- Digital nomad visa
- No
Overall4/10Harder visas than about 75% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Being from a Schengen-area country does NOT automatically mean visa-free entry — exemptions are granted country-by-country, so some EU/Schengen nationals (e.g., Austria, Ireland, Portugal, Greece) still need an e-visa.
- US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders are NOT visa-exempt and must arrange a Vietnam e-visa before flying — there's no visa-on-arrival counter for tourists without a pre-approved letter.
- Neither the visa exemption nor the e-visa can be extended from inside Vietnam; long-stayers typically do a short 'visa run' to a neighboring country and re-enter on a fresh entry.
- Double-check your entry stamp date before leaving the immigration counter — occasional stamping errors (e.g., 15 days instead of 45) do happen and are much easier to fix on the spot.
- Your passport needs at least 6 months' validity and 2 blank pages regardless of which entry route you use, and airlines enforce this as strictly as immigration does.
- Always apply for an e-visa only through the official government portal (evisa.gov.vn) — many commercial 'agency' sites charge extra service fees on top of the government fee.
- There is no Vietnam digital nomad visa as of mid-2026 — plan around 90-day e-visas and periodic visa runs (exiting and re-entering) if you want to stay long-term.
- Working remotely for foreign clients on a tourist e-visa is widely tolerated in practice, but it is not legally authorized; it's a genuine gray area, not a guaranteed-safe status.
- If you stay 183+ days in a 12-month window, or sign a long-term lease, you can trigger Vietnamese tax residency and worldwide income taxation — many nomads deliberately stay under this threshold.
- E-visas cannot be extended or renewed inside Vietnam — you must physically leave and reapply from abroad.
- The much-discussed 'Golden Visa' and 5-year Talent Visa are not realistic options for typical freelance nomads; the Talent Visa targets top academics/executives with institutional nomination, and the Golden Visa is still just a proposal.
Exempt Nationalities By Duration
30 Days
- Description
- Mostly ASEAN neighbors plus a few others; multiple entry.
Countries
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Brunei (14 days)
- Philippines (21 days)
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Mongolia
- Belarus
- Chile (90 days per some sources)
- Panama
45 Days
- Description
- Regardless of passport type or purpose of entry (tourism, business, family visit, etc.), granted under Resolution 229/NQ-CP and related resolutions, valid through mid-August 2028.
Countries
- Germany
- France
- Italy
- Spain
- United Kingdom
- Russia
- Japan
- South Korea
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Norway
- Finland
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Switzerland
- Luxembourg
- Hungary
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
60 Days
- Description
- APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders with a valid passport, separate from standard nationality-based exemption.
Countries
- ABTC holders (any eligible APEC economy)
Not Exempt Examples
- United States
- Canada
- Australia
- India
- New Zealand
- Ireland
- Austria
- Portugal
- Greece
Evisa Alternative For Non Exempt Nationalities
- Who Needs It
- All nationalities not on the exemption list (including US, Canada, Australia) or anyone wanting to stay longer than their exemption allows
- Processing Time
- Officially 3 working days, though delays can occur
- Cost Single Entry
- ₫657,350
- Max Duration Days
- 90
- Application Portal
- https://evisa.gov.vn/
- Cost Multiple Entry
- ₫1,314,700
Entry Type Options
- single entry
- multiple entry
Tax Notes
- Common Nomad Strategy
- Many long-stay remote workers deliberately track and limit their cumulative days in Vietnam within any 12-month window to stay under 183 days, avoiding worldwide-income tax exposure and remaining taxed (if at all) only on any Vietnam-sourced income.
- Double Taxation
- Vietnam has signed 80+ double taxation avoidance agreements, which can reduce or eliminate double taxation for treaty-country residents; however, the US and Vietnam do not have a comprehensive income tax treaty, only a limited bilateral trade-related agreement.
- Day Counting Rule
- Arrival and departure days both count as full days present, and short exits for regional travel do not reset or interrupt the cumulative day count toward the 183-day threshold.
- Tax Residency Trigger
- An individual becomes a Vietnamese tax resident by being physically present in Vietnam for 183 days or more within a calendar year OR within any rolling 12-month period from date of arrival, OR by maintaining a 'permanent residence' (e.g. a registered residence, a temporary residence card, or a rented house with a lease term of 183+ days) — either condition alone triggers residency, regardless of actual days spent.
- Resident Tax Treatment
- Tax residents are taxed on worldwide income, not just Vietnam-sourced income, at progressive personal income tax rates. For the 2025 tax year the schedule has 7 brackets from 5% up to 35%; from 1 January 2026 the schedule is streamlined to 5 brackets while keeping the top 35% rate, with the top-bracket threshold raised.
- Filing And Finalization
- Vietnam's tax year is the calendar year (Jan 1–Dec 31). Annual PIT finalization is generally due by 31 March (employer-filed) or 30 April (self-filed) of the following year. Foreigners who become tax residents and later leave Vietnam permanently must complete a separate PIT finalization within 45 days of departure.
- Special Regime For Nomads
- There is no special tax regime or exemption for digital nomads. Standard residency rules apply to anyone physically present, regardless of visa type, nationality, or where their employer/clients are based.
- Non Resident Tax Treatment
- Non-residents (under 183 days, no permanent residence) are taxed at a flat 20% rate on Vietnam-sourced income only, with no personal or dependent deductions.
Personal Deduction
- 2025
- ₫11,000,000
- 2026 Onward
- ₫15,500,000
- Note
- Applies to tax residents only; deducted monthly before progressive rates apply
Dependent Deduction
- 2025
- ₫4,400,000
- 2026 Onward
- ₫6,200,000
Overstay Penalty
- Currency Local
- VND
- Description
- Overstaying any visa or e-visa results in escalating daily fines and possible blacklisting from future entry.
Amount USD Range
- Low
- 19
- High
- 1521
Amount Local Range
- Low
- 500000
- High
- 40000000
Closest Equivalents
E-visa (Tourist)
- Duration
- Up to 90 days, single or multiple entry
- Renewal Path
- Cannot be extended or renewed from inside Vietnam. Requires exiting the country and applying for a fresh e-visa (a 'visa run') to re-enter.
- Application Path
- Apply online at the official government portal (evisa.gov.vn) before arrival
- Documents Required
- Passport valid 6+ months with blank pages, digital passport photo, entry/exit port selection, online payment
- Income Requirement
- None
- Description
- The most commonly used option for nomads. Not a work-authorized visa; working online is technically a legal gray area, tolerated in practice but not officially permitted.
Cost
- Single Entry
- ₫657,500
- Multiple Entry
- ₫1,315,000
Visa Exemption (Visa-free Entry)
- Cost
- ₫0
- Duration
- 14 to 45 days depending on nationality, non-extendable
- Renewal Path
- None — must exit and re-enter to restart the clock
- Application Path
- No application needed; passport stamped on arrival for eligible nationalities
- Documents Required
- Passport valid 6+ months, proof of onward travel recommended
- Income Requirement
- None
- Description
- Available to citizens of certain eligible countries for short stays without a visa.
Business Visa (DN) / Sponsored Longer-stay Visa
- Duration
- 1–12 months, often multiple entry
- Renewal Path
- Extendable for 1–3 months with continued sponsorship; fees vary
- Application Path
- Apply via a Vietnamese embassy/consulate or an approved sponsoring entity/agency
- Documents Required
- Passport, application form, passport photos, sponsor/invitation letter from a Vietnamese entity, fee
- Income Requirement
- None formally, but sponsor letter required
- Description
- Requires a Vietnamese sponsoring company or agency; more paperwork but the closest thing to a longer-term nomad workaround, generally used by those working with a local entity or via visa-service agents.
Work Permit + Temporary Residence Card (TRC)
- Cost
- ₫400,000
government processing fee only; excludes agent/legal fees
- Duration
- Work permit typically 2 years, renewable; TRC tied to permit duration
- Renewal Path
- Renewable; after a second 2-year renewal cycle, some rules require an exit before starting a new work permit cycle
- Application Path
- Employer (or self-established company) submits application to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA); TRC then applied for at the Provincial Immigration Department
- Documents Required
- Labour contract or company documents, qualifications/experience proof, health check, criminal record check, passport
- Income Requirement
- None fixed, but role/qualifications must meet MOLISA labour-market criteria
- Description
- The fully legal route to work in Vietnam, but requires a Vietnamese employer (or self-sponsorship via a 100%-foreign-owned LLC where you act as legal representative). Not a practical option for most short-stay remote workers.
- Name
- 5-Year Talent Visa (SVEC / 'special visa exemption card for skilled professionals')
- Duration
- Up to 5 years total, but holders must exit and re-enter, staying no more than 90 days per single stay
- Renewal Path
- Unclear at this time; contact Vietnamese immigration authorities directly
- Application Path
- Requires nomination/invitation by a Vietnamese university, research institute, or large enterprise, approved by relevant ministries
- Documents Required
- Proof of qualifications and work experience in the qualifying field, nomination/invitation documentation
- Income Requirement
- Not income-based; eligibility is credential/nomination-based (institutional invitation or recognized expertise)
- Description
- A newly launched long-stay option, but aimed at top academics, researchers, executives, and invited guests of recognized institutions — not typical freelance digital nomads.
10-Year Golden Visa (Proposed, Not Yet Launched)
- Duration
- Not applicable — not yet operational
- Renewal Path
- Not yet defined
- Application Path
- Not yet operational
- Documents Required
- Not yet defined
- Income Requirement
- Not yet defined
- Description
- A long-term residency program proposed by Vietnam's Tourism Advisory Board, intended for affluent individuals, retirees, and investors. As of mid-2026 it remains a draft proposal with no legislative timeline, application portal, or confirmed rules.
Vietnam does not offer a single blanket visa-free policy for all nationals. Instead, a specific list of nationalities (38-39 countries as of 2026) get unilateral visa exemptions of 14-45 days, while everyone else — including US, Canadian, and Australian citizens — must obtain a Vietnam e-visa (up to 90 days) before arrival. There is no visa-on-arrival for tourists without a pre-approved letter.
Phu Quoc Special Rule
Foreigners flying directly into Phu Quoc Island (regardless of nationality) can get a 30-day visa exemption limited to staying on the island only.
Extension And Reentry Rules
- Extension Possible
- No
- Reentry After Expiry
- Travelers can exit Vietnam (e.g., to Cambodia, Laos, or Thailand) and re-enter immediately on a fresh visa-exemption period; the old requirement to wait 30 days between exemption entries has been removed.
- Common Nomad Workaround
- This 'visa run' pattern (exit and re-enter on a new exemption, or exit and re-enter on a fresh e-visa) is the standard way long-stay travelers extend time in-country, since neither the exemption nor the e-visa can be extended from inside Vietnam.
Official Government Sources
Official Government Sources
Process For Exempt Travelers
No advance paperwork or form is required. Eligible travelers simply present their passport at the port of entry and receive an entry stamp showing their exact permitted exit date.
Requirements For Exempt Travelers
Requirements For Exempt Travelers
- Passport valid at least 6 months from the date of arrival
- At least 2 blank passport pages
- Entry must be through an official international checkpoint (air, land, or sea)
- Purpose limited to tourism, business meetings, family visits, or transit — not paid work
- Officers may ask for proof of onward/return travel
Vietnam does not offer a dedicated digital nomad or remote-work visa. Nomads in Ho Chi Minh City rely on tourist e-visas, visa exemptions, or business/investor visas, none of which legally authorize working for pay while in the country (even for a foreign employer). A high-end 'Talent Visa' and a proposed 'Golden Visa' exist but are not realistic paths for the typical remote worker.
Visa Ease Tier
low
Visa Ease Tier Rationale
Vietnam has no dedicated digital-nomad visa, requires visa runs every 30-90 days via e-visa or exemption for most nationalities, and long stays trigger complex worldwide-income tax residency after 183 days.
Has Dedicated Digital Nomad Visa
No
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 Ho Chi Minh City
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.