Vietnam's Five Year Talent Visa Waiver: Who Qualifies and How It Works

A new entry route for people with exceptional achievements

Vietnam's Special Visa Exemption Card gives selected foreign professionals multiple entries for up to five years, with a temporary stay of up to 90 days on each arrival. Created by Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP and effective from August 15, 2025, the scheme targets people whose expertise, investment or international standing can support the country's economic growth, scientific progress and cultural reach.

As of December 3, 2025, the card is the first phase of a broader golden visa plan. Vietnam has also outlined a general visa lasting five to ten years and a dedicated investor route lasting ten years. Those wider plans remain under development, while the special exemption card provides an entry channel for eligible talent and distinguished guests.

Senior executives, investors, scientists, scholars, digital technology leaders, artists, athletes and tourism promoters are among the intended beneficiaries. Distinguished guests invited by competent Vietnamese agencies can also qualify. Selection depends on expertise, achievements and the expected value of a person's contribution to Vietnam, rather than a fixed minimum income or a requirement to work remotely.

Vietnam aims to welcome roughly 22 to 23 million international visitors in 2025. The card serves a more specific purpose within that ambition: making repeated travel easier for people who can build business, research, educational and cultural relationships with Vietnamese organizations.

Prospective applicants need to understand two separate time limits. Five years describes the maximum validity of the card, while 90 days describes the maximum temporary stay granted on each entry. A competent Vietnamese agency or organization must submit the nomination, and the Immigration Department reviews the candidate before approval.

What the five year card allows

The Special Visa Exemption Card, often shortened to SVEC, allows its holder to enter Vietnam repeatedly while the card remains valid. There is no limit on the number of entries. This makes it useful for people returning for projects, consultations, investment activity, meetings, competitions or cultural events.

Border officers grant temporary residence for up to 90 days on each arrival. If fewer than 90 days remain before the card expires, the permitted stay is shortened to match the remaining validity. A traveler therefore needs to check both the card's expiry date and the stay granted at the border.

The passport also sets a limit on the card's duration. The card must expire at least 30 days before the passport expires. Receiving the full five years requires a passport that stays valid for at least 30 days beyond the end of that period, making passport renewal an important part of advance planning.

The SVEC supports repeated visits and collaboration over several years. Permanent residence and permission to work are handled through separate immigration and labor rules. Someone taking employment in Vietnam still needs the relevant work permit or an applicable exemption, along with any licensing required for the role.

Who can be nominated

Decree 221 gives competent ministries, agencies and organizations a role in nominating candidates. Officials assess professional standing, achievements and the benefits the individual is expected to bring to Vietnam. The policy covers several fields rather than a single occupation or investment threshold.

The main groups targeted by the scheme include:

• Senior leaders from foreign governments, parliaments, international organizations and supreme judicial bodies.
• Investors, entrepreneurs and corporate executives whose work supports economic and social development.
• Chief executives and top managers from globally recognized companies with substantial cultural or brand influence.
• Scientists, professors, researchers and scholars in priority disciplines, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as economics and management.
• Chief engineers and digital technology experts, including specialists in semiconductors, artificial intelligence and advanced computing.
• Artists, filmmakers, directors, actors, musicians, producers, painters and photographers with significant international recognition.
• Elite athletes, including footballers and medalists from major competitions.
• Tourism promoters and cultural ambassadors who can expand Vietnam's international presence.
• Honorary consuls and invited guests of major Vietnamese institutions or enterprises.

Vietnam's approach connects easier entry with achievement and potential contribution. A person's professional title is part of the assessment, alongside their record and the purpose of their relationship with Vietnamese institutions.

How authorities assess achievements

Authorities have circulated detailed criteria for several categories, using benchmarks such as academic rank, corporate position and international achievement. These criteria help explain what nomination involves: candidates need evidence that their expertise or public standing fits the country's development priorities.

Scientists and experts may qualify through a doctoral degree, prestigious international awards, publications with substantial influence, quality patents or significant technology transfer. Technology transfer means bringing knowledge or technical methods into practical use by another organization. In this setting, it can form part of the evidence that a specialist's work will benefit Vietnam.

Executives and investors are commonly assessed through their affiliation with leading multinational companies. Corporate role, company standing and relevant projects can help show the scale of their experience. Digital technology applicants are expected to meet standards recognized under Vietnamese law for technical roles requiring advanced skills.

Cultural figures and content creators can also be considered when their influence benefits Vietnam's image and tourism. Authorities have referred to tourism ambassadors and creators with large audiences in specific cases, provided they have official endorsement and a record aligned with Vietnam's public interest.

All categories pass through competent agencies and Immigration Department review. In culture and sports, officials consider proof of international influence and whether the person's public profile fits Vietnam's interests. Company rankings and academic credentials can make the requirements demanding for business and research candidates.

The application starts with a Vietnamese sponsor

The SVEC follows a nomination process rather than the direct application model used for tourist or business electronic visas. A competent Vietnamese agency or organization sends a written request to the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security.

The submission includes a copy of the applicant's passport information page and documents supporting eligibility. The nominating body can file online or in person. Potential applicants can coordinate with a host ministry, an authority at provincial level, a national research institute, a major university or a large enterprise recognized as competent to nominate candidates.

Finding that institutional connection is therefore the first practical step. A scientist working with a research institution, an executive collaborating with an enterprise or a cultural figure invited by a Vietnamese body needs the host to confirm eligibility and take responsibility for submitting the request.

Processing depends on the applicant's category. Typical decision periods range from three to five working days after complete documents are received. Once approval is given, the nominating agency receives access to the digital card. The holder can present that card with their passport when traveling.

Digital cards, chip cards and identity checks

Vietnam issues the SVEC in digital and physical formats. The digital version is issued following Immigration Department approval. A physical card contains an embedded chip storing encrypted personal information, including biographical details and biometric data such as a facial image and fingerprints.

Biometrics are physical features used to help confirm someone's identity. Applicants seeking the physical card generally need to be in Vietnam to provide them or hold a Level 2 electronic identification account. The physical card process includes identity verification and, where required, biometric collection in Vietnam.

Producing a chip card takes longer than the usual digital decision process. Physical issuance often takes up to seven working days because authorities must complete the identity and biometric steps and manufacture the card. Applicants should account for that additional time if they need the physical version.

Digital records are also useful throughout the process. Keeping the nomination letter, a copy of the digital SVEC and communications with the Immigration Department helps applicants and their hosts track approval and prepare for travel. Local counsel or corporate immigration teams often coordinate nominations and monitor processing.

Planning each visit and any longer residence

Cardholders present their passport and either their digital or physical SVEC on arrival. Border officers then issue a temporary residence stamp for up to 90 days, subject to the card's remaining validity. The repeated entry privilege is designed to support visits over several years, with each stay governed by its own permitted period.

Professionals should arrange project schedules around that limit. A series of meetings or consultations may fit within one visit, while an assignment requiring an uninterrupted stay longer than 90 days calls for discussion with the host about a temporary residence card or another suitable status.

Employment requires separate attention. Work permits, exemptions and licensing depend on the person's role and industry. If a project develops into local employment, the holder should review the required status with the host or counsel and make the necessary adjustments.

Families planning relocation may also need a residence status that addresses dependents, schooling and employment for spouses. The special card's repeated entry privileges serve a different purpose from arrangements needed for a household to live in Vietnam continuously.

Travelers must track passport and card expiry dates, follow exit and reentry controls, avoid overstaying and comply with local laws. The Ministry of Public Security can cancel a card if the holder no longer meets the requirements or a competent authority requests revocation. Maintaining eligibility and complying with the rules remain part of holding the card.

Where the wider golden visa plan stands

Vietnam has outlined three parts to its broader strategy: a general golden visa lasting five to ten years, a dedicated investor visa lasting ten years with a pathway to permanent residence, and the five year talent card with streamlined renewal. The special exemption card is the first part already introduced.

The investor component remains under review and is expected after 2026. The general golden visa is also still under development. No precise launch date is given for either wider route. Investors can meanwhile use existing investment options, with visa or residence card durations tied to investment size across several tiers.

The main dates and stages are:

• August 15, 2025: Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP takes effect, introducing the special visa exemption framework.
• December 3, 2025: The special card is the first phase of the broader plan, while the general golden visa and dedicated investor route remain under development.
• After 2026: The dedicated investor component is expected, subject to the review still underway.

Policymakers want mobility options that match Vietnam's rising profile and compete across Asia. Tourism has rebounded quickly, while Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang are attracting new hotels, international schools and advanced services appealing to visitors seeking longer stays.

The wider aim is to attract capital and talent, strengthen innovation and expand cultural and educational partnerships. The special card supports that aim by reducing the repeated visa arrangements faced by selected people who regularly work with Vietnamese organizations.

How Vietnam compares with regional programs

Several Southeast Asian countries promote extended stay arrangements for professionals and investors. Thailand has a long term residence program for skilled professionals and wealthy retirees. Malaysia's premium residence scheme appeals to people with substantial wealth, while Indonesia's second home option offers five or ten years subject to financial conditions. Singapore issues passes for top executives and experts in selected fields.

Vietnam's talent card uses a different selection model. It centers on nomination, measurable achievement and contribution to national goals, with repeated entry and stays of up to 90 days. This category has no fixed minimum passive income requirement or large mandatory bank deposit.

The practical tradeoff is access through an institution. Applicants need a competent Vietnamese agency to submit their request and must satisfy demanding benchmarks connected to reputation, academic work or corporate responsibilities. The value lies in easier travel for established collaboration, with residence and employment permissions arranged separately when needed.

What prospective applicants should prepare

A strong application begins with a credible Vietnamese partner and a clear record of achievement. The necessary preparation varies by profession, but passport validity, supporting documents and the intended length of each visit matter across the program.

Applicants and their hosts can work through the following steps:

• Confirm eligibility with a potential sponsor, such as a ministry, provincial authority, national research institute, major university or large enterprise recognized as competent to nominate.
• Gather evidence suited to the category. Academics can prepare degrees, publications, patents and international awards. Executives can document corporate roles, company standing and major projects. Artists and athletes can provide international recognition and relevant accolades.
• Check that the passport will remain valid at least 30 days beyond the card's expiry, and plan renewal early if necessary.
• Prepare for biometric collection in Vietnam or confirm the applicable Level 2 electronic identification arrangements when requesting a physical chip card.
• Plan visits around the 90 day temporary stay limit, and discuss a temporary residence card if an assignment requires a longer uninterrupted stay.
• Resolve work permit, exemption and licensing requirements with the host before taking employment.
• Keep copies of the nomination, digital card and Immigration Department correspondence.

The nomination requirement may restrict access for accomplished people who lack a connection to a competent Vietnamese body. Even candidates with strong achievements need a sponsor able to submit the case. Once the documentation is complete, the usual digital decision period is several working days, with additional time for a physical card.

For eligible applicants, the immediate benefit is a simpler way to return for business, research, sport, cultural activity or institutional partnerships. Careful planning around the passport rule, the length of each stay and separate work requirements makes that benefit usable over the card's lifetime.

Key Points

• Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP took effect on August 15, 2025, creating a Special Visa Exemption Card valid for up to five years.
• The card allows unlimited entries during its validity, with temporary stays of up to 90 days per arrival.
• The card must expire at least 30 days before the passport, and shorter remaining card validity reduces the permitted stay.
• Eligible groups include senior leaders, investors, executives, scientists, scholars, technology experts, cultural figures, athletes, tourism promoters and invited guests.
• A competent Vietnamese agency or organization must nominate the applicant for Immigration Department review.
• Typical digital decisions take three to five working days after complete documents are received. Physical chip cards often take up to seven working days.
• Digital and physical formats are available, with biometric and identity requirements for the physical version.
• Work permission and arrangements for continuous residence are handled separately.
• The broader plan includes a general visa lasting five to ten years and an investor route lasting ten years. Both remain under development as of December 3, 2025, with the investor component expected after 2026.
• Vietnam aims to welcome roughly 22 to 23 million international visitors in 2025 while building stronger relationships with global talent and investors.