For these categories, Vietnamese law provides specific rules that ease administrative procedures and, in some cases, allow employees to work without the need for a traditional work permit.

Intra-Group Transfers in Vietnam – What is the impact for businesses?

For multinational companies, this procedure is especially valuable. It allows employees to be transferred from a foreign entity to a Vietnamese subsidiary without requiring a local labor contract. The employee can remain on the payroll of the sending company, which significantly simplifies administrative processes for international assignments.

Intra-Group Transfers in Vietnam – What are the eligibility conditions?

A key requirement is that the employee must have at least 12 months of experience within the corporate group before being transferred to Vietnam. Unlike earlier practices, this experience no longer needs to come directly from the foreign investor entity registered in Vietnam. The assignment letter simply needs to state which group entity the employee is transferred from, along with confirmation of the length of their experience with the company.

Authorities may also request proof of the relationship between the companies within the group, especially when the entities do not share a common name. This ensures the legitimacy of the intra-group transfer and the continuity of the employee’s professional background.

Intra-Group Transfers in Vietnam – Why was this procedure introduced?

The goal is to facilitate staff mobility within multinational corporations operating in Vietnam. Under the previous system, many companies struggled to meet the strict requirement that the employee must have worked directly for the registered investor entity. By broadening the eligibility to include any entity within the group, the process is now more flexible and better aligned with the way international companies operate.

Intra-Group Transfers in Vietnam – How does it work in practice?

When a company applies for an intra-group transfer, it must provide an assignment letter from the foreign entity, including details of the employee’s role and length of service. Once validated by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the employee is authorized to work in Vietnam under the appropriate professional classification.

Immigration process in Vietnam - Losing your passport in Vietnam

Lose his passport is a tragedy and is among the worst nightmares when you live or travel abroad, but the process is now clearly regulated. If it happens, you must first report the loss to the local police to obtain an official loss report. Then, you should contact your embassy or consulate in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to request either a replacement passport or an emergency travel document.

If you need to travel within Vietnam (for example, by plane) before receiving your new passport, the authorities allow you to do so using the police loss report together with a confirmation letter issued by your embassy or consulate. These documents temporarily serve as valid proof for airlines and security checks.

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