This southeast Asian country has just launched a 10-year visa – here’s how to apply

Three different categories are on offer, and there are hopes the scheme will help boost the tourism industry

Vietnam has definitely been having a moment the last few years – in the first quarter of 2025, the country welcomed 7.67 million foreign visitors, which is a year-on-year increase of nearly 24 percent. 

The country’s current economic boom means it has become more attractive to high-net-worth people looking to relocate, and the government is keen to capitalise on that. So, to help sustain this growth and support the country’s tourism sector (the tourism authority has a goal of between 22 and 23 million annual international visitors), Vietnam has just announced a shiny new ‘golden visa’. 

According to the Financial Express, there are three proposed categories. This ‘golden visa’ allows stays between five and 10 years, and can be extended.

There’s also set to be an ‘investor visa’, which has a 10-year term plus a roadmap of becoming a permanent resident after living in Vietnam for five, and a ‘talent visa’, which is open to people who are highly skilled and working in fast-growing sectors – this one also has a five-year term. 

Does it sound like you’ll be eligible for any of those? Well, according to euronews it looks like the visa applications are expected to be entirely online, so you won’t even need to visit an embassy to apply. 

If you’re looking to visit Vietnam under a different kind of visa, the processes for tourist and business travellers have reportedly been simplified and digitised, too. 

More on relocating to Asia

It was announced earlier this week that the Philippines would finally be launching a digital nomad visa, joining the likes of Japan, Thailand and South Korea.

Have a look here at Time Out’s list of all the nations offering a digital nomad visa, and read about what it’s really like to work from anywhere. 

By Liv Kelly – Time Out Travel – May 9, 2025