Move to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The routes, mapped.
15 visa routes into Vietnam, each with its real required-document list, pulled live from the Nomad knowledge graph. Start a plan and we sequence the right one for your situation.
United States to Vietnam: the money facts
Treaty coverage, double-tax exposure, and what setup actually costs, so you know the financial shape of the move before you commit.
How you can legally move to Vietnam
15 visa routes into Vietnam, every route the knowledge graph maps, unranked. The numbers that decide the route: income floor, timeline, filing costs, and who comes with you.
| Route | Income floor | Timeline | Costs | Family & work | About & documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DT1 Investor Visa (Major Investor) | Varies | 5 years~2 wks processing 路 Renewable | $155 fee$500 all-in | Remote work ok, Family ok | An investor residence route for foreign nationals contributing at least 100 billion VND to a Vietnamese enterprise, granting a visa of up to 5 years and a temporary residence card of up to 10 years. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Vietnam Enterprise Registration Certificate, Vietnam Investment Registration Certificate, Capital Contribution Proof 100B VND, Sponsor Letter Vietnamese Enterprise, Application Form NA5, Recent Color Photo Vietnam Official source |
| DT2 Investor Visa (Mid-Tier Investor) | Varies | 5 years~2 wks processing 路 Renewable | $155 fee$500 all-in | Remote work ok, Family ok | A 5-year renewable investor visa and residence permit for foreign nationals contributing 50 billion to under 100 billion VND into a Vietnamese enterprise. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Vietnam Enterprise Registration Certificate, Vietnam Investment Registration Certificate, Capital Contribution Proof 50B VND, Sponsor Letter Vietnamese Enterprise, Application Form NA5, Recent Color Photo Vietnam Official source |
| DT3 Investor Visa (Standard Mid-Range) | Varies | 3 years~2 wks processing 路 Renewable | $95 fee$400 all-in | Remote work ok, Family ok | A 3-year renewable investor visa and residence permit for foreign entrepreneurs contributing between 3 billion and 50 billion VND into a Vietnam-registered enterprise. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Vietnam Enterprise Registration Certificate, Vietnam Investment Registration Certificate, Capital Contribution Proof 3B VND, Sponsor Letter Vietnamese Enterprise, Application Form NA5, Recent Color Photo Vietnam Official source |
| LD Work Visa (LD1 Exempt / LD2 With Work Permit) | Varies | 2 years~4 wks processing 路 Renewable | $100 fee$1,500 all-in | Family ok | Vietnam's primary work visa for employed foreigners, issued for up to 2 years and covering both work-permit-exempt roles and those requiring a MOLISA work permit. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Vietnam Work Permit, Vietnam Work Permit Exemption Certificate, Sponsor Letter Vietnamese Employer, Health Certificate Vietnamese Hospital, Criminal Background Check, Hague Apostille Or Consularization, +2 more Official source |
| Temporary Residence Card (TRC) | Varies | 2 years~1 wk processing 路 Renewable | $145 fee$250 all-in | Remote work ok, Family ok | A multi-entry residence card for foreigners holding qualifying long-term Vietnamese visas, granting up to 10 years of stay depending on visa category, renewable and valid for dependents. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Vietnam Long Term Visa Current, Sponsor Letter Vietnamese Entity, Health Certificate Vietnamese Hospital, Address Registration Vietnam, Application Form NA8, Recent Color Photo Vietnam Official source |
| 5-Year Visa Exemption Certificate (Vk) | Varies | 5 years~1 wk processing | $20 fee$50 all-in | Remote work ok, Family ok | A five-year multiple-entry visa substitute for overseas Vietnamese and foreign spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens, allowing stays of up to 180 days per entry. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Marriage Certificate Notarized, Birth Certificate Vietnamese Parent, Household Registration Book Sponsor, Sponsor Vietnamese Passport Or ID, Application Form NA9, Recent Color Photo Vietnam Official source |
| DH Student Visa | Varies | 1 year~2 wks processing 路 Renewable | $50 fee$250 all-in | Remote work ok | A student visa for foreigners enrolled in recognized Vietnamese universities, language schools, or vocational programs, sponsored by the educational institution and renewable with enrollment. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Vietnam School Admission Letter, Tuition Payment Receipt, Financial Means Proof, Application Form NA5, Recent Color Photo Vietnam, Academic Transcripts Notarized Official source |
| DT4 Investor Visa (Small Investor) | Varies | 1 year~2 wks processing 路 Renewable | $50 fee$250 all-in | Remote work ok | An entry-level investor visa for foreign nationals contributing under 3 billion VND into a Vietnam-registered enterprise, valid for up to 12 months and renewable annually. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Vietnam Enterprise Registration Certificate, Vietnam Investment Registration Certificate, Capital Contribution Proof Under 3B VND, Sponsor Letter Vietnamese Enterprise, Application Form NA5, Recent Color Photo Vietnam Official source |
| LV1 and LV2 Council/Government Working Partner Visa | Varies | 1 year~2 wks processing 路 Renewable | $95 fee$200 all-in | Family ok | A work visa for foreign experts, consultants, and advisors in official working partnerships with Vietnamese government, Party, or socio-political organizations, valid for up to 12 months and renewable. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Sponsor Letter Vietnamese Authority, Invitation Letter Government Entity, Application Form NA5, Recent Color Photo Vietnam Official source |
| TT Family Visa (Dependent of Foreign Visa Holder) | Varies | 1 year~2 wks processing 路 Renewable | $50 fee$300 all-in | Remote work ok | A renewable 12-month residence visa for spouses and minor children of foreigners holding long-term Vietnamese visas, allowing continuous family residence without Vietnamese work authorization. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Sponsor Visa Or TRC Copy, Sponsor Work Permit Copy, Marriage Certificate Notarized, Birth Certificate Notarized, Sponsor Employer Letter, Application Form NA5, +1 more Official source |
| HN Marriage/Family Visit Visa | Varies | 3 months~1 wk processing 路 Renewable | $25 fee$100 all-in | Remote work ok | A short-stay visit visa for foreigners visiting a Vietnamese citizen family member, granting up to 3 months in Vietnam with renewal possible for continued short visits. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Marriage Certificate Notarized, Sponsor Vietnamese Passport Or ID, Invitation Letter Vietnamese Family, Application Form NA5, Recent Color Photo Vietnam Official source |
| E-Visa (Electronic Visa) | Varies | 3 months~1 wk processing | $25 fee$50 all-in | Remote work ok | A short-stay electronic visa open to all nationalities, granting up to 90 days single or multiple entry into Vietnam for tourism, business, or family visits. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Recent Color Photo Vietnam, Passport Data Page Scan Official source |
| Visa Exemption (Visa-Free Entry) | Varies | 1 month | Varies | Remote work ok | A free, short-stay entry for citizens of around 25 eligible countries, allowing up to 45 days in Vietnam without a visa, with no renewal option. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity) Official source |
| Permanent Residence Card (PRC / Thuong Tru) | Varies | 10 years~17 wks processing 路 Renewable | $100 fee$500 all-in | Remote work ok, Family ok | Permanent residence status for foreigners in Vietnam, open to family of Vietnamese citizens, recognized experts, meritorious persons, and stateless long-term residents after three consecutive years of legal residence. Documents: Passport 12mo Validity, Vietnam TRC Current 3 Years, Vietnamese Sponsor Documentation, Income Stability Proof, Health Certificate Vietnamese Hospital, Criminal Background Check, Hague Apostille Or Consularization, +2 more Official source |
| Vietnamese Naturalization (Citizenship by Residence) | Varies | Varies~26 wks processing | $130 fee$1,500 all-in | Remote work ok, Family ok | A citizenship route for foreign residents who meet five years of continuous residence, language proficiency, and integration requirements, with exemptions for spouses, parents, and children of Vietnamese citizens. Documents: Passport Current, Vietnam PRC Or Long TRC, Birth Certificate Apostilled, Marriage Certificate Notarized, Vietnamese Language Proficiency Certificate, Criminal Background Check Vietnam And Origin, Income And Asset Documentation, +2 more Official source |
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Which route is right for you?
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