THE GOVERNMENT | | THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Independence - Freedom - Happiness |
No. 221/2025/ND-CP | | Hanoi, August 8, 2025 |
DECREE
Providing definite visa exemption for foreigners classified as special subjects entitled to preferential treatment to serve socio-economic development[1]
Pursuant to Law No. 63/2025/QH15 on Organization of the Government;
Pursuant to Law No. 47/2014/QH13 on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through, and Residence in, Vietnam, which is amended and supplemented under Law No. 51/2019/QH14 and Law No. 23/2023/QH15;
Pursuant to Resolution No. 227/2025/QH15, which was adopted on June 27, 2025, by the 15th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at its 9th session;
At the proposal of the Minister of Public Security;
The Government promulgates the Decree providing definite visa exemption for foreigners classified as special subjects entitled to preferential treatment to serve socio-economic development.
Article 1. Scope of regulation
This Decree specifies subjects entitled to, criteria and conditions for, and duration of, visa exemption, and procedures for implementation of visa exemption for foreigners classified as special subjects entitled to visa exemption for entry into Vietnam to serve socio-economic development.
Article 2. Subjects of application
1. Foreigners of the following categories:
a/ Guests invited by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee, the President, the Chairperson of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, the Standing Body of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Secretariat, the Vice President, National Assembly Vice Chairpersons, Deputy Prime Ministers, the President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Central Committee, the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, the Procurator General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the State Auditor-General, ministers and the equivalent post holders, secretaries of Party Committees of provinces and municipalities, and chairpersons of People’s Councils and People’s Committees of provinces and municipalities;
b/ Scholars, experts, scientists and professors of universities and research institutes; chief engineers; and high-quality human resources in the digital technology industry;
c/ Investors, leaders of corporations and leaders of large enterprises worldwide;
d/ Persons engaged in the fields of culture, arts, sports and tourism who have a positive public influence;
dd/ Overseas honorary consuls of Vietnam;
e/ Guests invited by research institutes, universities, general universities and large enterprises. Upon requests of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government-attached agencies, the Government shall decide on the List of research institutes, universities, general universities and large enterprises permitted to invite foreigners;
g/ Other persons who need to be entitled to visa exemption for diplomatic purposes or to serve socio-economic development, as decided by the Minister of Public Security upon requests of agencies and organizations.
2. Related agencies, organizations and individuals.
Article 3. Criteria and conditions for visa exemption
1. The persons specified at Points b, c, d, dd and e, Clause 1, Article 2 of this Decree must meet criteria to be classified as special subjects entitled to visa exemption for entry into Vietnam to serve socio-economic development according to the List provided in Appendix 1 to this Decree. The Government shall decide to amend and supplement the List.
2. Conditions for visa exemption for a person:
a/ Holding a valid passport;
b/ For the persons specified at Point a, Clause 1, Article 2 of this Decree: having a notice of a competent agency or organization, made according to Form NA-01 provided in Appendix 2 to this Decree;
c/ For the persons specified at Points b, c, d and dd, Clause 1, Article 2 of this Decree: having a written request of a ministry, ministerial-level agency, government-attached agency or an agency of the Party or the National Assembly, made according to Form NA-02 provided in Appendix 2 to this Decree;
d/ For the persons specified at Points e and g, Clause 1, Article 2 of this Decree: having a written request of a related agency or organization, made according to Form NA-02 provided in Appendix 2 to this Decree;
dd/ Not falling into the cases subject to entry or exit postponement under the Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through, and Residence in, Vietnam.
Article 4. Forms and validity of special visa exemption cards
1. Special visa exemption cards shall be issued to foreigners entitled to visa exemption for entry into Vietnam to serve socio-economic development.
2. A special visa exemption card may be issued in either of the two forms: electronic card or chip-embedded physical card. Electronic cards have the same legal validity as chip-embedded physical cards. Agencies and organizations may choose to issue either electronic or chip-embedded physical cards to foreigners.
3. A chip-embedded physical card shall be issued to a foreigner who is currently staying in Vietnam; has his/her biometric information, including fingerprints and face photo, recorded in the National Database on Entry and Exit, or holds a level-2 electronic personal identification account; and is entitled to visa exemption for a period of 3 years or more. Information stored in the electronic chip shall be encrypted and include full name; date of birth; gender; nationality; number, symbol, date of issuance, and place of issuance of his/her passport; his/her face photo, fingerprints, and identification number (if any).
4. A foreigner holding a special visa exemption card may enter Vietnam multiple times during the period of visa exemption. The visa exemption period must not exceed 5 years and must be at least 30 days shorter than the remaining validity of his/her passport.
5. Foreigners for whom agencies or organizations request visa exemption for entry into Vietnam to serve socio-economic development shall, upon request, be considered for issuance of level-2 electronic identification accounts.
Article 5. Procedures for receiving and settling requests for issuance of special visa exemption cards
1. An agency or organization specified at Points b, c and d, Clause 2, Article 3 of this Decree shall hand-deliver or send via electronic means a notice and a written request, made according to law-specified forms and enclosed with a copy of the passport biographic page, to the Ministry of Public Security (the Vietnam Immigration Department).
2. The Ministry of Public Security (the Vietnam Immigration Department) shall consider issuing an electronic special visa exemption card made according to Form NC-01 and shall notify the requesting agency or organization of the access address for receipt of the electronic special visa exemption card made according to Form NB-01, or shall issue a chip-embedded physical special visa exemption card using Form NC-02 provided in Appendix II to this Decree. In case of refusal, the Ministry of Public Security shall notify the requesting agency or organization in writing, clearly stating the reason.
3. Time limits for settlement:
a/ Within 3 working days after receiving a request dossier, for the cases specified at Point b, Clause 2, Article 3 of this Decree;
b/ Within 5 working days after receiving a request dossier, for the cases specified at Points c and d, Clause 2, Article 3 of this Decree;
c/ Within 7 working days after receiving a request dossier, for the cases specified at Clause 3, Article 4 of this Decree.
Article 6. Issuance of temporary residence certificates, entry control, and invalidation of special visa exemption cards
1. A foreigner using a special visa exemption card shall be issued a temporary residence certificate which is valid for 90 days for each entry. In case the validity of the special visa exemption card is shorter than 90 days, the temporary residence certificate shall be issued with a validity duration equal to that of the special visa exemption card. If wishing to continue staying in Vietnam, the foreigner may be considered for extension of his/her temporary residence, or grant of a visa or a temporary residence card in accordance with the Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through, and Residence in, Vietnam.
2. Foreigners shall produce their passports and special visa exemption cards to immigration control units when carrying out entry procedures.
3. Immigration control units shall take responsibility for checking passports and information and data of special visa exemption cards, and processing entry and granting temporary residence certificates under Clause 1, Article 6 of this Decree.
4. The Ministry of Public Security (the Vietnam Immigration Department) shall invalidate special visa exemption cards in case foreigners no longer meet the criteria and conditions for visa exemption specified in Article 3 of this Decree, or upon receipt of a notice from an agency or organization specified in Clause 2, Article 7 of this Decree.
Article 7. Responsibilities of agencies and organizations requesting visa exemption for foreigners classified as special subjects entitled to preferential treatment
1. Agencies and organizations shall request visa exemption for foreigners entering Vietnam in compliance with their functions, tasks, scope and fields of operation, ensuring satisfaction of the law-specified criteria, and take responsibility for their requests of visa exemption for foreigners in accordance with this Decree.
2. Agencies and organizations shall carry out procedures for requesting visa exemption for foreigners entering Vietnam in accordance with this Decree; coordinate with Vietnam’s functional agencies in resolving issues arising in relation to foreigners for whom the visa exemption is requested; and notify in writing the Ministry of Public Security (the Vietnam Immigration Department) of cases in which foreigners hold valid special visa exemption cards but agencies or organizations no longer wish to request the visa exemption for such foreigners or foreigners no longer satisfy the criteria specified in this Decree.
Article 8. Effect and implementation responsibility
1. This Decree takes effect on August 15, 2025.
2. The Minister of Public Security is assigned to decide to amend and supplement the forms provided in Appendix 2 to this Decree when necessary.
3. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, and chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall implement this Decree.-
On behalf of the Government
For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Ministers
NGUYEN HOA BINH
Appendix I
LIST OF CRITERIA FOR PERSONS TO BE CLASSIFIED AS SPECIAL SUBJECTS ENTITLED TO VISA EXEMPTION FOR ENTRY INTO VIETNAM TO SERVE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
(To the Government’s Decree No. 221/ND-CP of August 8, 2025)
I. Foreigners who are investors, leaders of corporations, and leaders of large enterprises worldwide
No. | Persons entitled to preferential treatment | Criteria |
| Investors, leaders of corporations, and leaders of large enterprises worldwide | Corporations and enterprises on the List of the world’s 100 largest enterprises by market capitalization, as annually published by reputable international organizations |
II. Experts, professors, scholars, researchers, scientists, chief engineers, and high-quality human resources in the digital technology industry
No. | Persons entitled to preferential treatment | Criteria |
01 | Experts, professors, scholars, researchers |
Experts and researchers in the fields of STEM, economics, corporate governance, and business administration who are invited to attend conferences, deliver lectures, or participate in joint research projects in higher education institutions. | Possessing a doctoral degree or higher degree and being the nationals of OECD member countries. |
Experts and researchers in the fields of medical and health sciences | Possessing a doctoral degree or higher degree; and being invited to attend conferences or seminars, deliver lectures, participate in research projects, or work in reputable institutes, hospitals, and medicine and pharmacy universities in Vietnam. |
Experts, scholars, researchers, art critics and theorists, lecturers, professors, speakers, and coordinators in the fields of culture, arts and tourism. | Being official members of reputable international academic or research organizations, and education institutions in their respective fields, or officials/cadres/experts of specialized organizations, related agencies and partner international organizations that are invited to attend conferences, seminars, forums, contests, film festivals, international events, and research, education and training programs in Vietnam; to participate in the supervision and guidance of the implementation of international conventions, the UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme; and to participate in the recognition of Vietnam’s outstanding sites as world heritage. |
02 | Scientists, chief engineers, and high-quality human resources in the digital technology industry |
Scientists in the field of science and engineering | Receiving recognized prestigious international awards in science-engineering. |
Scientists with outstanding expertise and achievements, and with high potential to make significant contributions to Vietnam’s science and technology | - Having scientific publications with high impact indexes on international journals. - Having obtained multiple high-quality patents, or having important technologies successfully transferred, or having successfully led major research projects with significant impacts. |
Scientists in the fields of medical and health sciences | Receiving prestigious or internationally recognized awards in medical and health sciences. |
Chief engineers | Meeting the criteria and standards for the title of “Chief Engineer” in accordance with law (the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation; the Law on National Defense Industry, Security and Industrial Mobilization; etc.). |
High-quality human resources in the digital technology industry | Meeting the criteria and standards for “high-quality human resources in the digital technology industry” in accordance with the law on digital technology industry. |
III. Persons operating in the fields of culture, arts, sports and tourism who have a positive public influence
TT | Persons entitled to preferential treatment | Criteria |
01 | Persons operating in the fields of culture, arts |
Artists, film producers, directors, actors/actresses, cinematographic practitioners, members of film crews, music producers, musicians, composers, singers, program producers, fine artists, and photographers | - Having achievements, having received international or prestigous awards, possessing broad recognition and having significant impacts in the fields of culture, performing arts, cinematography, music, fine arts and photography; - Having invitation letters/licenses/written admissions issued by competent agencies under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which invite them to enter Vietnam to participate in and carry out cultural, artistic and education and training activities in the fields of culture, performing arts, cinematography, music, fine arts and photography. |
02 | Persons operating in the field of sports |
International football players receiving the highest titles as selected and recognized by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (International Federation of Association Football) (FIFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) | Receiving top titles (the Ballon d’Or, the Golden Boot, Best Player, Best Goalkeeper, Top Goalscorer, etc.) as recognized by the FIFA and the AFC. |
Outstanding football players worldwide | - Being on the List of the 100 best football players annually published by reputable international organizations; - Being invited by domestic professional football clubs to participate in competitions, exhibition matches, etc. |
Athletes winning medals at the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games (ASIAD) and Asian Para Games | Athletes winning gold, silver and bronze medals at the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, ASIAD and Asian Para Games. |
Experts, coaches, athletes, referees/umpires and members of foreign sports delegations participating in regional, continental, and world-level sports games hosted by Vietnam | Holding games accreditation cards issued by the organizing committees for entry into Vietnam to attend regional, continental and world-level sports games hosted by Vietnam. |
03 | Persons operating in the field of tourism |
Overseas tourism ambassadors of Vietnam | Holding the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s decisions appointing them as overseas tourism ambassadors of Vietnam. |
Content creators specializing in the promotion of culture, tourism, cuisine and traditional craft villages | - Producing content specializing in the promotion of culture, tourism, cuisine, traditional craft villages, etc., with at least 1,000,000 followers on social media platforms. - Actively organizing the communication and promotion of Vietnam’s tourism, or committing to producing content related to Vietnam during their trips; or having specific content certified by Vietnam’s functional agencies. - Not having acts or public statements that negatively affect the national image of Vietnam. |
IV. Overseas honorary consuls of Vietnam
No. | Persons entitled to preferential treatment | Criteria |
01 | Overseas honorary consuls of Vietnam | - Foreigners serving as honorary consuls of Vietnam in accordance with the 2009 Law on Overseas Representative Missions of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which is amended and supplemented in 2017, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Circular No. 01/2020/TT-BNG, on honorary consuls of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. - Holding decisions of competent agencies or persons appointing them as overseas honorary consuls of Vietnam. |
V. Guests invited by research institutes, universities, general universities and large enterprises
No. | Persons entitled to preferential treatment | Criteria |
01 | Guests invited by research institutes, universities, general universities and large enterprises | - Being invited by research institutes, universities, general universities or enterprises on the List decided by the Government. - Meeting one of the criteria for Group I, II, III or IV of the List. |
[1] Công Báo Nos 1083-1084 (23/8/2025)
Vietnamese
Decree 221/2025/NĐ-CP PDF (Original)
Decree 221/2025/NĐ-CP DOC (Word)
