Decree 327/2025/ND-CP entry, exit, and residence policy for foreigners at International Financial Center in Vietnam

DECREE

On entry, exit and residence policies applicable to foreigners at the International Financial Center in Vietnam^[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 has a number of articles amended and supplemented by Law No. 51/2019/QH14 and Law No. 23/2023/QH15;

Pursuant to the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15 of June 27, 2025, on the International Financial Center in Vietnam;

At the proposal of the Minister of Public Security;

The Government promulgates the Decree on entry, exit and residence policies applicable to foreigners at the International Financial Center in Vietnam.

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Decree provides:

1. The issuance of visas and temporary residence cards to foreigners who are key investors, experts, managers or highly qualified workers employed by agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center  in Vietnam (below referred to as the International Financial Center) and their accompanying family members.

2. The approval of permanent residence for foreigners who are key investors, experts, scientists, exceptional talents or senior managers working for a long term for agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center.

Article 2. Subjects of application

1. Foreigners who are:

a/ Key investors, experts, managers or highly qualified workers employed by agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center and their accompanying family members;

b/ Key investors, experts, scientists, exceptional talents or senior managers working for a long term for agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center.

2. Related agencies, organizations and individuals.

Article 3. Criteria for identifying foreigners eligible for preferential treatment in issuance of visas or temporary residence cards or permanent residence approval

1. The criteria for identifying key investors eligible for preferential treatment in issuance of visas or temporary residence cards or permanent residence approval specified in this Decree must comply with the regulations of the Executive Body of the International Financial Center (below referred to as the Executive Body) regarding criteria for identifying strategic investors.

2. The criteria for identifying foreigners who are managers, senior managers, experts or highly qualified workers eligible for preferential treatment in issuance of visas or temporary residence cards or permanent residence approval as specified in this Decree must comply with Article 3 of the Government’s Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP of August 7, 2025, on foreign workers working in Vietnam, as follows:

a/ The criteria for identifying managers must comply with Clause 1, Article 3 of the Government’s Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP of August 7, 2025;

b/ The criteria for identifying senior managers must comply with Clause 2, Article 3 of the Government’s Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP of August 7, 2025;

c/ The criteria for identifying experts must comply with Clause 3, Article 3 of the Government’s Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP of August 7, 2025;

d/ The criteria for identifying highly qualified workers must comply with Clause 4, Article 3 of the Government’s Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP of August 7, 2025.

3. The criteria for identifying foreigners who are scientists or exceptional talents eligible for consideration for permanent residence under this Decree shall be applied according to one of the criteria for foreigners to be classified as special subjects entitled to preferential treatment in visa exemption for entry into Vietnam as provided in Section II of 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. 221/2025/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 4. Issuance of visas and temporary residence cards

1. Foreigners who are key investors, experts, managers or highly qualified workers employed by agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center and meet the criteria specified in Article 3 of this Decree shall be issued visas or temporary residence cards bearing the symbol “UĐ1” with a validity period not exceeding 10 years at the request of the Executive Body.

2. Foreigners who are spouses or children aged under 18 years of the foreigners specified in Clause 1 of this Article shall be issued visas or temporary residence cards bearing the symbol “UĐ2” at the request of the Executive Body, with a validity period corresponding to that of the visas or temporary residence cards bearing the symbol “UĐ1” issued to their relatives being the foreigners specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

 3. The order and procedures for inviting, guaranteeing entry, requesting issuance of visas or temporary residence cards for foreigners specified in this Article must comply with Articles 16, 19 and 37 of the Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through, and Residence in, Vietnam; the processing time limit is 3 working days after receiving a complete dossier.

Article 5. Conditions for consideration of permanent residence

Foreigners who are key investors, experts, scientists, exceptional talents or senior managers working for a long term at agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center and meet the criteria specified in Article 3 of this Decree shall be considered for permanent residence in Vietnam if they satisfy the following conditions:

1. Possessing documents proving long-term employment at agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center and having worked continuously for at least 3 years at such agencies or organizations.

2. Being recommended by the ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies or heads of government-attached agencies in charge of state management in relevant fields or by the Chairperson of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee or the Chairperson of the Da Nang city People’s Committee.

Article 6. Procedures for permanent residence approval

1. The Executive Body shall carry out the procedures for requesting permanent residence for foreigners at the immigration agency. A dossier of application for permanent residence approval must comprise:

a/ The applicant’s application for permanent residence;

b/ The applicant’s criminal record certificate issued by a competent agency of the country of which the applicant is a citizen;

c/ A diplomatic note from the representative mission of the country of which the applicant is a citizen, requesting Vietnam to approve permanent residence for the applicant;

d/ A certified copy of the applicant’s passport or a copy of the applicant’s passport upon presentation of the original for collation;

dd/ A written request, made according to Form No. NT-01 provided in the Appendix to this Decree, and documents proving the eligibility for consideration of permanent residence under Article 5 of this Decree.

2. Within 2 months after receiving a complete dossier, the Minister of Public Security shall consider and decide on the permanent residence; if considering it necessary to make further verification, the time limit may be extended but must not exceed 1 month.

3. Within 2 months after receiving the notification of permanent residence approval, the applicant must go to the immigration agency to receive his/her permanent residence card.

4. Every 10 years, the foreigner must go to the immigration agency to renew his/her card. The procedures for renewal and reissuance of permanent residence cards must comply with Article 43 of the Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through, and Residence in, Vietnam.

Article 7. Invalidation of visas, temporary residence cards and permanent residence cards

The immigration agency shall invalidate a visa, temporary residence card or permanent residence card issued to a foreigner under this Decree in the following cases:

1. He/she is no longer eligible for the preferential treatment in issuance of visas or temporary residence cards or permanent residence approval under this Decree.

2. It is requested in writing by the Executive Body.

Article 8. The appraisal agency

1. The Executive Body shall conduct appraisals to ensure that foreigners are eligible and meet the criteria for preferential treatment; and carry out the procedures for requesting preferential treatment in issuance of visas or temporary residence cards or permanent residence approval for foreigners employed by agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center under this Decree.

2. The Executive Body and the agencies and organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center that employ foreigners shall coordinate with functional agencies in settling any arising issues related to foreigners who have applied for preferential treatment in issuance of visas or temporary residence cards or permanent residence approval.

3. The Executive Body shall notify in writing the immigration agency of the request for invalidation of a valid visa, temporary residence card or permanent residence card issued to a foreigner in case the latter is no longer employed by the agency or organization headquartered at the International Financial Center or no longer eligible for the preferential treatment as specified in this Decree or the Executive Body no longer wishes to provide guarantee or requests preferential treatment.

Article 9. Effect and implementation responsibility

1. This Decree takes effect on January 17, 2026.

2. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees and related agencies, organizations and individuals shall implement this Decree.-

On behalf of the Government
Prime Minister
PHAM MINH CHINH

* The Appendix to this Decree is not translated.