Vietnam Golden Visa Eligibility and How to Apply in 2026

(VIETNAM) Vietnam still does not have a formal Golden Visa program in law, but foreign investors already have a workable route through the Investor Visa (DT series). For many applicants, DT1, DT2, DT3, and DT4 now function as the country’s practical long-stay system, with Temporary Residency Cards stretching the stay for top-tier investors to 10 years.

That matters because Vietnam’s latest proposal for a wider Golden Visa remains under review in 2026. Until lawmakers act, the DT route is the only clear path for people who want to live, work, invest, and keep entering Vietnam without constant visa runs. VisaVerge.com reports that this gap has made the DT system the main long-term option for foreign capital.

Vietnam’s current long-stay route for investors

The Investor Visa (DT series) links residency to real investment in Vietnamese business activity or priority sectors. That includes technology, green energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and other encouraged fields. The visa allows multiple entries, local business activity, and dependent visas for family members.

The proposed Golden Visa would be broader. It would target investors, talent, digital nomads, and retirees, with digital filing in major cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. That proposal has not been enacted. So in early 2026, foreign nationals still rely on the DT system and the residency cards that follow it.

For many applicants, the structure is simple. The bigger the investment, the longer the stay. DT1 is the strongest category. DT2, DT3, and DT4 cover lower investment tiers and shorter validity periods.

Investment levels, visa tiers, and who fits each category

Vietnam’s DT categories break down like this:

• DT1: VND 100 billion or more. Valid up to 5 years, with a Temporary Residency Card that can extend residence to 10 years.
• DT2: VND 50 billion to VND 100 billion. Valid up to 5 years.
• DT3: VND 3 billion to VND 50 billion. Valid up to 3 years.
• DT4: Less than VND 3 billion. Valid up to 12 months.

DT1 is aimed at high-value investors and foreign organization representatives in priority sectors. DT2 fits mid-tier investors in encouraged industries. DT3 serves smaller investors and new business founders. DT4 is the lowest tier and also covers some lawyers practicing in Vietnam.

Applicants must prove the investment through business registration papers, capital contribution records, or partnership documents. Funds must come from a lawful source. A Vietnamese sponsor, usually the invested company, is also required.

The application path from filing to entry

The process still runs mostly in person through Immigration Departments in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, or provincial offices. Digital filing is part of the future Golden Visa plan, not the present DT system.

A typical case moves in five steps:

1. Prepare the file. Applicants gather a passport with at least one year of validity, two blank pages, photos, the correct form, proof of investment, and company papers. Common forms include NA2 for entry sponsorship and NA5 for extensions or changes.
2. Submit through the sponsor. The Vietnamese sponsor handles much of the filing with the local Immigration Office.
3. Receive approval. Once approved, the applicant gets a visa stamp at an airport or border point.
4. Register after arrival. Residence must be registered within 24 hours, often with help from a hotel or sponsor.
5. Renew before expiry. Eligible investors file again before the visa ends, keeping investment and paperwork current.

Processing usually takes 5 to 7 working days. Complex cases can take up to 2 months. Expedited handling can take 1 to 2 days.

For official filing guidance, applicants should check the Vietnam e-visa portal, which is the main government entry point for visa information and related procedures.

Fees, residency cards, and family inclusion

Fees run from $25 for DT4 to $155 for longer DT1 or DT2 cases. Service and document fees often add $10 to $50 for extensions, while outside documentation expenses can push the total higher.

Temporary Residency Cards are the key benefit for stronger investors. A DT1 holder can move from a renewable visa into a card that supports a stay of up to 10 years. That gives far more stability than a tourist visa or a short business visa.

Family members can join the principal applicant. Spouses, minor children, and dependents can receive dependent visas or residency cards. That lets them live, study, and access services in Vietnam as residents.

Rights, limits, and the route to permanent residency

DT visa holders can operate businesses, open bank accounts, rent property, and in some cases buy property within the country’s rules. They also receive multiple-entry access, which helps people who travel for regional business or family reasons.

Vietnam has also introduced work permit exemptions for short assignments of up to 90 days and for some high-tech roles in 2026. That helps skilled professionals who need to move quickly between projects.

But the rules have limits. Investors must maintain the underlying investment or activity. If the investment ends or the status lapses, the visa can be cancelled. Residence registration is mandatory. Political rights, including voting, are not part of the system.

DT1 also opens a path to permanent residency after 5 years of continuous stay. That makes it the nearest thing Vietnam currently offers to a long-term settlement track. Citizenship is not part of this pathway.

How the DT system compares with the proposed Golden Visa

The proposed Golden Visa would be broader and easier to explain to foreign applicants. It is expected to include longer terms, digital filing, and possible routes for talent and retirees. It may also lower the paperwork burden if approved.

For now, the DT system is the real option. It is more limited, but it works. It already gives long-term residency, family rights, business access, and in some cases a direct route to permanent residency.

For investors deciding between Vietnam and other markets, the appeal is clear. Entry thresholds start lower than some competing programs, and the country offers a fast-growing economy and lower living costs than many regional hubs. The trade-off is process friction. Paperwork remains in person, and a sponsor is required.

That is why many applicants still use lawyers, licensed agents, or company support teams to avoid delays and filing mistakes. Overstays can trigger fines of $20 per day and can lead to future entry problems.

A U.S. entrepreneur investing $2 million in a Ho Chi Minh City tech project, for example, would likely fit DT2. A high-net-worth investor with VND 100 billion or more could seek DT1 and then a residency card. A smaller founder could still use DT3 or DT4, depending on the scale of the project.

Vietnam’s investor system is not a full Golden Visa yet. But in practice, the Investor Visa (DT series) already gives committed foreigners a serious long-stay base, and the coming policy debate will decide whether that system becomes broader, simpler, and fully digital.