01
Clarify your actual work situation
Freelance remote work for foreign clients, employment with a Vietnamese company, and running your own business in Vietnam are legally different situations with different routes.
Remote Work
Vietnam doesn't have a digital nomad visa — here's what to use instead
Unlike some neighboring countries, Vietnam has no dedicated digital nomad visa. Remote workers in Vietnam use the standard 90-day e-visa instead — here's what that means in practice.
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Reality check
What actually exists right now
- No dedicated digital nomad visa exists, unlike several neighboring countries
- The 90-day e-visa is the practical route remote workers actually use today
- The 2026 talent visa (UĐ) is for institution-nominated specialists, not general remote work
- A proposed 'golden visa' isn't finalized — its terms for remote workers are still unclear
What works instead
The routes remote workers actually use
90-day e-visa
Single or multiple entry, applied for online. Not purpose-built for remote work, but it's the legal route that exists and covers most digital nomads' actual needs.
Border runs and repeat applications
Many remote workers extend a Vietnam stay past 90 days by exiting and re-applying, or combining Vietnam time with a regional trip. This needs planning to stay compliant.
Work-based TRC, if genuinely employed
If you take on real employment or a consultancy role with a Vietnamese-registered company, a work permit and TRC route opens up — a different situation from freelance remote work.
Investment-based TRC, if applicable
For nomads who set up a registered business in Vietnam rather than working remotely for a foreign employer, the investment visa (DT) category may fit.
Process
How we help remote workers plan a stay
02
Set realistic expectations
We explain clearly that no nomad-specific visa exists yet, rather than implying otherwise — so you can plan around what's actually available.
03
Plan an e-visa and stay strategy
For most remote workers, this means planning entry type, stay length, and any border runs around the 90-day e-visa structure.
04
Flag TRC options if your situation changes
If you move toward real employment, consultancy, or investment in Vietnam, we point out when a TRC route becomes realistic.
Legal source notes
Vietnam's e-visa is issued under the immigration law framework and does not have a work-purpose category for remote employment with a foreign employer. It is a visitor visa, not a work authorization — remote work performed while on an e-visa sits in a legal gray area that varies by interpretation, not something explicitly licensed.
A talent visa (UĐ) for institution-nominated tech professionals and specialists took effect from July 2026. A separate "golden visa" has been proposed but is not finalized, and its treatment of remote workers is not yet defined.
FAQ
Common questions
Does Vietnam have a digital nomad visa?
No. Vietnam doesn't currently offer a dedicated digital nomad visa, despite that being a common search and a route several neighboring countries do offer. Remote workers based in Vietnam use the standard 90-day e-visa instead.
What do remote workers actually use to stay in Vietnam long-term?
The 90-day e-visa (single or multiple entry) is the practical option most digital nomads rely on, often combined with border runs or repeat applications to extend a stay past 90 days. It's not a purpose-built nomad visa, but it's the legal route that exists today.
Is Vietnam's new talent visa a digital nomad visa?
No. The UĐ talent visa that took effect from July 2026 targets highly skilled tech professionals and specialists nominated by a Vietnamese institution — a narrow, high-bar category, not a general remote-work route.
Is a Vietnam 'golden visa' for digital nomads coming?
A golden visa has been proposed, but it isn't finalized and it's not yet clear whether or how it would apply to remote workers. Until the terms are confirmed, it isn't something to plan a move around.
Next checks
Related visa guidance
These related pages cover nearby situations that often affect the right Vietnam visa route.
Planning to work remotely from Vietnam?
Send your work situation and planned stay length so we can lay out a realistic e-visa and entry strategy.
Sources
- Law No. 47/2014/QH13 - Vietnam visa definitions and original visa-symbol framework
- Law No. 51/2019/QH14 - E-visa and amended visa-purpose rules
- Vietnam Immigration Department e-visa portal - official e-visa application and result channel