Vietnam eyes 10-year golden visa
Vietnam has announced it will introduce a new 10-year golden visa program. The Southeast Asian country is looking to attract long-term residents, investors and skilled professionals from around the world.
Proposed by Vietnam’s Tourism Advisory Board and submitted to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the program is designed to enhance Vietnam’s competitiveness with neighboring countries like Thailand and Malaysia, which already offer similar long-term visa options.
The proposal includes three main visa categories:
- Golden Visa: Valid for 5 to 10 years, extendable, targeting long-term residents and contributors to the economy and tourism.
- Investor Visa: Valid for 10 years with a pathway to permanent residency after 5 years of maintaining investment.
- Talent Visa: A 5-year visa designed for highly skilled professionals in rapidly growing sectors, with a simplified renewal process
The program is expected to be piloted in key tourism and economic hubs such as Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang before a potential nationwide rollout.
Economic Context: The program comes amid Vietnam’s economic boom and a record increase in international visitors, with over 7.67 million foreign tourists in the first quarter of 2025, a 23.8% year-on-year increase. Vietnam aims to compete with regional neighbors like Thailand and Malaysia, which already offer long-term visa options.
Pilot Locations: The visa scheme is expected to be piloted in major tourism and economic hubs such as Phú Quốc, Saigon (Hồ Chí Minh City), Hà Nội, and Đà Nẵng.
Investment Threshold: To qualify for the investor visa, applicants generally need to invest at least VND 3 billion (around USD 120,000) in a Vietnamese company or project, with investments subject to Vietnamese corporate and immigration laws.
In summary, Vietnam’s new 10-year golden visa program is designed to attract affluent foreigners and skilled professionals by offering extended, flexible residency options that support the country’s economic and tourism development goals while simplifying the application process
The move aligns with Vietnam’s broader strategy to boost tourism and foreign investment, aiming to sustain the recent strong rebound in international arrivals and position the country as a premier destination for long-term foreign residents. It also reflects a global trend where countries offer long-term residency to attract wealthy individuals and skilled workers.
In summary, Vietnam’s proposed 10-year golden visa program seeks to facilitate long-term stays for investors and professionals, stimulate economic growth, and enhance the country’s appeal as a competitive regional hub for investment and talent.
By Anthony Marcus – Eurasia Business News – May 22, 2025