- Digital nomad visa
- No
Overall5.5/10Harder visas than about 55% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- If your nationality isn't on the 45/30/21/14-day exemption list (this includes the US, Canada, Australia, and India), plan to apply for the e-visa online in advance at the official evisa.gov.vn portal — don't rely on getting a visa on arrival without pre-approval.
- Even exempt nationals can't extend their stay from inside Vietnam — many long-term nomads do a short 'visa run' to Laos or Cambodia, or simply apply for a 90-day e-visa instead of relying on the shorter exemption.
- Only use the official government e-visa portal (evisa.gov.vn) — many third-party sites charge extra fees for the same service and can cause confusion about which is official.
- Double-check your specific nationality's rules before booking flights, since exemption lists and durations have changed multiple times in the past two years and some sources online are outdated.
- There is no Vietnam digital nomad visa — the 90-day multiple-entry e-visa is the practical, low-barrier option almost everyone uses, and it requires no proof of income or employer letter.
- The e-visa cannot be extended or renewed while inside Vietnam — you must exit and apply for a fresh one (or use visa-free entry if eligible) to keep staying, so budget for periodic border runs.
- Working remotely for overseas clients on a tourist e-visa is common and widely tolerated, but it isn't formally authorized under Vietnamese law — treat it as a manageable gray area rather than a guaranteed right.
- Overstay fines have been increasing and enforcement is tightening, so track your e-visa expiry date carefully and exit before it lapses.
- If you stay under 183 days in any rolling 12-month period and keep no permanent residence registered in Vietnam, your foreign-sourced freelance/remote income is generally not taxed locally — many nomads plan trips around this threshold.
- The much-discussed 'Golden Visa' and most of the 'Talent Visa' coverage in the media is not realistically available to typical remote workers — don't plan your move around it.
Visa Free Entry
- Baseline Summary
- Vietnam has no blanket 'Schengen-style' visa-free zone for all nationals. Instead, specific nationalities are unilaterally exempted from visa requirements for a set number of days, while everyone else (including US, Canada, Australia, and most of the world) must obtain a Vietnam e-visa before or on arrival. There is no visa-on-arrival-without-prior-approval system for most nationalities.
- Overstay Consequences
- Overstay fines were significantly increased under a 2025 immigration decree, with penalties scaling by number of days overstayed; longer overstays can also trigger entry bans on future visits.
E Visa Fallback
- Max Stay
- Up to 90 days, single or multiple entry
- Entry Points
- Valid at dozens of designated international airports, land borders, and seaports across Vietnam, including Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport
- Who Needs It
- All nationalities not covered by an exemption, or anyone from an exempt country wanting a longer/more flexible stay
- Official Portal
- https://evisa.gov.vn (mirrored at https://thithucdientu.gov.vn)
- Processing Time
- Typically around 3 working days via the official portal, though real-world processing can run several days longer
- Fee Single Entry
- ₫657,500
- Fee Multiple Entry
- ₫1,315,000
Important Caveats
- Being part of the EU/Schengen area does NOT automatically grant Vietnam visa-free entry — exemptions are granted country-by-country by specific government resolutions, so some Schengen nationals (e.g. Ireland, Austria, Greece, Portugal) still need an e-visa.
- British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders are not eligible for the visa exemption and must obtain a visa.
- Visa-exempt stays cannot be extended while inside Vietnam. To stay longer, travelers must exit (a 'visa run' to Laos, Cambodia, or Thailand is common) and re-enter, or apply for an e-visa before the exemption expires.
- The immigration officer at the port of entry has final discretion and can deny entry even to an exempt-nationality traveler.
Visa Exempt Nationalities
- Not Exempt Must Use Evisa
- United States, Canada, Australia, India, China, Ireland, Austria, Greece, Portugal, and most other nationalities worldwide
14 Days
- Countries
- Brunei
- Multiple Entry
- Yes
21 Days
- Countries
- Philippines
- Multiple Entry
- Yes
30 Days
- Detail
- Mongolian citizens may enter Vietnam without a visa and stay for up to 30 days, effective from March 7, 2024.
- Countries
- Most ASEAN neighbors (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand), plus Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia
- Multiple Entry
- Yes
45 Days
- Detail
- Citizens of these countries entering Vietnam for tourism purposes are granted a temporary stay of 45 days, regardless of passport type.
- Countries
- Germany, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, plus 12 additional European countries added in August 2025 (Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia)
- Multiple Entry
- Yes
- Validity Period
- This visa exemption policy will be effective from August 15, 2025, until the end of August 14, 2028.
90 Days Bilateral
- Countries
- Chile (bilateral agreement, multiple entry)
Entry Requirements For Exempt Travelers
- Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of arrival in Vietnam
- Passport should have at least 2 blank pages
- Must enter through an official international checkpoint (airport, land border, or seaport)
- No advance registration, form, or fee is required for exempt nationals — just present a valid passport at the border
Digital Nomad Visa And Tax
- Visa Ease Tier
- moderate
- Visa Ease Tier Rationale
- No dedicated nomad visa exists, but a cheap, no-income-proof 90-day multiple-entry e-visa (renewable via border runs) makes tourist-based long-term stays fairly accessible despite requiring periodic exits.
- Which Path Most Nomads Use
- The 90-day multiple-entry e-visa combined with periodic border exits ('visa runs') is what the large majority of remote workers based in Hanoi actually use, since it requires no income proof, no sponsor, and no local employer.
Tax Notes
- Practical Nomad Strategy
- Many remote workers deliberately structure their itinerary to stay under 183 days in Vietnam within any 12-month window specifically to remain a non-resident and keep foreign-sourced freelance/remote income outside Vietnam's tax net.
- Filing
- Vietnam's tax year is the calendar year; annual personal income tax finalization is generally due within a set window after year-end, and foreigners departing permanently must settle outstanding PIT before leaving.
- Deductions
- Tax residents get a personal deduction (15.5 million VND/month from 2026) plus a dependent deduction (6.2 million VND/month per qualifying dependent from 2026), and mandatory social/health insurance contributions are deductible where applicable.
- Double Taxation
- Vietnam has signed over 80 double taxation avoidance agreements, which can reduce or eliminate double taxation on cross-border income for residents of treaty partner countries; the US does not have a comprehensive income tax treaty with Vietnam, only a limited trade-related agreement.
- Residency Trigger
- An individual becomes a Vietnamese tax resident if physically present in Vietnam for 183 days or more within a calendar year or within any rolling 12-month period from arrival, or if they maintain a registered permanent residence (e.g. a long-term lease of 183+ days) in Vietnam. Either condition independently triggers residency.
- Resident Treatment
- Once classified as a tax resident, worldwide income becomes taxable in Vietnam under a progressive schedule from 5% up to a top rate of 35%. From 1 January 2026 the bracket structure was streamlined from 7 to 5 brackets, keeping the 35% top rate but raising the threshold at which it applies.
- Non Resident Treatment
- Non-residents (under 183 days, no permanent residence) are taxed only on Vietnam-sourced income, at a flat 20% rate. Foreign-sourced income — such as pay from overseas clients for work performed remotely — is generally not taxed for non-residents.
Application Paths
E-visa (most common route for nomads)
- Max Duration
- Up to 90 days, single or multiple entry
- Renewal Path
- Cannot be extended or renewed from inside Vietnam. Holders must exit the country and either enter visa-free (if eligible) or submit a fresh e-visa application from abroad before re-entering.
- Cost Single Entry
- ₫657,500
- Income Requirement
- None — no proof of income, employment, or health insurance is required for the e-visa application.
- Cost Multiple Entry
- ₫1,315,000
- Description
- An online tourist e-visa, available to citizens of all countries/territories, is the realistic default for remote workers basing themselves in Hanoi. It does not legally authorize employment, but working online for overseas clients while on it is a widely tolerated legal gray area rather than an authorized activity.
Documents Required
- Passport valid at least 6 months beyond entry with blank pages
- Digital passport photo
- Passport data page scan
- Online application form (evisa.gov.vn)
Visa exemption (visa-free entry)
- Cost
- ₫0
- Max Duration
- 14 to 45 days depending on nationality (e.g. most Western European passport holders get 45 days)
- Renewal Path
- Not extendable in-country; must exit before expiry.
- Income Requirement
- None
- Description
- Citizens of a limited list of countries can enter without a visa for tourism, useful for short stays or as part of a border-run rotation.
Documents Required
- Passport valid at least 6 months beyond entry
- Proof of onward travel recommended
Business visa (DN visa)
- Cost
- ₫1,050,000
- Max Duration
- Commonly issued for periods up to 12 months, extendable while in Vietnam
- Renewal Path
- Can generally be extended at a Provincial Immigration Department without leaving the country, unlike the e-visa.
- Income Requirement
- None fixed, but a sponsoring business relationship is required
- Cost Note
- Reported cost range is roughly $40–$100 USD depending on duration and issuing post; this is the low end.
- Description
- A more structured route for those wanting a longer single-stay period, typically sponsored via a Vietnamese business contact or facilitated through an agent; requires an invitation/sponsorship letter.
Documents Required
- Sponsorship/invitation letter from a Vietnamese entity
- Passport valid 6+ months with blank pages
- Application form and photos
Talent Visa / SVEC (5-year, high-bar)
- Cost
- ₫1,315,000
- Max Duration
- Card valid up to 5 years; each continuous stay limited to 90 days before re-entry
- Renewal Path
- Renewal process not yet fully clarified by authorities; not a realistic option for the average remote freelancer.
- Income Requirement
- Not a fixed income figure; eligibility is professional/credential-based rather than income-based
- Description
- A multi-entry exemption card allowing eligible top academics, scientists, executives, and invited guests of recognized institutions to legally live and work in Vietnam for up to 5 years, but each individual stay is capped and re-entry is required periodically.
Documents Required
- Documentation of qualifications and work experience in an eligible field
- Nomination/invitation from a recognized Vietnamese institution or enterprise
- Passport and standard supporting documents
Dedicated Digital Nomad Visa
- Exists
- No
- Summary
- Vietnam has no dedicated digital nomad or remote-work visa. A '10-year Golden Visa' and related investor/talent visa categories have been proposed by the Tourism Advisory Board, but as of mid-2026 these remain draft proposals with no launched application process for ordinary remote workers.
- Status Note
- The one piece that has moved from proposal to reality is a 5-year 'Talent Visa' (special visa exemption card, SVEC), but it targets top academics, scientists, executives and invited institutional guests rather than typical freelance/remote-employee nomads, and still caps each stay at 90 days before requiring re-entry.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this visas research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Hanoi
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.