Vietnam DT Investor Visa
Vietnam VNM
Vietnam's DT (Đầu Tư) Investor Visa is a multi-tier residency pathway for foreign nationals who make qualifying capital investments in Vietnamese-registered enterprises or sectors designated by the government. The programme operates across four tiers — DT1 through DT4 — differentiated by the scale of investment, starting from VND 100 billion (approximately USD 4 million) for DT1 and scaling up through DT2 (VND 50 billion, ~USD 2 million), DT3 (VND 3 billion, ~USD 120,000), and DT4 for investments in designated special economic zones or government-prioritised sectors. Visa validity mirrors the investment scale: DT1 holders receive a five- to ten-year multi-entry visa, DT2 holders receive five years, DT3 holders receive three to five years, and DT4 holders receive one to three years, all renewable while the investment remains active. After five consecutive years of lawful residence on a DT visa, investors may apply for a Permanent Residence Card (Thẻ Thường Trú), which grants indefinite stay rights without further renewal obligations. Spouses and unmarried children under 18 are eligible for inclusion on the primary applicant's visa at no additional capital threshold. Vietnam does not generally permit dual citizenship for naturalised residents, so investors planning a long-term citizenship path should seek specialist immigration advice. The DT visa framework is governed by the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (Law No. 51/2019/QH14) and associated decrees.
Program Details
- Category
- Investment
- Processing Time
- 2 months
- Application Fee
- $145
- Minimum Income
- —
- Minimum Investment
- $4,000,000
- Family Included
- Spouse and unmarried children under 18 may be included on the same application at no additional capital requirement
- Path to PR
- Yes — 5 years
- Path to Citizenship
- No
- Physical Presence
- No mandatory minimum stay days per year, but investment must remain active and registered in Vietnam throughout the visa period
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Tax Impact
- Residing in Vietnam for 183 or more days in a calendar year — or maintaining a registered permanent/temporary residence — triggers tax residency. Tax residents are taxed on worldwide income at progressive rates up to 35% on employment income; investment income rates vary. No special territorial or remittance-based regime exists for DT visa holders.
- Renewal Cost
- $145
Application Timeline
Apply
2mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 5 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Minimum capital investment of VND 100 billion (DT1), VND 50 billion (DT2), VND 3 billion (DT3), or qualifying investment in a prioritised sector or SEZ (DT4)
- ✓Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) or Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC) issued by the relevant Vietnamese authority
- ✓Proof that invested capital has been contributed and is recorded in the company's charter capital
- ✓Valid passport with at least 12 months remaining validity
- ✓Application form NA5 or NA8 as applicable, completed in Vietnamese
- ✓Criminal record clearance from home country
- ✓Health insurance valid in Vietnam for the requested visa period
- ✓Evidence of accommodation in Vietnam (lease or property documents)
Am I eligible for Vietnam DT Investor Visa?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Minimum investment / capital
Programme requires $4,000,000.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Establish or acquire a Vietnamese company and register the investment
destinationSet up a Foreign Invested Enterprise (FIE) or acquire equity in an existing Vietnamese company. Obtain an Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) from the Department of Planning and Investment (DPI) or the Management Board of the relevant Economic Zone. Ensure charter capital contribution meets the applicable DT tier threshold.
Typical duration: 4-8 weekssource ↗
- 02
Gather supporting documents
home countryCompile IRC/ERC, proof of capital contribution (bank transfer records, auditor confirmation), criminal background check (apostilled if required), valid passport copy, passport-sized photos, and health insurance policy. Documents in foreign languages must be notarised and translated into Vietnamese.
Typical duration: 2-4 weeks
- 03
Submit DT visa application to the Immigration Department
home countryApply to the Vietnam Immigration Department (under the Ministry of Public Security) via the online portal or at a Vietnamese embassy/consulate in your country of residence. Select the correct DT sub-tier based on your investment amount. Pay the government fee.
Typical duration: 2-4 weekssource ↗
- 04
Receive approval letter and collect visa
destinationUpon approval, receive a visa approval letter (for visa-on-arrival at the airport) or collect the stamped visa from the consulate. Enter Vietnam and register your temporary residence address with the local police within the required timeframe (typically within 24 hours for new arrivals at accommodation).
Typical duration: 1-2 weeks
- 05
Register temporary residence and maintain investment
destinationRegister at the local ward/commune police office. Ensure the invested enterprise remains operational, charter capital is maintained, and annual reports are filed with DPI. Keep renewal documentation updated for subsequent visa renewals.
Typical duration: Ongoing
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) or Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC) | Vietnam Department of Planning and Investment or Economic Zone Management Board | No | — | — |
| Proof of capital contribution | Vietnamese bank or licensed auditor | No | Vietnamese | 90 |
| Criminal record certificate | Home country police or court authority | Yes | Vietnamese | 180 |
| Valid passport | Home country passport authority | No | — | — |
| Health insurance policy | Licensed insurer | No | Vietnamese | — |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high, health_insurance_first_year.
Excludes the qualifying investment capital itself. Company formation fees (IRC/ERC) typically add USD 500-1,500. Legal fees vary greatly depending on investment complexity and tier.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait2–6 weeks
- Decision → arrival2 weeks
- Residence card issuance4 weeks
- Total to residence card8–20 weeks
DPI processing of the IRC is the longest step; complex investment structures or SEZ applications can extend timelines. Consulate appointment availability varies by country.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 60 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 60 months
- Renewal fee
- $145
- Requirements
- Maintained capital contribution at or above the qualifying tier threshold, active and compliant enterprise operations, up-to-date annual DPI filings, no criminal disqualifiers, and valid health insurance
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 5
- Integration test
- Not required
- Application fee
- $200
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 183 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Worldwide income
- Exit-tax country
- No
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Spouses included on the DT visa do not automatically have work rights; a separate work permit must be obtained for any employment
- Child school enrolment
- Children may enrol in public or private schools; international schools are widely available in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
- Parent inclusion
- Not eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠DT tier thresholds are denominated in VND; USD equivalents shift with the exchange rate — verify the current VND amount, not the USD approximation, at time of application
- ⚠Capital must be genuinely contributed to the company's charter capital, not merely pledged or held offshore; loan-funded contributions from Vietnamese banks may face additional scrutiny
- ⚠The DT visa does not grant open work rights — holders may only work within their own invested enterprise without separate work-permit authorisation
- ⚠Vietnam does not permit dual citizenship for naturalised residents; do not plan a citizenship pathway without confirming your home country's rules first
- ⚠Temporary residence registration (mandatory within 24 hours of each arrival at accommodation) is strictly enforced; failure can trigger fines and jeopardise renewal
- ⚠DT4 eligibility criteria change with each government-priority decree — confirm the current list of qualifying sectors or SEZ locations with a licensed immigration lawyer before investing
What This Visa Does NOT Allow
- ×Employment outside the investor's own registered enterprise
- ×Passive real-estate-only investment (property purchase alone does not qualify for a DT visa)
- ×Portfolio investment in Vietnamese listed securities without a qualifying FIE structure
- ×Naturalisation or citizenship — Vietnam DT leads to PR only, not citizenship
Recent Legislative Changes
2020-01-01
Law No. 51/2019/QH14 on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam took effect, formalising the DT investor visa tier structure and extending maximum validity periods for DT1 holders to 10 yearssource ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum investment for a DT1 visa?+
DT1 requires a capital contribution of at least VND 100 billion (approximately USD 4 million at prevailing rates) in a Vietnamese-registered enterprise. This is the highest DT tier and carries the longest validity — up to 10 years.
Can I include my spouse and children on my DT visa?+
Yes. Spouses and unmarried children under 18 may be listed on the same DT visa application. No additional capital investment is required for dependants. Their visa validity mirrors the primary applicant's visa period.
How does the PR (Permanent Residence Card) pathway work?+
After five continuous years of lawful residence in Vietnam on a DT visa (or a combination of qualifying statuses), you may apply for a Thẻ Thường Trú (Permanent Residence Card). The card is valid for 10 years and renewable. No language test or integration exam is required. Processing typically takes 2-3 months.
What is the difference between the four DT tiers?+
DT1: VND 100 billion+ (~USD 4M), 5–10 year visa. DT2: VND 50 billion+ (~USD 2M), 5 year visa. DT3: VND 3 billion+ (~USD 120K), 3–5 year visa. DT4: investment in a government-prioritised sector or SEZ regardless of amount (minimum thresholds set by decree), 1–3 year visa. Higher tiers receive longer validity and faster processing.
Does Vietnam tax my worldwide income on a DT visa?+
If you spend 183 or more days in Vietnam in a calendar year (or maintain a registered place of residence), you become a Vietnamese tax resident and are subject to tax on worldwide income at progressive rates up to 35%. There is no special flat-rate or territorial regime for DT investors. Careful tax planning is advisable before relocating.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
Sources & last verified
- Official source
- Last verified 2026-06-01