Everything you need to know about the Vietnam Investor DT visa


Last update: Aug 18, 2023

Vietnam has been emerging as a promising destination for investors in recent years, thanks to its dynamic economy, strategic location, and favorable business climate. For foreign investors who wish to explore the Vietnamese market and seek new investment opportunities, the Investor DT visa is a crucial tool to facilitate their entry and stay in Vietnam. In this article, we will delve into the details of the Vietnam Investor DT visa, including its benefits, requirements, and application process.
The Vietnam Investor Visa is a type of visa designed for foreign investors who have invested or plan to invest in Vietnam. This visa allows investors to enter and stay in Vietnam for an extended period, providing them with ample time to explore the market and invest in their projects. The Investor Visa is a valuable tool for foreign investors who wish to explore and invest in Vietnam's promising market, and it offers several benefits, including long-term stay, multiple entries, and business flexibility.
To obtain the Investor Visa, investors must meet specific investment requirements and fulfill other conditions, such as registering their business, obtaining a tax identification number, opening a bank account, and undergoing a health check. The application process typically involves submitting an application and supporting documents to the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in the investor's home country or country of residence, obtaining approval from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and receiving the Investor Visa from the embassy or consulate. Overall, the Investor Visa is an essential tool for foreign investors looking to invest in Vietnam and is an excellent opportunity for them to explore Vietnam's potential market.

What is the Investor DT visa?

The Investor DT visa is a type of visa designed for foreign investors who have invested in Vietnam or intend to do so. This visa allows investors to enter and stay in Vietnam for up to five years, depending on the duration of their investment project. The Investor DT visa is an essential tool for foreign investors who wish to explore and invest in Vietnam's promising market.
The Investor (DT) visa for Vietnam is a type of visa granted to foreign investors and foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam, according to Law No. 47/2014/QH13 on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through, and residence in Vietnam. However, the new Immigration Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of Law No. 47/2014/QH13 has categorized the Vietnam Investor visa into four types: DT1, DT2, DT3, and DT4.

  • DT1 visa is granted to foreign investors and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with a capital contribution of at least VND100 billion or investing in the business fields and areas of investment incentives decided by the Vietnam Government. This visa is valid for up to 5 years. 
  • DT2 visa is granted to foreign investors and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with a capital contribution of VND50 – under VND100 billion or investing in the business fields of investment encouragement decided by the Vietnam Government. It is also valid for up to 5 years.
  • DT3 visa is granted to foreign investors and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with a capital contribution of VND3 – under VND50 billion and is valid for up to 3 years. 
  • DT4 visa is granted to foreign investors and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with a capital contribution of less than VND3 billion and is valid for up to 12 months.

Holders of an Investor visa to Vietnam can apply for a Vietnam temporary card that is valid for up to 10 years, sponsor their spouse/children to obtain a Vietnam TT visa if their visa is categorized as DT1, DT2, or DT3, and extend their visa following the instructions provided for visa extension.

Benefits of the Investor DT visa

The Investor DT visa offers several advantages for foreign investors, including:

  • Long-term stay: The Investor DT visa allows investors to stay in Vietnam for up to five years, providing them with ample time to explore the market and invest in their projects.
  • Multiple entries: The Investor DT visa permits multiple entries into Vietnam, enabling investors to enter and exit the country as many times as needed during their stay.
  • Business flexibility: The Investor DT visa allows investors to engage in a wide range of business activities, such as attending conferences, conducting market research, and negotiating deals.
  • Family sponsorship: The Investor DT visa allows investors to sponsor their family members to accompany them during their stay in Vietnam.
  • Fast processing: The Investor DT visa application process is relatively quick, with a typical processing time of around 7-10 working days.

Requirements for the Investor DT visa

To obtain the Investor DT visa, foreign investors must meet the following requirements:

  • Investment requirement: Investors must have invested or be planning to invest at least VND 3 billion in Vietnam.
  • Business registration: Investors must register their business in Vietnam and obtain a Business Registration Certificate (BRC).
  • Tax registration: Investors must register for tax and obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN).
  • Bank account: Investors must open a bank account in Vietnam and provide evidence of their investment capital.
  • Criminal record: Investors must provide a criminal record from their home country or the country where they have resided for the last 6 months.
  • Health check: Investors must undergo a health check and provide a health certificate issued by a recognized medical facility.

The application process for the Investor DT visa

The application process for the Investor DT visa involves the following steps:

  • Submitting the application: Investors must submit their visa application and supporting documents to the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in their home country or country of residence.
  • Approval from the Ministry of Planning and Investment: Once the embassy or consulate receives the application, it will forward it to the Ministry of Planning and Investment for approval.
  • Visa issuance: After receiving approval from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the embassy or consulate will issue the Investor DT visa to the applicant.
  • Visa extension: Investors can extend their Investor DT visa for up to five years, depending on the duration of their investment project.

How to get an Investor Visa for Vietnam?

To obtain an Investor Visa for Vietnam, the procedure depends on whether you are applying for it in Vietnam or in a foreign country.

1. Getting DT visa in Vietnam
If you are already in Vietnam and want to apply for a DT visa, you need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Prepare the required documents:
The necessary documents to apply for an Investor Visa to Vietnam include:

  • A certified copy of the Business Registration Certificate & Investment Registration Certificate of the company you have invested in Vietnam (sponsor company).
  • A Certificate of Seal Specimen Registration or a notice on the publication of information about the sealed 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 NA5 – Application for the visa, visa extension, and the extension of stay for foreigners in Vietnam.
  • Your original valid passport.
  • The Temporary Residence Registration Form, as required (see How to register temporary residence for foreigners in Vietnam).

Step 2: Submit the documents to the Immigration Department office of Vietnam
You or your agent must submit the required documents to the Office of the Vietnam Immigration Department in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, or the Immigration Management sections of the police offices of the provinces/city where your company is located.

Step 3: Receive the Vietnam Investor DT visa
After submitting the documents, you will receive your Investor visa for Vietnam stamped on your passport in about five working days.

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

Step 1: Prepare documents for the Vietnam DT visa approval letter
In this case, you and the company in which you have invested should prepare the following documents:

  • A certified copy of the Business Registration Certificate and Investment Registration of the sponsor company;
  • A Certificate of seal specimen registration or a notice on the publication of information on the sealed 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 (complete here and print out).
  • A photo of the investor's passport.

Step 2: Submit documents for the 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 the Vietnam Immigration Department in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Nang.

  • After 5 working days, the agent will receive a visa approval letter, which serves as the basis for the foreign investor to obtain the 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 Urgentvisatovietnam.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: Obtain the Vietnam DT Visa stamp

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

  • An original valid passport as prescribed by the law;
  • A printout of the Vietnam visa approval letter;
  • Two 4*6cm photos on white background
  • Vietnamese visa application form.

Depending on the location to pick up the DT visa stamp declared on Form NA2, the investor shall present themselves at the Vietnam Embassy/Consulate General or Vietnam arrival airport for a visa stamp. Then, they can enter Vietnam with a visa.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

In short, the answer is No. Unfortunately, not all foreign investors are exempt from work permits. If your capital contribution is less than VDN 3 billion, you will not have a work permit exemption. You must then apply for a work visa to operate any business in Vietnam. Foreign investors have a work permit exemption if: You are an owner or equity member of a limited liability company with a capital contribution of 3 billion VND or more. You are the Chairman of the Board of Directors or member of the Board of Directors of a joint-stock company with a capital contribution of 3 billion VND or more.

Yes! Any foreign citizen can invest and start a business. There are various ways in which you can invest in Vietnam. For example, you can start a Limited Liability Company (LLC) with a maximum of 50 members. In addition, investors can create a Joint-stock company (JSC) with three funding partners or can start a business in a Partnership formed by at least two individual partners. Other examples of economic ventures are Business Cooperation Contract (BCC), Private Enterprises, Public-Private Partnership (PPP), or even investing by making capital contributions and purchasing shares in Vietnam companies.

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