Visas and Residency in Vietnam for American Retirees
Visas and Residency in Vietnam
Every residence route into Vietnam side by side, with what each asks you to prove and what it gives you in return.
| Route | Income required | Validity | Permanent residence | Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DT Investor Visa and Temporary Residence Card | No income test | One to ten years depending on the investment tier, issued as a temporary residence card. | Permanent residence in Vietnam is available in principle after three years of temporary residence but is granted rarely and is not a realistic plan. | Within the business you have invested in. |
| TT Visa (spouse or parent of a Vietnamese citizen) | No income test | Up to three years as a temporary residence card, renewable. | Permanent residence is available to spouses of Vietnamese citizens after three years, and is granted more readily on this basis than any other. | With a work permit. |
| DN Business Visa and e-visa rotation | No income test | Up to 90 days for the e-visa, up to 12 months for a sponsored DN visa. | None. | Not without a work permit. |
Visas and Residency in Vietnam: common questions
Which route should I look at first?
The one whose income test you clear with a margin rather than exactly. Applications that only just meet a threshold are refused far more often than ones with a cushion, and several countries expect savings on top of the monthly figure.
Can I work on these?
It varies by route and it is the field people most often get wrong. Check the work column above carefully: some countries prohibit all work including remote work for a U.S. employer, while others permit it.
Verified Sep 7, 2026 Primary sources: xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn, evisa.gov.vn, vietnamembassy-usa.org
This resource is provided free by Federal Apostille as an educational tool. It is not legal, tax, immigration or financial advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Immigration rules, income thresholds, fees and processing times change frequently and often without notice, and consulates apply them differently. Always confirm current requirements with the official government source and the specific consulate that has jurisdiction over your U.S. state of residence before you act. Every figure on this site carries the date we last verified it and a link to the primary source.
