Decree No. 327/2025/ND-CP on entry, exit and residence policies for foreigners at International Financial Centers in Vietnam

DECREE

ON ENTRY, EXIT AND RESIDENCE POLICIES FOR FOREIGNERS AT INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTERS IN VIETNAM

Pursuant to Law on Government Organization No. 63/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam No. 47/2014/QH13, as amended and supplemented by Law No. 51/2019/QH14 and Law No. 23/2023/QH15;

Pursuant to Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15 dated June 27, 2025 of the National Assembly of Vietnam on International financial centers in Vietnam;

At the request of Minister of Public Security;

The Government of Vietnam promulgates a Decree on entry, exit and residence policies for foreigners at International Financial Centers in Vietnam.

Article 1. Scope

This Decree provides for:

1. Issuance of visas and temporary residence cards (TRCs) to foreigners who are key investors, experts, managers, or highly-qualified workers working at the International Financial Center in Vietnam (hereinafter referred to as “International Financial Center”) and their accompanying family members.

2. Grant of permanent residence for foreigners who are key investors, experts, scientists, individuals with exceptional talents, or senior managers working long-term in agencies or organizations that set up offices in the International Financial Center.

Article 2. Regulated entities

1. Foreigners falling under the following cases:

a) Key investors, experts, managers, or highly-qualified workers working at the International Financial Center and their accompanying family members.

b) Key investors, experts, scientists, individuals with exceptional talents, or senior managers working long-term in agencies or organizations that set up offices in the International Financial Center.

2. Relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Article 3. Criteria for identifying foreigners eligible for preferential issuance of visas and TRCs and grant of permanent residence

1. Criteria for identifying key investors eligible for preferential issuance of visas and TRCs and grant of permanent residence stipulated in this Decree shall comply with the regulations of the Executive body of the International Financial Center (hereinafter referred to as the “Executive body”) regarding criteria for determining strategic investors.

2. Criteria for identifying foreigners who are managers, senior managers, experts, or highly-qualified workers eligible for preferential issuance of visas and TRCs and grant of permanent residence stipulated in this Decree shall comply with Article 3 of Government’s Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP dated August 7, 2025 on foreign workers working in Vietnam.

a) Criteria for identifying managers shall comply with Clause 1 Article 3 of Government’s Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP dated August 7, 2025;

b) Criteria for identifying senior managers shall comply with Clause 2 Article 3 of Government’s Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP dated August 7, 2025;

c) Criteria for identifying experts shall comply with Clause 3 Article 3 of Government’s Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP dated August 7, 2025;

d) Criteria for identifying highly-qualified workers shall comply with Clause 4 Article 3 of Government’s Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP dated August 7, 2025;

3. Criteria for identifying foreigners who are scientists or individuals with exceptional talent eligible for preferential consideration for permanent residence stipulated in this Decree shall apply any of criteria to determine foreigners eligible for visa exemption to Vietnam for economic-social development stipulated in Section II of Appendix I (List of criteria for identifying special foreigners eligible for visa exemption to Vietnam for economic-social development purpose), enclosed with the Government’s Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP dated August 8, 2025 on limited-term visa exemption for foreigners eligible for special incentives for socio-economic development purpose.

Article 4. Visa and TRC issuance

1. Foreigners who are key investors, experts, managers, or highly-qualified workers working for agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center and meet the criteria specified in Article 3 of this Decree shall be granted a UD1 visa or TRC with a validity of up to 10 years upon the request of the Executive body.

2. Foreigners who are spouses or children under 18 years old of the foreigners specified in Clause 1 of this Article shall be granted a UD2 visa or TRC, upon the request of the Executive body, with a validity corresponding to the validity of the UD1 visa or TRC granted in accordance with Clause 1 of this Article.

3. The procedures for inviting or guaranteeing entry, requesting the issuance of visas and TRCs for foreigners specified in this Article shall comply with Articles 16, 19, and 37 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam; The processing time shall not exceed 03 working days from the date of receipt of a satisfactory application.

Article 5. Conditions for permanent residence

A foreigner who is a key investor, expert, scientist, individual with exceptional talent, or senior manager working long-term at an agency or organization headquartered at the International Financial Center and meets the criteria specified in Article 3 of this Decree shall be considered for permanent residence in Vietnam if the following conditions are met:

1. He/she has documents proving long-term employment and has worked continuously for at least 3 years at an agency or organization headquartered at the International Financial Center.

2. He/she is recommended by the Minister, the Head of a ministerial-level agency, the Head of a Governmental authority managing the specific field, or the Chairperson of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang City.

Article 6. Procedures for processing permanent residence applications

1. The Executive body shall process the procedures for permanent residence for foreigners at the immigration management authorities. The application includes:

a) Application for permanent residence of the foreigner;

b) A criminal record issued by the competent authority of the country where the person is a citizen;

c) The diplomatic note prepared by the representative office of the country where the person is a citizen, requesting Vietnam to grant permanent residence to that person;

d) A notarized copy of the passport or a photocopy of the passport after presenting the original for comparison;

dd) A proposal made using the form NT-01 enclosed herewith and documents proving the eligibility for grant of permanent residence as specified in Article 5 of this Decree.

2. Within 02 months from the date of receiving a complete application, the Minister of Public Security shall review an decide on permanent residence; if any additional verification is required, the process may be extended, but not exceeding 01 month.

3. Within 02 months from the date of receiving the notice of permanent residence approval, the foreigner must go to the immigration management authority to receive his/her permanent residence card (PRC).

4. Every 10 years, PRC holders must renew their PRC at the immigration management authority. The renewal application and procedures for reissuing a PRC shall comply with Article 43 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam.

Article 7. Cancellation of the validity of visas, TRCs, and PRCs

The immigration management authority shall cancel the validity of visas, TRCs, and PRCs issued to foreigners in accordance with this Decree if:

1. He/she no longer falls under the cases eligible for preferential issuance of visas and TRCs and grant of permanent residence stipulated in this Decree.

2. There is a written request of the Executive body.

Article 8. Appraisal body

1. The Executive body shall appraise and ensure the eligibility to receive preferential treatment of foreigners; handle procedures to propose preferential issuance of visas and TRCs and grant of permanent residence for foreigners working at agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center in accordance with this Decree.

2. The Executive body and agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center, where foreigners works, shall cooperate with relevant authorities to address issues arising upon request for preferential treatment for issuance of visas, TRCs, or PRCs.

3. The Executive body shall send a written proposal to cancel the validity of a visa, TRC, or PRC to the immigration management authority in the case where the holder no longer works for an agency or organization headquartered at the International Financial Center, does not fall under any cases of eligibility for preferential treatment as prescribed in this Decree, or when the Executive body no longer wishes to propose preferential treatment.

Article 9. Effect and responsibility for implementation

1. This Circular comes into force from January 17, 2026.

2. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level authorities, heads of Governmental authorities, Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces, and relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals shall implement this Decree.