How to Get a Long-Term Visa for Remote Work in Vietnam: A Step-by-Step Guide

What “Long-Term” Actually Means in Vietnam’s Visa System

Vietnam does not have a dedicated digital nomad or remote work visa in 2026. That’s the honest starting point. If you’ve seen articles claiming otherwise, they’re either outdated or describing workarounds dressed up in optimistic language. What Vietnam does have is a flexible visa system that — if you understand how it actually works — can legally keep you in the country for six months to a year or longer without constant border hops.

The pain point most remote workers run into is treating Vietnam like Thailand or Indonesia, where long-term stays have cleaner pathways. Vietnam’s system is layered, and the rules that apply to you depend on your nationality, your employer’s structure, and how long you genuinely need to stay. Getting this wrong costs money, time, and in some cases results in an overstay fine or entry ban.

Here’s the basic architecture of long-stay options in 2026:

• E-Visa (EV): 90 days, single or multiple entry, extendable once for another 90 days in-country
• Tourist Visa (DL): Up to 90 days, extendable, but flagged for overstay patterns
• Business Visa (DN): 3–12 months, multiple entry, requires a Vietnamese sponsoring entity
• Investor Visa (DT): 5 years, multiple entry, requires registered capital in a Vietnamese company
• Temporary Residence Card (TRC): 1–2 years, replaces visa stamping, requires a qualifying visa type first

Remote workers who want to stay legally and without stress generally aim for either an extended e-visa, a DN business visa, or — for the serious long-haulers — a TRC. Each has a different process and cost.

The E-Visa: Your Starting Point in 2026

The 90-day e-visa is the most accessible entry point for remote workers arriving in 2026. Vietnam expanded e-visa eligibility to citizens of all countries in August 2023, and that policy has remained in place. As of 2026, the e-visa covers nationals from every country, costs USD 25 (approximately 630,000 VND), and is processed through the official Vietnamese Immigration Portal.

What changed in 2025 and remains in effect: you can now extend the e-visa once, in-country, for a further 90 days without leaving. That gives you a potential 180-day stay on a single e-visa cycle. Before 2025, this extension required a border run. The in-country extension is done through the immigration department (Cục Quản lý Xuất nhập cảnh) in the city where you’re staying, and takes 5–7 working days to process.

After that 180-day window, you have two realistic choices: exit Vietnam and re-apply for a new e-visa, or — if you planned ahead — transition to a DN or DT visa before the first e-visa expires.

The e-visa lists your intended entry point (airport or land border). You can change this after approval by contacting the immigration portal, but do it at least 3 days before travel. Arriving at an unlisted checkpoint has resulted in entry refusals.

The DN Visa (Business Visa): The Most Practical Long-Stay Route

The DN visa is the practical workaround that most experienced remote workers in Vietnam use for stays beyond 180 days. It’s a business visa, not a work permit — and that distinction matters. A DN visa does not authorise you to work for a Vietnamese company or receive a Vietnamese salary. What it does is allow you to conduct business-related activities: meetings, consulting, managing investments, or coordinating with overseas employers. For someone employed abroad and working remotely, this framing is legally sound.

DN visas are issued in 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month versions, all multiple-entry. The 12-month multiple-entry DN visa is the most useful for remote workers planning a full year.

The catch: you need a Vietnamese sponsoring entity to apply. This is a Vietnamese-registered company or organisation that submits a sponsorship letter (công văn) to the immigration authority on your behalf. In practice, most remote workers in 2026 use a visa agency or a professional employer organisation (PEO) that provides this sponsorship as a paid service. You don’t need to have any real business relationship with them beyond the paperwork.

Reputable agencies charge between 3,000,000 and 6,000,000 VND (USD 120–240) for the sponsorship letter service. Some include the visa fee; others don’t. The government fee for a 12-month multiple-entry DN visa is approximately 2,000,000 VND (USD 80) when applied at a Vietnamese embassy abroad.

Processing time through an embassy outside Vietnam: 5–10 business days standard, 2–3 days express (higher fee applies). Processing inside Vietnam through an immigration office: 5–7 working days.

The DT Visa (Investor Visa): For Those Who Set Up a Company

If you’re planning to stay in Vietnam for multiple years and want the cleanest legal status, setting up a Vietnamese company — even a small one — and obtaining a DT investor visa is the most robust option. The DT visa is issued for up to 5 years, multiple entry, and is the first step toward qualifying for a long-term Temporary Residence Card.

To qualify, you need to be a legal representative or capital contributor of a Vietnamese-registered enterprise. The minimum registered capital requirement varies by business sector, but for a standard trading or consulting company, it’s typically around 3 billion VND (approximately USD 120,000). However, actual paid-in capital can differ from registered capital — speak with a Vietnamese business lawyer before assuming these figures apply to your situation.

Setting up a company in Vietnam as a foreigner takes 4–8 weeks in 2026, involves the Department of Planning and Investment, and typically costs 15,000,000–30,000,000 VND (USD 600–1,200) in agency fees, excluding registered capital. Once the company is registered and you hold a DT visa, you can apply for a TRC.

This route suits remote workers who are genuinely building something in Vietnam — freelancers who’ve formalised their work, consultants with regional clients, or small-business owners. It’s not worth the administrative overhead for a 6-month stay.

The Temporary Residence Card (TRC): Staying a Full Year Without Visa Stress

The Temporary Residence Card (thẻ tạm trú) is the closest thing Vietnam has to a long-term residency permit for foreigners. It replaces your visa stamp entirely. Once you hold a TRC, you don’t renew a visa — you renew the TRC itself, which is far less disruptive.

TRCs are issued in 1-year and 2-year versions depending on your qualifying visa category. For remote workers, the most common qualifying visas are:

• DN visa (business): Qualifies for a 1-year TRC
• DT visa (investor): Qualifies for a 2-year TRC
• LD visa (work permit holder): Qualifies for a 2-year TRC — relevant if you eventually take formal employment in Vietnam

To apply for a TRC, you submit to the provincial immigration department where you live — not just where you’re staying temporarily. This means you need a confirmed long-term address: a lease agreement of at least 12 months, notarised and stamped. The landlord must also register your stay with local authorities (ward-level police registration, known as tạm trú), which is a legal obligation that many short-term landlords skip. For a TRC application, this registration is not optional.

TRC processing time: 10–20 working days. Cost: approximately 1,000,000 VND (USD 40) in government fees. Most applicants use a legal agent to compile the dossier, adding 3,000,000–8,000,000 VND (USD 120–320) in service fees.

2026 Budget Reality: Visa and Admin Costs Broken Down

Here’s what staying legally in Vietnam actually costs in 2026, tiered by approach. These are real figures, not estimates from pre-2024 sources.

Budget Tier: E-Visa + One Extension (Up to 180 Days)

• E-visa application fee: 630,000 VND (USD 25)
• In-country extension fee: approximately 1,400,000 VND (USD 56)
• Agency help if needed: 500,000–1,500,000 VND (USD 20–60)
• Total: approximately 2,500,000–3,500,000 VND (USD 100–140)

Mid-Range Tier: 12-Month Multiple-Entry DN Visa + TRC

• Sponsorship letter from agency: 3,000,000–6,000,000 VND (USD 120–240)
• Government visa fee (12-month, multiple-entry DN): ~2,000,000 VND (USD 80)
• TRC application (government fee): ~1,000,000 VND (USD 40)
• TRC agency dossier fee: 3,000,000–8,000,000 VND (USD 120–320)
• Total: approximately 9,000,000–17,000,000 VND (USD 360–680) for 12 months

Comfortable Tier: Company Setup + DT Visa + 2-Year TRC

• Company registration (agency fees): 15,000,000–30,000,000 VND (USD 600–1,200)
• DT visa and TRC processing: 5,000,000–10,000,000 VND (USD 200–400)
• Annual company compliance costs: 10,000,000–20,000,000 VND (USD 400–800)/year
• Total first-year cost: approximately 30,000,000–60,000,000 VND (USD 1,200–2,400)

The Health Insurance Requirement Most People Miss

As of 2025, Vietnam’s immigration authorities have tightened requirements for TRC applicants and long-stay visa renewals: you must show proof of valid health insurance coverage for your intended stay period. This is not prominently advertised, but immigration offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City regularly reject TRC dossiers that omit it.

The insurance must cover medical treatment in Vietnam and have a minimum coverage amount of USD 10,000 per incident. Domestic Vietnamese health insurance plans (bảo hiểm y tế) available to foreigners through hospitals satisfy this requirement. International plans from providers like Pacific Cross, AXA, or Cigna — commonly used by expats — also qualify, provided they include inpatient coverage in Vietnam.

A basic Vietnam-specific expat health insurance plan for a healthy adult under 40 runs approximately 8,000,000–20,000,000 VND (USD 320–800) per year in 2026, depending on the coverage level. Full international coverage with evacuation runs 25,000,000–60,000,000 VND (USD 1,000–2,400) per year.

Travel insurance — the kind sold alongside flight bookings — does not meet this requirement. Immigration officers are familiar with the difference. Submit a policy document from a licensed insurer, not a travel protection certificate.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply from Outside Vietnam

This sequence covers remote workers planning their entry into Vietnam for a 6–12 month stay, starting the process before they arrive.

1. Decide your visa tier. If you want up to 180 days with minimal cost, start with the e-visa route. If you need 12 months from day one, you need a DN visa and must line up a sponsoring entity before applying.
2. Secure your sponsorship letter (for DN visa). Contact a Vietnam-based visa agency at least 3 weeks before your intended travel date. Provide your passport details, intended arrival date, and entry point. The agency files with the immigration authority and returns a letter of approval, which you take to a Vietnamese embassy in your home country.
3. Apply at the Vietnamese embassy. Submit: valid passport (minimum 6 months remaining validity beyond your intended stay), sponsorship letter, completed visa application form (form NA2 as of 2026), passport photos (4x6cm), and the visa fee. Express processing costs vary by embassy but typically adds 50–100% to the standard fee.
4. Obtain health insurance. Buy your policy before departure and have the certificate ready in both digital and printed form. Date the policy from your arrival date.
5. Arrange your long-term accommodation. For a TRC application later, you need a lease of 12+ months. Negotiate this before arrival if possible, or budget 2–4 weeks after arrival to find and sign a suitable rental.
6. Register your stay with local ward police within 24 hours of arrival. Your landlord is responsible for this, but verify it happens. Without the tạm trú registration, your TRC application will stall.

Step-by-Step: How to Extend or Upgrade from Inside Vietnam

If you’re already in Vietnam on an e-visa or tourist visa and want to shift to a longer-stay option, this is how the in-country process works in 2026.

1. Extend your current visa first if needed. Don’t let your visa lapse while arranging upgrades. Apply for your e-visa extension (90 days) or tourist visa extension at the immigration department. You need: your passport, completed extension form, extension fee, and your accommodation registration.
2. Arrange your DN visa sponsorship letter. Contact an agency inside Vietnam. They submit the paperwork to the immigration authority on your behalf. Return time: 5–7 working days. You do not need to leave the country for this step — the visa can be issued inside Vietnam as a visa stamp.
3. Submit for the DN visa stamp at the immigration department. Your agency will often handle submission directly. You collect the stamped passport after processing. Fees are slightly lower for in-country issuance than embassy issuance in some cases.
4. Confirm your lease and tạm trú registration. If your current accommodation is short-term, you need to transition to a 12-month lease before filing for a TRC. Many serviced apartments in 2026 offer 6–12 month leases with included ward registration — this is worth the slight premium over informal rental arrangements.
5. Compile your TRC dossier. This typically includes: valid DN or DT visa, 12-month lease agreement (notarised Vietnamese translation if the lease is in English), tạm trú registration confirmation, health insurance certificate, passport photos, completed TRC application form (NA6 as of 2026), and sponsorship letter from your visa’s sponsoring entity.
6. Submit the TRC dossier to the provincial immigration department. In Ho Chi Minh City, this is the Immigration Police Department on Nguyễn Trãi Street. In Hanoi, it’s the Immigration Management Department on Trần Phú Street. Bring originals and copies of everything. Officers will review on the spot and tell you if anything is missing before accepting the file.
7. Wait for processing and collect your TRC. You’ll receive a collection date, typically 10–20 working days later. The TRC is a physical card, credit-card sized, with your photo and personal data. Keep it with your passport at all times.

One common mistake: remote workers sometimes submit a TRC dossier while their visa has less than 30 days remaining. If processing takes longer than expected, the visa expires mid-application — which creates a gap in legal status. Submit your TRC application when you have at least 45 days remaining on your current visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I legally work remotely for a foreign employer while on a tourist or e-visa in Vietnam?

Vietnam’s law does not explicitly ban remote work for overseas employers while on a tourist or e-visa, but it also doesn’t authorise it. In practice, immigration authorities focus on foreigners working for Vietnamese companies without a work permit. Remote workers employed abroad are rarely targeted, but the legal grey area is real. A DN visa provides a more defensible legal status for this situation.

Do I need a work permit to work remotely in Vietnam?

No — work permits (giấy phép lao động) are required only when you are employed by or provide services directly to a Vietnamese-registered entity and receive payment from within Vietnam. Remote workers paid by foreign employers and conducting no work for Vietnamese companies generally fall outside work permit requirements. Confirm with a local immigration lawyer if your situation is more complex.

How much does it cost to live in Vietnam as a remote worker in 2026?

Monthly costs vary significantly by city and lifestyle. A comfortable mid-range setup — decent apartment, eating out regularly, occasional travel — runs approximately 20,000,000–35,000,000 VND (USD 800–1,400) per month in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. Budget setups are possible at 12,000,000–18,000,000 VND (USD 480–720). Add visa and insurance costs on top of these figures.

What happens if my visa expires while my TRC application is being processed?

This is a genuine risk. Immigration authorities issue a receipt when they accept your TRC dossier, and this receipt technically covers your legal stay during processing. However, enforcement varies by province, and it’s far safer to submit with ample time remaining on your visa. If your visa is close to expiring, extend it first before filing the TRC application.

Can I enter Vietnam on an e-visa and then switch to a DN visa without leaving the country?

Yes. As of 2026, you can change your visa category in-country through the immigration department without an exit and re-entry. You’ll need the sponsorship letter from a Vietnamese entity and the standard DN visa application documents. The in-country issuance process takes 5–7 working days. Plan this well before your e-visa expires to avoid a legal status gap.

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📷 Featured image by Ngân Nguyễn Văn on Unsplash.