Vietnam orders remote worker visa pilots and mandatory travel insurance

Vietnam ordered the rollout of preferential long-stay visas and remote-work pilot programs alongside mandatory insurance for all arriving foreign tourists, according to a Politburo directive signed Aug. 22.

Strategic directive targets extended stays and digital nomads

The resolution signed by Party General Secretary and President To Lam establishes national tourism priorities through 2030. Under the order, state agencies must draft controlled pilot frameworks tailored specifically for remote workers, high-spending travelers and extended-stay visitors, VNExpress reported.

Currently, location-independent professionals rely on standard 90-day e-visas or 45-day bilateral exemptions that require periodic border runs, as outlined in our guide to Vietnam's residency rules. While the strategic directive doesn't immediately publish application forms or tax guidelines, it marks the first top-level authorization for formal remote-work legal channels in the country.

Subsequent ministry decrees will define qualifying income thresholds, permitted commercial activities and visa validity terms.

Universal insurance rules and existing exemptions

The directive also establishes compulsory travel and health insurance for all international arrivals entering the country, state media reported.

Specific coverage minimums, accepted foreign policy providers and border-checkpoint verification systems remain subject to pending ministry circulars. Until those rules take effect, existing border policies remain unchanged:

• Decree 221/2025/ND-CP provides limited-term visa exemptions for invited scholars, investors and high-profile experts.

• Resolution 44/NQ-CP and Resolution 229 grant 45-day visa-free entry to passport holders from 12 European and Asian nations, including the UK, France, Germany, Japan and South Korea.

• Standard electronic visas remain valid for stays up to 90 days with single- or multiple-entry options.

Remote workers planning trips don't need to alter their short-term application methods immediately, because current visa channels stay active until ministries publish implementing regulations. Nomads should budget for policy changes, however, as future entries will require verified medical insurance coverage alongside any forthcoming long-stay pilot permits.