Visa, Temporary and Permanent Residence Incentives for Foreigners at the International Financial Centre (Updated 2026)

I. Criteria for determining foreigners eligible for incentives on visa issuance, temporary residence cards, and permanent residence resolution

1. Criteria for determining important investors eligible for incentives on visa issuance, temporary residence cards, and permanent residence resolution according to regulations in this Decree are applied according to the regulations of the Executive Agency of the International Financial Centre (hereinafter referred to as the Executive Agency) regarding criteria for determining strategic investors.

2. Criteria for determining foreigners as managers, executive directors, experts, and technical workers eligible for incentives on visa issuance, temporary residence cards, and permanent residence resolution according to regulations in this Decree are applied according to regulations at Article 3 of Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP dated August 07, 2025, of the Government regulating foreign workers working in Vietnam as follows:

a) Criteria for identifying managers are applied according to regulations at Clause 1, Article 3 of Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP;

b) Criteria for identifying executive directors are applied according to regulations at Clause 2, Article 3 of Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP;

c) Criteria for identifying experts are applied according to regulations at Clause 3, Article 3 of Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP;

d) Criteria for identifying technical workers are applied according to regulations at Clause 4, Article 3 of Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP.

3. Criteria for determining foreigners as scientists, people with special talents eligible for incentives on consideration for permanent residence according to regulations in this Decree are applied according to one of the criteria for identifying foreigners belonging to special subjects needing incentives on visa exemption for entry into Vietnam according to regulations at Section II Appendix I (List of criteria for identifying special subjects needing incentives on visa exemption for entry into Vietnam serving socio-economic development) issued with Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP dated August 08, 2025.

II. Issuance of visas, temporary residence cards

1. Foreigners being important investors, experts, managers, or technical workers working for agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Centre meeting criteria prescribed at Article 3 of this Decree are granted visas or temporary residence cards with symbol UD1 with a duration not exceeding 10 years upon the proposal of the Executive Agency.

2. Foreigners being spouses, children under 18 years old of foreigners prescribed at Clause 1 of this Article are granted visas or temporary residence cards with symbol UD2 upon the proposal of the Executive Agency with a duration suitable to the duration of the visa or temporary residence card with symbol UD1 granted to the relative being the foreigner prescribed at Clause 1 of this Article.

3. The order and procedures for invitation, guarantee for entry, proposal for visa issuance, and temporary residence card issuance for foreigners prescribed at this Article are implemented according to regulations at Article 16, Article 19, and Article 37 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of foreigners in Vietnam; the resolution time limit is not more than 03 working days from the date of receiving a complete dossier.

III. Conditions for consideration for permanent residence

Foreigners being important investors, experts, scientists, people with special talents, or executive directors working long-term at agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Centre meeting criteria prescribed at Article 3 of this Decree are considered for permanent residence in Vietnam when meeting the following conditions:

1. Having documents proving long-term employment at agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Centre and having a continuous working period of 03 years or more at agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Centre.

2. Being proposed by the Minister, Head of ministerial-level agency, agency attached to the Government performing state management over the professional field, or the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City or the Chairman of the People's Committee of Da Nang City.

IV. Procedures for resolving permanent residence

1. The Executive Agency performs procedures to propose the resolution for permanent residence for foreigners at the immigration management agency. The dossier includes:

a) Application for permanent residence of the foreigner;

b) Judicial record issued by the competent authority of the country of which the person is a citizen;

c) Diplomatic note of the representative mission of the country of which the person is a citizen proposing Vietnam to resolve for that person's permanent residence;

d) Certified copy of passport or photocopy of passport after presenting the original for comparison; dd) Written proposal according to Form NT-01 issued with this Decree and documents proving eligibility for consideration for permanent residence prescribed at Article 5 of this Decree.

2. Within a term of 02 months from the date of receiving a complete dossier, the Minister of Public Security considers and decides on permanent residence; in case it is deemed necessary to have supplementary verification, it may be extended but not exceeding 01 month.

3. Within a term of 02 months from receiving the notice of resolution for permanent residence, the foreigner must go to the immigration management agency to receive the permanent residence card.

4. Periodically once every 10 years, the permanent resident goes to the immigration management agency to change the card. The dossier for changing the permanent residence card and re-issuance of the permanent residence card is implemented according to regulations at Article 43 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

V. The immigration management agency cancels the validity of visas, temporary residence cards, or permanent residence cards granted to foreigners according to regulations of this Decree in the following cases:

1. The foreigner no longer belongs to the subject eligible for incentives on visa issuance, temporary residence cards, or permanent residence resolution according to regulations of this Decree.

2. There is a written proposal from the Executive Agency.

VI. Appraising Agency

1. The Executive Agency has the responsibility to appraise, ensuring foreigners are the correct subjects and meet criteria for incentives; perform procedures to propose incentives on visa issuance, temporary residence cards, and permanent residence resolution for foreigners working at agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Centre according to regulations at this Decree.

2. The Executive Agency and the agency or organization headquartered at the International Financial Centre where the foreigner works have the responsibility to coordinate with functional agencies to resolve issues arising related to foreigners who have been proposed for incentives on visa issuance, temporary residence cards, or permanent residence cards.

3. The Executive Agency notifies in writing the immigration management agency regarding the proposal to cancel the validity of the valid visa, temporary residence card, or issued permanent residence card for the foreigner but the foreigner no longer works for the agency or organization headquartered at the International Financial Centre or no longer belongs to the subject eligible for incentives according to regulations of this Decree or the Executive Agency no longer has the demand to guarantee or propose incentives.

VII. Conclusion

It can be seen that the legal framework on residence at the International Financial Centre has been designed with an open and breakthrough mindset, viewing the stability of investors and experts as a national asset. The issuance of 10-year temporary residence cards and the transparent permanent residence consideration mechanism are strategic "green cards," helping high-quality personnel feel secure to contribute long-term. The responsibility for appraisal and guarantee is now focused on the Executive Agency as the focal point, helping to minimize administrative procedures for enterprises. To ensure the dossier is approved quickly, your Enterprise needs to coordinate closely with the Executive Agency to identify the correct incentive group (UD1, UD2) right from the recruitment stage.

The information contained in this article is general and intended only to provide information on legal regulations. DB Legal will not be responsible for any use or application of this information for any business purpose. For in-depth advice on specific cases, please contact us.

For more information: 

📞: +84 357 466 579

📧: contact@dblegal.vn

🌐Facebook:  DB Legal Vietnamese Fanpage or DB Legal English Fanpage 

🐦X(Twitter)

💼Linkedin

🎬Youtube