Vietnam Golden Visa (UĐ1 Preferential Visa)

Vietnam has no visa officially called a golden visa. The 10-year visa in recent reports is the UĐ1 preferential visa, which Law 118/2025/QH15 added to the law on the entry and residence of foreigners. Its residence card runs up to 10 years.

• Status: active, in force since July 1, 2026
• Who it targets: a narrow set of technology specialists, investors and experts named in law, not remote workers in general
• Investment threshold: none set in law
• Sponsor: an organization in Vietnam has to file the request

Commercial sites also describe a separate 10-year investor visa with a fixed buy-in, sometimes citing "Resolution 41/2026/QH15." No such text appears on Vietnamese government sites as of Oct. 5, 2026.

How it differs from other routes

• Investor visas: the DT categories are capital-based. Small stakes get the DT4 investor visa, which carries no residence card, while the top tier, DT1, carries a card as long as UĐ1's.
• Special visa exemption card: under Decree 221/2025, scientists, experts and investors or leaders of the world's 100 largest companies by market value can get a multiple-entry card of up to 5 years, with 90 days per entry.
• Remote workers: the e-visa and visa-free stays in the guide to living in Vietnam fit most people working online.

Two routes lead to UĐ1: a general one under the law and a dedicated one at the International Financial Center.

• General route: UĐ1 goes to foreigners who are high-quality digital technology industry workers, and other cases granted preferential treatment by a law or by a resolution of the National Assembly or its Standing Committee.
• Financial center route: since Jan. 17, 2026, Decree 327/2025 has extended UĐ1 to major investors, experts, managers and highly skilled workers working for organizations headquartered in the International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang. Investors are judged against the center's own criteria for strategic investors, and other roles against the national rules for foreign workers and special talent.
• Family: Yes. The UĐ2 visa covers the spouse and children under 18 of a UĐ1 holder.

No minimum investment, income or savings figure is published for either route. The test for "high-quality digital technology workers" sits in the digital technology industry rules, so applicants should confirm they meet it with the sponsoring organization before filing.

The Ministry of Public Security's residence card procedure lists the core file:

• From the sponsor: a request letter on form NA6 for an organization or NA7 for an individual. A first-time sponsor also files, once, a certified copy of its establishment license and a letter registering its seal and signatory.
• Declaration: the residence card application on form NA8.
• Passport: the original.
• Proof of eligibility: a work permit, a work permit exemption or another document showing the holder qualifies.

Forms follow Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA, in force since July 1, 2026. On the financial center route, the center's executive agency confirms that the applicant meets its criteria. No UĐ1-specific checklist is published, so sponsors should confirm the file with the immigration office before submitting.

• Residence card: $165 for a card valid more than 5 years and up to 10, under the Ministry of Public Security fee listing. Shorter cards cost less under the same schedule.
• Visa: $155 for a multiple-entry visa valid more than 2 years and up to 5, under Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC, in force since April 1, 2026.
• Other costs: translations, legalization and professional help have no fixed official price.

Where to apply: A sponsoring agency or organization in Vietnam files the request with the immigration authority, in person at a provincial police immigration office or online through the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security portal; on the International Financial Center route the center's executive agency proposes the UĐ1.

Processing: the financial center route takes no more than 3 working days from a complete file. The general residence card procedure lists 5 working days, and no separate UĐ1 figure is published.

The e-visa portal issues EV visas only, so it can't be used for UĐ1.

• Visa: up to 5 years for UĐ1 and UĐ2 on the general route.
• Financial center route: a visa or residence card of up to 10 years, with family cards matching the main holder's term.
• Permanent residence: On the International Financial Center route, major investors, experts, scientists, people with special talents and senior managers who have worked at least 3 consecutive years for an organization based in the center can be considered for permanent residence on the recommendation of a minister or the chairperson of the Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang People's Committee; the Minister of Public Security decides within 2 months, extendable by 1 month.

Outside the financial center, no faster track to permanent residence is published for UĐ1 holders, and no UĐ1-specific renewal rule has been issued.

No special tax regime comes with the visa or card. Under Vietnam's Personal Income Tax Law, a person is tax resident after 183 days or more in Vietnam in a calendar year or in 12 consecutive months from arrival, or when they have a permanent residence in Vietnam.

Residents and non-residents are taxed differently. Holders should confirm their position with the tax authority or an adviser, including any tax treaty between Vietnam and their home country.