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

DECREE

On entry, exit, and residence policy for foreigners working at the International Financial Center in Vietnam

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

Pursuant to the Law on Foreigner’s Entry into, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Vietnam No. 47/2014/QH13, which was amended and supplemented under Law No. 51/2019/QH14 and Law No. 23/2023/QH15;

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

At the proposal of the Minister of Public Security;

The Government hereby promulgates the Decree on entry, exit, and residence policy for foreigners working at the International Financial Center in Vietnam.

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Decree prescribes:

1. The grant of visas and temporary residence cards to foreigners who are critical investors, experts, managers and highly qualified workers working for agencies and organizations headquartered at the International Center in Vietnam (below referred to as the International Financial Center), and accompanying family members.

2. The settlement of permanent residence for foreigners who are critical investors, experts, scientists, people with special talents, and senior managers working for a long-term at agencies and organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center.

Article 2. Subjects of application

1. Foreigners falling into the following cases:

a) Critical investors, experts, managers, and highly qualified workers working for agencies and organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center and accompanying family members;

b) Critical investors, experts, scientists, people with special talents, and senior managers working for a long-term at agencies and organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center.

2. Relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Article 3. Criteria for determining foreigners eligible for preferential grant of visas, temporary residence cards, and settlement of permanent residence

1. The criteria for determining critical investors eligible for preferential grant of visas, temporary residence cards, and settlement of permanent residence in accordance with this Decree shall be applied in accordance with the regulations of the Executive Authority of the International Financial Center (below referred to as the Executive Authority) on criteria for determining strategic investors.

2. The criteria for determining foreigners who are managers, senior managers, experts, highly qualified workers eligible for preferential grant of visas, temporary residence cards, and settlement of permanent residence under this Decree shall be applied in accordance with Article 3 of the Government’s Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP dated August 07, 2025, providing for foreign workers working in Vietnam, specifically as follows:

a) The criteria for determining managers shall be applied in accordance with Clause 1, Article 3 of the Government’s Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP dated August 07, 2025.

b) The criteria for determining senior managers shall be applied in accordance with Clause 2, Article 3 of the Government’s Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP dated August 07, 2025.

c) The criteria for determining experts shall be applied in accordance with Clause 3, Article 3 of the Government’s Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP dated August 07, 2025.

d) The criteria for determining highly qualified workers shall be applied in accordance with Clause 4, Article 3 of the Government’s Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP dated August 07, 2025.

3. The criteria for determining foreigners who are scientists or people with special talents eligible for preferential consideration for permanent residence in accordance with this Decree shall be applied based on one of the criteria for foreigners to be classified as special subjects entitled to visa exemption for entry into Vietnam under 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), promulgated together with the Government’s Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP dated August 08, 2025, providing definite visa exemption for foreigners classified as special subjects entitled to preferential treatment to serve socio-economic development.

Article 4. Grant of visas and temporary residence cards

1. Foreigners who are critical investor, experts, managers, and highly qualified workers working for agencies and organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center and meeting the criteria specified in Article 3 of this Decree shall be granted a visa or a temporary residence card bearing the symbol UD1 with a term of up to 10 years, at the request of the Executive Authority.

2. Foreigners who are spouses or under-18 children of the foreigners specified in Clause 1 of this Article shall be granted a visa or a temporary residence card bearing the symbol UD2, at the request of the Executive Authority, with a validity term corresponding to the validity term of the visa or temporary residence card symbol UD1 granted to their foreign relatives as specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Order and procedures for invitation, sponsorship for entry, application for grant of visas and temporary residence cards for foreigners specified in this Article shall comply with Articles 16, 19 and 37 of the Law on Foreigner’s Entry into, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Vietnam, the processing time shall not exceed 03 working days after receiving a complete dossier.

Article 5. Conditions for consideration for permanent residence

 Foreigners who are critical investors, experts, scientists, people with special talents, and senior managers working for a long-term at agencies and organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center and meeting the criteria specified in Article 3 of this Decree may be considered for permanent residence in Vietnam upon satisfying the following conditions:

1. Having papers proving working for a long-term at agencies and organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center and having worked continuously for at least 03 years at such agencies or organizations.

2. Being recommended by Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies or Heads of government-attached agencies that perform the state management in their professional fields or by the Chairperson of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City or the Chairperson of the People’s Committee of Da Nang City.

Article 6. Procedures for settlement of permanent residence

1. The Executive Authority shall carry out procedures to request the settlement of permanent residence for foreigners at the immigration agency. An application dossier comprises: 

a) A foreigner’s application for permanent residence permission;

b) The applicant’s criminal record issued by a competent authority 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 settle permanent residence for the applicant;

d) A certified copy of the applicant’s passport or a copy of the passport after presentation of the original for comparison;

dd) The written request made according to the Form NT-01 promulgated with this Decree and papers proving the eligibility for consideration for permanent residence in accordance with Article 5 of this Decree.

2. Within 2 months after receiving a complete dossier, the Minister of Public Security shall consider and decide to permit permanent residence; in case additional verification is deemed necessary, the time limit may be extended but shall not exceed 01 month.

3. Within 2 months after receiving the notice of permanent residence permission, the foreigner must go to the immigration agency to receive a permanent residence card.

4. Every 10 years, foreigners permanently residing in Vietnam shall come to the immigration agency to have their permanent residence cards renewed. The dossier for renewal and re-grant of permanent residence cards shall 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 visas, temporary residence cards and permanent residence cards granted to foreigners in accordance with this Decree in the following cases:

1. Foreigners are no longer eligible for preferential grant of visas or temporary residence cards or settlement of permanent residence in accordance with this Decree. 

2. Having written requests of the Executive Agency.

Article 8. The appraisal agency

1. The Executive Agency shall be responsible for appraising, ensuring that foreigners fall within the correct eligible categories and satisfy the criteria for preferential treatment; carrying out procedures to request preferential grant of visas and temporary residence cards and settlement of permanent residence for foreigners working for agencies and organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center in accordance with this Decree.

2. The Executive Agency and the agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center where foreigners are working shall be responsible for coordinating with competent agencies in settling arising problems related to foreigners for whom preferential grant of visas, temporary residence cards, or permanent residence cards has been requested.

3. The Executive Agency shall notify in writing to the immigration agency of the request to invalidate visas or temporary residence cards that are still valid, or permanent residence cards that have been granted to foreigners who no longer work for agencies or organizations headquartered at the International Financial Center, or no longer fall within the eligible subjects for preferential treatment as prescribed in this Decree, or the Executive Agency no longer wishes to provide sponsorship or request 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 other relevant agencies, organizations and individuals shall implement this Decree.