Decision 161/QD-TTg 2026 on plan to implement visa exemption for special foreigners entitled to preferential treatment for socio-economic development

DECISION

Promulgating a Plan to implement the Decree providing definite visa exemption for foreigners classified as special subjects entitled to preferential treatment to serve socio-economic development

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THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the February 18, 2025 Law on Organisation of the Government;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP of August 8, 2025, providing definite visa exemption for foreigners classified as special subjects entitled to preferential treatment to serve socio-economic development;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 80/2025/ND-CP of April 1, 2025, on organisation of the implementation of legal documents;

At the proposal of the Minister of Public Security.

DECIDES:

Article 1. To promulgate together with this Decision a Plan to implement the Government’s Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP of August 8, 2025, providing definite visa exemption for foreigners classified as special subjects entitled to preferential treatment to serve socio-economic development.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 3. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees, and related organisations and individuals shall implement this Decision.

For the Prime Minister

Deputy Prime Minister

NGUYEN HOA BINH

PLAN

To implement the Decree providing definite visa exemption for foreigners classified as special subjects entitled to preferential treatment to serve socio-economic development

(Promulgated together with the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 161/QD-TTg of January 23, 2026)

On August 8, 2025, the Government promulgates Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP providing definite visa exemption for foreigners classified as special subjects entitled to preferential treatment to serve socio-economic development (below referred to as Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP) which takes effect on August 15, 2025. To ensure the prompt, unified and effective implementation of this Decree, contributing to promoting socio-economic development, the Prime Minister promulgates a Plan to implement Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP with the following contents:

I. OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Objectives

a/ To clearly identify work contents, progress and deadlines and assign specific responsibilities to each related agency and organisation in implementing Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP, ensuring that this Decree is implemented in a prompt, comprehensive, unified, synchronised, effective and lawful manner.

b/ To establish a close coordination mechanism among ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, localities, and related agencies and organisations in the course of implementation of the Decree, thereby strengthening the centralised and unified leadership and direction of the Government and the Prime Minister, while promoting the proactiveness and accountability of ministries, sectors and localities in performing their assigned tasks.

2. Requirements

a/ To ensure the unified and regular leadership and direction of the Government and the Prime Minister, and close, regular and effective coordination among ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, localities, and related agencies and organisations in implementing Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP.

b/ To require assigned ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies and localities to proactively perform their tasks within the prescribed schedules, ensuring work quality and thrift, and avoiding formality and waste.

c/ To comply with practical requirements for the unified, synchronised and feasible implementation of Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP.

d/ To promptly guide, remove difficulties and settle issues arising in the course of implementation of Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP, ensuring the continuity, effect and efficiency.

II. SPECIFIC CONTENTS AND TASKS

1. Organisation of public communication about and dissemination of Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP

- To organise public communication about and dissemination of Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP on the Government’s portal or in diverse forms suitable to practical conditions and situations in accordance with the law on law dissemination and education, in order to raise awareness and ensure consistency in perception and action of cadres, civil servants, public employees and related individuals in implementing Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP.

+ In-charge unit: The Ministry of Public Security

+ Coordinating agencies: ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and related agencies and organisations.

+ Implementation time: On a regular and continuous basis.

- To organise public communication about and dissemination of Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP to the business community, foreign investors and foreigners eligible for preferential treatment via overseas media outlets, especially international media channels and overseas tourism and investment forums.

+ In-charge unit: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

+ Coordinating agencies: the Ministry of Public Security and related agencies and organisations.

+ Implementation time: On a regular and continuous basis.

- To direct and guide central and local press, radio and television agencies to organize public communication about and dissemination of Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP.

+ In-charge unit: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

+ Coordinating agencies: The Ministry of Public Security, the Central Coordination Council for Law Dissemination and Education, and provincial-level People’s Committees.

+ Implementation time: On a regular and continuous basis.

- Related ministries, sectors, government-attached agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees shall organise public communication about and dissemination of Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP to their agencies, units, localities or related agencies and organisations.

+ Implementation time: On a regular and continuous basis.

2. Announcement of administrative procedures specified in Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP

To announce new administrative procedures promulgated under Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP in accordance with the Decree and other relevant laws on announcement of administrative procedures.

- In-charge agency: The Ministry of Public Security.

3. Assurance of conditions for implementation of the Decree.

To ensure necessary conditions regarding resources, technical equipment, software systems, and other conditions for the effective implementation of Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP.

- In-charge agency: The Ministry of Public Security.

- Implementation time: On a regular basis.

4. Implementation of Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP

- To receive and settle requests for issuance of special visa exemption cards and invalidate special visa exemption cards in accordance with Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP and other relevant laws while creating favourable conditions for agencies and organisations in the course of implementation.

+ In-charge agency: The Ministry of Public Security.

+ Coordinating agencies: Ministries, ministerial-level agencies and related agencies and organisations.

+ Implementation time: On a regular basis.

- To perform immigration control for foreigners using special visa exemption cards at border gates under the management in accordance with Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP and other relevant legal documents while creating favourable conditions for foreigners to enter or exit Vietnam.

+ In-charge agencies: The Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of National Defence.

+ Coordinating agencies: Ministries, ministerial-level agencies and related agencies and organisations.

+ Implementation time: On a regular basis.

- To settle requests for issuance of special visa exemption cards for foreigners, ensuring eligible subjects and satisfaction of the criteria specified in Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP and the consistency with the functions, tasks, and the scopes and fields of operation of the agencies or organisations; to regularly review and notify in writing the Ministry of Public Security of foreigners holding valid special visa exemption cards who no longer wish to request visa exemption or foreigners who no longer satisfy the criteria specified in Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP, and coordinate in solving arising issues  related to foreigners for whom the visa exemption is requested.

+ In-charge agencies: Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and related agencies and organisations.

+ Coordinating agency: The Ministry of Public Security.

+ Implementation time: On a regular basis.

- Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, and provincial-level People's Committees shall, within the ambit of their functions and tasks, organise the inspection, review and systematisation of relevant legal documents and propose the amendment, supplementation, replacement, annulment and issuance of legal documents (if any) to ensure the effective implementation of Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP.

+ In-charge agencies: Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies and provincial-level People's Committees.

+ Coordinating agency: The Ministry of Public Security.

+ Implementation time: To be completed before March 1, 2026.

- To review and propose to the Government criteria for identifying, and the list of, large research institutes, universities and general universities permitted to invite foreigners classified as special subjects entitled to visa exemption for entry into Vietnam:

(i) The Ministry of Education and Training shall assume the prime responsibility for proposing criteria for identifying, and the list of, large research institutes, universities, and general universities; and the Ministry of Finance shall assume the prime responsibility for proposing criteria for identifying, and the list of, large enterprises permitted to invite foreigners classified as special subjects entitled to visa exemption for entry into Vietnam. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies shall participate in reviewing, studying and proposing the above criteria and lists. The Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Finance shall summarise and assimilate opinions and send them to the Ministry of Public Security within 30 days after the Plan is issued for reporting to the Government.

+ Implementation time: In 2026 and subsequent years.

+ In-charge agencies: The Ministry of Education and Training; and the Ministry of Finance.

+ Coordinating agencies: The Ministry of Public Security and other ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government-attached agencies.

(ii) The Ministry of Public Security shall summarise and propose the Government the issuance of a Resolution approving the criteria and list of large research institutes, universities, general universities and enterprises permitted to invite foreigners classified as special subjects entitled to visa exemption for entry into Vietnam. The Minister of Public Security is assigned to decide on the modification and supplementation of the lists based on the criteria promulgated by the Government within 30 days after receiving the reports and proposals from the two ministries (the Ministry of Education and Training and Ministry of Finance).

+ Implementation time: In 2026 and subsequent years.

+ In-charge agency: The Ministry of Public Security

+ Coordinating agencies: The Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Finance, and other ministries, ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies.

- To intensify the monitoring of foreigners’ entry in, exit from, and residence in, Vietnam using special visa exemption cards to promptly detect and handle issues arising in reality during the implementation of Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP.

+ In-charge agency: The Ministry of Public Security.

+ Coordinating agencies: Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and related agencies and organisations.

+ Implementation time: On a regular and continuous basis.

III. FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

1. Funds for implementation of this Plan shall be allocated from the annual state budget of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, and localities in accordance with the Law on the State Budget and other lawful funding sources as prescribed by law.

2. Agencies assigned to be in charge of the performance of specific contents and tasks in this Plan shall formulate budget estimates for the implementation of Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP for submission to the competent agencies for approval in accordance with law.

IV. ORGANISATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, and chairpersons of provincial-level People's Committees shall, within the scope of their management, formulate plans to implement Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP and the tasks assigned under this Plan, ensuring the specified schedules, quality, efficiency and thrift, while avoiding formality and waste.

2. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, and provincial-level People's Committees shall report to the Prime Minister (through the Ministry of Public Security) the results of implementation of Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP and this Plan before August 15 every year or on an ad-hoc basis as directed by the Prime Minister.

3. The Ministry of Public Security shall guide, monitor, inspect, and urge the implementation of this Plan and report the implementation situation and results to the Prime Minister.-