How To Get A Vietnam Investor Visa: Guide and Tips You Can’t Miss

Vietnam is positioned as one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia. With a GDP growth of 2.8% in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, it is a rising dynamic economy. Countless international investors are seeking solid opportunities in Vietnam to plough their money into these days.

To invest in Vietnam, foreign investors need to obtain a Vietnam investor visa.

BBCIncorp will show you how to get an investor visa in Vietnam to support you make your investment in the country.

1. Vietnam investor visa – a brief introduction

Vietnam investor visa (DT visa) is a type of visa issued to foreign investors contributing capital to companies or industries in Vietnam, and foreign lawyers licensed to practice in Vietnam.

Below is a sample of an investor visa in Vietnam.

1.1 Types of Vietnam investor visa

Vietnam investor visa is categorized into four types:

Visa DT 1: Granted to

• foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in companies operating in Vietnam, or
• business fields of investment encouragement

decided by the Vietnam Government with a total capital of VND 100 billion ($4.3 million) minimum.

Visa DT 2: Granted to

• foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in companies operating in Vietnam, or
• industries of investment incentives

decided by the Government with a total capital from VND 50 billion to VND 100 billion ($2.15 – 4.4 million).

Visa DT 3: Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives for foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with a total capital of between VND 3 billion and VND 50 billion ($132,000 – 2.3 million).

Visa DT 4: Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives for foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with total investment capital worth less than VND 3 billion ($132,000).

1.2 Vietnam investor visa validity duration

The validity period depends on the type of investor visa you apply for:

• Visa DT 1 and DT 2: valid for 5 years maximum.
• Visa DT 3: valid for 3 years maximum.
• Visa DT 4: valid for 12 months maximum.

2. Comparison of Vietnam investor visa and business visa

Want to delve more into business visa and how to apply for it in Vietnam?

Here is a blog that might help: Vietnam Business Visa: An up-to-date guide

3. Getting a Vietnam investor visa

Depending on where you apply for the Vietnam investor visa, in Vietnam or a foreign country, there are three ways to acquire it.

3.1 In countries outside of Vietnam

To get a Vietnam DT visa in a foreign country, you need to apply directly at the nearest Vietnam embassy/consulate.

Required documents. Based on the Vietnam investor visa requirements, make sure you prepare the following documents:

• Original passport;
• Form of temporary residence registration;
• NA5 application form for Vietnam investor visa;
• Proof of legal status;
• Certified copy of Business Registration Certificate/Investment Certificate;
• A seal registration certificate or notice of posting information about the enterprise’s seal sample on the national business registration portal;
• NA16 registration form for the seal and the signature of the legal representative of the inviting enterprise operating in Vietnam;

Processing time. Usually, the embassy/consulate processes everything within 5-7 working days.

After verifying your submitted documents, you will then pay the visa letter fee to receive the letter of appointment for result pickup.

Result pickup. On the appointed date, you will receive your visa result at the Vietnam embassy/consulate.

Furthermore, you can receive the visa result through regular mail upon your request during the application process.

3.2 In Vietnam

If you are already in Vietnam and desire to apply for a DT visa, you need to submit the required documents to the Vietnam Immigration Department Office in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh, or Da Nang.

Required documents. According to the Vietnam investor visa requirements, you need to prepare the following documents:

• Original passport;
• Form of temporary residence registration;
• Proof of legal status;
• NA5 application form for Vietnam investor visa;
• Certified copy of Business Registration Certificate/Investment Certificate;
• A seal registration certificate or notice of posting information about the enterprise’s seal sample on the national business registration portal;
• NA16 registration form for the seal and the signature of the legal representative of the enterprise operating in Vietnam;

Processing time. You will get the investor visa after around 5 working days from the date of document submission.

Result pickup. Once you are granted a Vietnam investor visa, you need to get to the nearest international airport in Vietnam to receive your visa.

3.3 Vietnam Investor Visa On Arrival

Applying for the Vietnam investor visa on arrival is a fast and convenient way to get the DT visa stamped on your passport at the arriving airport in Vietnam.

Required documents. You need to prepare all the following documents for the Vietnam investor visa on arrival application:

• Photos of your passport;
• NA5 application form for Vietnam investor visa;
• Proof of legal status;
• Form of temporary residence registration;
• Certified copy of Business Registration Certificate/Investment Certificate;
• A seal registration certificate or notice of posting information about the enterprise’s seal sample on the national business registration portal;
• NA16 registration form for the seal and the signature of the legal representative of the inviting enterprise operating in Vietnam;

Application process. Firstly, have your visa agent or representative submit the documents above to the office of the Vietnam Immigration Department in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh, or Da Nang to get your visa approval letter.

Once your dossiers are verified to be completed and valid, your visa agent or representative will receive an appointment letter to get the visa letter of approval.

Next, your visa agent or representative needs to scan the letter and send it to you by email. After acquiring the approval letter, print it out along with the completed investor visa application form available online.

At the arriving Vietnam’s international airport, present your approval letter, visa application form, and 2 passport-sized photos at the visa-issuing counter. Then, pay the stamping fee in cash to get the visa stamped on your passport.

4. Covid-19 notice

Vietnam has enforced entry restrictions on all foreigners since March 22, 2020, until further notice to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Note that the measure won’t apply to foreign nationals who are foreign investors, diplomats, officials, high-skilled workers, and business managers.

Moreover, all international citizens entering Vietnam must strictly comply with the 14-day quarantine measure imposed by the Vietnam Ministry of Health. Violators will be subjected to hefty charges.

Foreign investors, international experts, business managers, high-skilled workers, and diplomats entering Vietnam for a short business trip of under 14 days. However, they don’t need to comply with the 14-day quarantine. They must adhere to all other compulsory health measures and strictly follow their itinerary.

If after 14 days they are tested negative for the coronavirus and wish to continue their stay, they are allowed to do so without quarantine.

5. Conclusion

Obtaining a Vietnam investor visa is the condition for foreigners to invest in businesses or industries in Vietnam.

To support you facilitate your investment in Vietnam, BBCIncorp provides high standards banking assistants, company establishment, and many other extra services, including visa application support.

For further information about BBCIncorp services, contact us now!