Vietnam Introduces 5-Year Visa Exemption Cards for Skilled Foreign Professionals

What’s changing from August 15, 2025?

The new amendment allows foreign nationals to enter Vietnam an unlimited number of times over the course of five years without needing to reapply for a visa. As it was recently announced through Vietnam Briefing that this policy reform intends to attract talent, investors, and innovators from all over the world to come to Vietnam and help prepare its workforce for socio-economic development. Of significance, this immigration policy contributes exactly to what Vietnam is trying to accomplish with its International Financial Centre (IFC) goals, which reflect Vietnam’s ambition to become a competitive, open, and globally-oriented business and investment destination.

Who Gets This Privilege?

The Vietnam 5-year visa exemption for foreigners targets a very specific group of high-impact individuals, including:

• Senior leaders from foreign governments, parliaments, international organisations, and supreme judicial bodies
• Renowned scientists, professors, and researchers from leading institutions
• CEOs and executives of globally recognised corporations
• Investors and entrepreneurs with proven contributions to socio-economic growth
• Leaders in cultural, academic, or economic sectors with international influence

Why it’s a Big Deal

The benefits go beyond avoiding long visa queues:

• Multiple entries over five years—no reapplications
• Choice of digital or physical card, both equally valid
• Faster and simplified entry procedures, ideal for frequent flyers

What’s Required to Qualify?

Applicants must:

• Hold a valid passport
• Meet the criteria in the government’s official Decree
• Be nominated by a relevant Vietnamese agency or organisation
• Have a role or track record that clearly supports Vietnam’s development goals

How Will it Work?

The exemption card will have a built-in chip that carries the following key details:

• Your personal information (name and passport number)
• Biometric data to enable you to be identified securely

Foreign nationals wishing to reside in Vietnam can apply once their biometric data has been provided to the National Immigration Database, or after receiving their Level 2 electronic ID.

Beyond convenience—global positioning

This new initiative is not just about making travel smoother through the latest extension of visa-free travel; it deliberately seeks to build Vietnam’s position in the global networks of business, culture, and research. Expect to see enhanced international cooperation, foreign investment, and talent mobility in Vietnam over the next few years.

How to Apply for Vietnam Long-term Visa

As long as you meet the eligibility criteria, moving forward, your Vietnam long-term visa applications will require you to follow Vietnam’s official nomination and biometrics registration procedure. The requirements are systematic, and documents will need to be correct. This is where engaging a profession can be useful. Abhinav Immigration Services is able to support your case through the Immigration process—ensuring that the application is correctly made, your application is complete, and that your application meets the official requirements so that you can move forward to the opportunities ahead.