Vietnam Investor DT visa – All you need to know

A Vietnam investor visa is for qualifying foreign investors and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam. Your documented capital contribution or an applicable investment incentive determines the category, from DT1 to DT4. The category affects the maximum visa duration and whether you can apply for an investor temporary residence card.

⁉️ Planning an investor visa application? Our team can check your proposed category, sponsor and immigration documents through our investor visa support. We explain the relevant application steps and assistance available for your case before you proceed.

👉 Contact our team at WhatsApp (US)+1.341.999.4099 | (VN)+84.387.285.099.

This post is dedicated to provide all information that one should know about an investor visa for Vietnam.

Quick summary

• DT1 to DT4 depend on capital contribution or qualifying incentive criteria.
• DT1 and DT2 visas can last up to 5 years; DT3 up to 3 years; DT4 up to 1 year.
• Investor residence cards are available under DT1, DT2 and DT3, subject to approval.
• An investor visa does not automatically settle work permit requirements.
• Your passport and supporting documents can shorten the duration granted.

What is Vietnam investor visa?

According to the Law No. 47/2014/QH13 on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Vietnam, the Investor (DT) visa for Vietnam is a type of visa granted to foreign investors in Vietnam and foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam. 

And now, according to the new Immigration Law No. Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law No. 47/2014/QH13, Vietnam Investor Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law No. 47/2014/QH13 on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam Investor Visa is categorized into:

• ĐT1 – to be granted to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with capital contribution of at least VND100 billion, or investing in the business fields and areas of investment incentives decided by the Vietnam Government. Valid for up to 5 years.
• ĐT2 – to be granted to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with capital contribution of VND50 – under VND100 billion, or investing in the business fields of investment encouragement decided by the Vietnam Government. Valid for up to 5 years.
• ĐT3 – to be granted to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with capital contribution of VND3 – under VND50 billion. Valid for up to 3 years.
• ĐT4 – to be granted to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with capital contribution of less than VND3 billion. Valid for up to 12 months.

Holders of an Investor visa to Vietnam can:

• apply for a Vietnam temporary card which is valid for up to 10 years,
• sponsor their spouse/children to get Vietnam TT visa if their visa is symbolized as DT1, DT2 or DT3, and
• extend the visa following this visa extension instruction.

Who qualifies for an investor visa?

Foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam may qualify for the DT categories. You need evidence of the investment and a qualifying immigration sponsor; a plan to invest does not by itself establish eligibility.

Articles 8 and 9 of Vietnam’s consolidated immigration law define the categories and visa limits. The law uses DT, also written ĐT in Vietnamese, for investor visas.

The capital thresholds below refer to the relevant investor’s contribution. A company’s total registered capital does not automatically establish the category for every shareholder or contributor. Your sponsor should identify the investment evidence that supports your own application.

Which investor visa category fits your investment?

DT1 is the highest category by capital threshold, while DT4 covers contributions below VND3 billion. DT1 and DT2 also have alternative criteria linked to qualifying investment sectors or locations.

The incentive alternatives need evidence of the relevant legal criteria. Describing your business as innovative does not automatically qualify it for DT1 or DT2.

These periods are maximum legal limits, not standard durations issued to everyone. Immigration checks the application, requested duration, passport and supporting basis before deciding what to grant.

How to get an Investor Visa for Vietnam?

The procedure to get a DT visa for Vietnam depends on where you apply for it, in Vietnam or in a foreign country.

1. Getting DT visa in Vietnam

If you are already in Vietnam and wish to obtain a DT visa, you should follow this procedure:

👉Step 1: Prepare required documents:

The dossiers to apply for an Investor visa for Vietnam shall include:

• Certified copy of Business Registration Certificate & Investment Registration Certificate of the invested company in Vietnam (sponsor company);
• Certificate of seal specimen registration or a notice on the publication of information on seal specimen of the sponsor company on the national enterprise registration portal;
• Form NA16 – Registration form for the seal and signature of the legal representative of of the sponsor company;
• Form NA5 – Application for visa, visa extension, extension of stay for foreigners in Vietnam;
• Original valid passport;
• Temporary residence registration form as prescribed (see How to register temporary residence for foreigners in Vietnam);

👉Step 2: Submit the documents to Immigration Department office of Vietnam

You or your agent will need to submit the prepared documents to the Office of Vietnam Immigration Department in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang or the Immigration Management sections of the police offices of the provinces/city where your company is based.

👉Step 3: Receive the Vietnam Investor DT visa

After around 05 working days from submission of full documents, you will receive your Investor visa for Vietnam stamped on passport.

If you want any assistance, please feel free to let us know at (US)+1.341.999.4099 | (VN)+84.387.285.099 or [email protected].

2. Getting DT visa for Vietnam from foreign country

If you are in your home country and wish to get a DT visa for Vietnam, then you need to follow the steps mentioned below:

👉Step 1: Prepare documents for Vietnam DT visa approval letter

In this case, you and your company in which you have invested should prepare the following documents:

• Certified copy of Business Registration Certificate & Investment Registration of the sponsor company;
• Certificate of seal specimen registration or a notice on the publication of information on seal specimen of the sponsor company on the national enterprise registration portal;
• Form NA16 – Registration form for the seal and signature of the legal representative of the sponsor company;
• Form NA2 with Barcode – Request for pre-clearance of foreigners’ entry into Vietnam.
• Photo of passport of the investor.

Note: The required documents to get a DT visa approval letter for Vietnam in COVID time are more complicated. Please contact us at +84.946.583.583 (WhatsApp, Zalo, Viber available) for detailed consultation.

👉Step 2: Submit documents for Vietnam DT visa approval letter

In this step, your agent in Vietnam will submit the required documents prepared in step 1 to the office of Vietnam Immigration Department in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang.

After 5 working days, the agent will get a visa approval letter which serves as basis for the foreign investor to get DT visa stamp.

The agent will then send the scan of the visa approval letter to the investor’s email.

Note: Your company can also ask a visa agent like Vietnam-visa.com for assistance in these 2 steps. We will submit those documents to the Vietnam Immigration Department on their behalf and then send them the colored scan of your visa approval letter.

👉Step 3: Get Vietnam DT Visa stamp

The foreign investor will firstly need to prepare the following documents for getting visa stamp for Vietnam entry:

• Original valid passport as prescribed by the law;
• Printout of the Vietnam visa approval letter;
• 2 4*6cm photos in white background
• Vietnamese visa application form.

And then, depending on the location to pick up the DT visa stamp declared on Form NA2, the investor shall present him/herself at the Vietnam Embassy/Consulate General or Vietnam arrival airport for a visa stamp.

And then, they can enter Vietnam with such visa.

Read more: Procedure of getting visa on arrival at Vietnam airport if you get Vietnam DT visa upon arrival in Vietnam

Disclaimers: That’s all about how to get a DT visa for foreign investors in Vietnam. While we put an effort to ensure that the provided information is correct and up-to-date, there are probably changes which we are unaware of.

How can Vietnam-visa can Help You?

The Vietnam DT visa application process can be a daunting prospect. Vietnam-visa.com will be by your side and assist you throughout the process. Vietnam-visa consultants are experienced and well-versed with the intricacies of the Vietnam immigration process. Your dedicated consultant will help you:

• Identify your situation and provide you with full document checklist;
• Collect all your documents
• Complete the visa documents checklist
• Create your application package
• Fill the various forms and applications accurately
• Updates & follow up
• Deliver the result to your address in Vietnam.

Need consultation in getting a TT visa for Vietnam, connect with us via:

• Hotline: +84.946.583.583 (WhatsApp, Viber, Zalo available)
• Email: [email protected]
• Offices:
  • In Hanoi: 23rd Floor, TASCO Building, Pham Hung road, Tu Liem
  • In Ho Chi Minh city: 6th Floor, VIPD Building, No. 4 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Da Kao Ward, District 1