Vietnam Golden Visa 2026: Complete Expat Guide

What This Guide Covers

Here is a quick overview of what this guide covers:

Answer-first: The Vietnam Golden Visa refers to the UĐ1 Visa (launching July 2026) and the existing DT Investor Visas. These pathways grant expats 5 to 10 years of residency. They require verifiable capital investment or high-level technical expertise. This guide breaks down exact costs, tax benefits, and property buying rights.

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The biggest misconception about the 2026 UĐ1 visa is that it is a 'pay-to-play' passport scheme. It is not. It is a highly scrutinized residency program requiring verifiable capital injection into a licensed Vietnamese corporate entity.

Nguyen Hoang Lam

Senior Legal Advisor, LeaseInVietnam

Who This Is For

This guide is for high-net-worth expats, strategic investors, and top-tier tech professionals planning a long-term relocation to Vietnam in 2026. If you want to invest over $120,000 USD, buy an apartment, and bring your family, this framework applies to you.

What is the Vietnam Golden Visa (UĐ1)?

Here is a quick overview of what is the vietnam golden visa (uđ1)?:

Answer-first: Launching on July 1, 2026, the UĐ1 Visa is Vietnam’s new preferential visa. It targets ultra-high-net-worth investors and top-tier tech experts linked to International Financial Centers (IFC). It offers up to 5 years of residency, extendable to 10 years, and includes family sponsorship.

Unlike tourist visas, the UĐ1 visa requires formal nomination by a licensed Vietnamese agency or corporate entity within the IFC zone. Spouses and children under 18 automatically receive the dependent UĐ2 visa. The Ministry of Public Security processes approved applications in just 3 working days.

The Tech Talent Track (UĐ2)

While investors target the UĐ1, highly skilled tech professionals (AI, Semiconductors, Fintech) recruited into the IFC can also bypass standard work permit quotas. The government has drastically reduced the bureaucratic hurdles for these experts, prioritizing “brain gain.” If you hold a C-suite or lead engineering role in a qualifying IFC company, your HR department can secure your 5-year residency without the traditional DOLISA labor market test.

Golden Visa vs. Investor (DT) Visa vs. TRC

Here is a quick overview of golden visa vs. investor (dt) visa vs. trc:

Answer-first: The “Golden Visa” is a marketing term. Legally, you apply for either the new UĐ1 Visa (IFC-linked) or a standard DT Investor Visa. Once in Vietnam, you convert DT1, DT2, or DT3 visas into a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) for long-term stays.

Minimum Investment Requirements

Here is a quick overview of minimum investment requirements:

Answer-first: To secure long-term residency (TRC), you must invest at least 3 billion VND (approx. $120,000 USD) to qualify for a DT3 visa. You must prove this capital was legally transferred via a Direct Investment Capital Account (DICA).

According to local legal experts at VILAF, simply committing capital on paper is no longer enough. The 2026 regulations require strict proof of paid-up charter capital. Authorities will request bank transfer receipts or audited financials.

Can You Buy a House with a Golden Visa?

Here is a quick overview of can you buy a house with a golden visa?:

Answer-first: Yes, but with strict limits. Holding a UĐ1 or DT Visa (with a TRC) allows you to buy property. However, foreigners cannot own freehold land. You can only purchase apartments in approved commercial projects with a 50-year leasehold.

Starting March 1, 2026, all residential properties possess a unique 40-character Electronic Property ID. This helps expats verify project legality online. Additionally, the Land Law 2024 unified property certificates into one document.

You must pay for all real estate using a licensed Vietnamese Dong (VND) bank account. Cash transactions or direct international card payments are strictly illegal.

Tax Incentives: Live Tax-Free Until 2030

Here is a quick overview of tax incentives: live tax-free until 2030:

Answer-first: Personnel holding the UĐ1 visa within the International Financial Center (IFC) receive a 0% Personal Income Tax (PIT) rate on salaries until 2030. They also pay 0% capital gains tax on transferred shares within IFC entities.

Decree 324/2025/ND-CP established these massive tax breaks to attract global talent to Ho Chi Minh City. This makes the UĐ1 pathway financially superior to standard DT investor visas for eligible experts.

Application Logistics & Document Requirements

Here is a quick overview of application logistics & document requirements:

Answer-first: Applying for these long-term visas requires a mountain of notarized, legalized paperwork. You cannot simply apply online. The application must be submitted physically by your legal representative to the Immigration Department in Hanoi, Da Nang, or Ho Chi Minh City.

Standard required documents include:

1. Certified Copy of the ERC: The Enterprise Registration Certificate of the sponsoring company.
2. Proof of Capital: Certified bank statements proving the investment capital was transferred via the DICA.
3. Passport: Must have at least 13 months of validity remaining.
4. Form NA5 / NA6: The official sponsorship and visa issuance request forms, stamped and signed by the legal representative.
5. Temporary Residence Registration: Proof that your landlord has registered your current address with the local police.

Criminal Record Checks (Police Check #1 vs #2)

If you are applying for a TRC, you will need a criminal background check.

• From your home country: It must be issued within the last 6 months, notarized, and then legalized by the Vietnamese Embassy in your home country.
• From Vietnam (Phieu Ly Lich Tu Phap No. 1): If you have lived in Vietnam for over 6 months, you must obtain a local police check from the Department of Justice. Do not request “Form No. 2” (which lists spent convictions and is reserved for specific legal proceedings); you only need “Form No. 1”.

Costs and Official Fees to Expect

Here is a quick overview of costs and official fees to expect:

Answer-first: Beyond your business investment, expect to pay official government fees for your Temporary Residence Card (TRC). Under Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC, fees range from $145 to $165 USD depending on validity.

Red Flags & Common Mistakes

Here is a quick overview of red flags & common mistakes:

Answer-first: The biggest mistake expats make is buying a “DT4 Visa package” from sketchy agencies under the promise of long-term residency. A DT4 visa strictly prohibits the issuance of a Temporary Residence Card (TRC).

Watch out for these red flags:

• Fake “Freehold” Promises: Agencies claiming the visa grants you permanent land ownership.
• Bypassing the DICA: Transferring investment capital through personal accounts instead of a corporate Direct Investment Capital Account.
• The DT4 Trap: Paying thousands in setup fees for an investment under $120,000, only to discover you must leave Vietnam after 12 months.

(Read our complete Rental Contract Red Flags guide to stay safe).

FAQ

Here is a quick overview of faq:

How much do you need to invest for the Vietnam Golden Visa?

To obtain long-term residency (TRC) in Vietnam through an Investor Visa (DT Visa), you must invest a minimum of 3 billion VND (approximately $120,000 USD) for a DT3 visa. To qualify for the top-tier DT1 visa, you must invest over 100 billion VND (approximately $4,000,000 USD). This capital must be legally transferred into a Direct Investment Capital Account (DICA) in Vietnam.

Can foreigners buy property in Vietnam with a Golden Visa?

Yes, but with restrictions. Holding an Investor Visa or the new UĐ1 visa (and a valid Temporary Residence Card) allows you to buy property. However, foreigners cannot own land or freehold property in Vietnam. You are restricted to buying apartments in approved commercial residential projects (up to a 30% foreign quota) with a 50-year leasehold ownership.

Is the Vietnam Golden Visa the same as a DT (Investor) visa?

Vietnam does not have an official program named the “Golden Visa.” The term is used by agencies to market two pathways: the national Investor Visa (DT1, DT2, and DT3) and the newly launched UĐ1 Visa (effective July 2026), which targets strategic investors and top experts in Special Economic Zones and International Financial Centers.

How long can you stay in Vietnam with this visa?

The standard Investor Visas (DT1 and DT2) grant up to 5 years of stay, while the UĐ1 visa also grants up to 5 years. By converting these visas into a Temporary Residence Card (TRC), top-tier investors (DT1) and specific IFC-linked UĐ1 holders can extend their residency for up to 10 years.

Does the Golden Visa lead to Vietnamese citizenship?

No. Unlike some Caribbean or European Golden Visas, holding a long-term residency in Vietnam does not offer a pathway to citizenship or a second passport. Vietnamese citizenship is exceptionally difficult to obtain and generally requires you to renounce your original nationality.

Can I work for another company on a UĐ1 visa?

No. The UĐ1 visa and your TRC are strictly tied to the company you invested in or the IFC entity that sponsored you. If you wish to take a second job as an employee at a different company, that new company must sponsor a separate Work Permit for you.

Do I have to pay social insurance?

Yes. As of recent legal updates, foreign workers holding TRCs and Work Permits (and certain investor classes drawing a salary) are subject to mandatory social, health, and unemployment insurance contributions in Vietnam.

Related Guides

Here is a quick overview of related guides:

• Complete Vietnam Visa Guide 2026
• How to Lease in Vietnam
• Thao Dien Neighborhood Guide
• Luxury Property Listings in Thao Dien

• Explore more: The 2026 Guide to International Schools in HCMC & Hanoi