Hanoi, August 9, 2025 – The Europe Today: The Vietnamese Government has issued Decree No. 221/2025/NĐ-CP, launching a limited-term visa waiver programme for foreign nationals in specially designated categories whose presence is considered beneficial to the nation’s economic and social development.
Under the decree, eligible individuals include:
- Guests invited by top national leaders, including the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the State President, the Chair of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, and other senior officials such as the Standing Member of the Party Secretariat, vice heads of the State, Parliament and Government, heads of mass organisations, the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the State Auditor General, ministers and equivalent officials, as well as provincial and municipal leaders.
- Scholars, experts, scientists, university professors, chief engineers, and high-quality human resources in the digital technology industry.
- Investors and executives from the world’s largest corporations.
- Cultural, artistic, sports, and tourism figures with a positive public influence.
- Vietnam’s honorary consuls abroad.
- Guests of designated research institutes, universities, and large enterprises, as approved by competent government bodies.
- Other individuals deemed eligible for special visa-free entry for diplomatic or socio-economic purposes, as decided by the Minister of Public Security.
Strict Criteria for Selection
Applicants in the expert, investor, cultural, or sports categories must meet rigorous international benchmarks listed in Annex 1 of the decree. Examples include corporate leaders from the world’s top 100 companies by market capitalisation, scientists holding prestigious international awards, and elite footballers ranked among the global top 100 by recognised organisations with invitations from Vietnamese professional clubs.
Visa Waiver Conditions
Eligible foreign nationals must hold a valid passport and provide an invitation or nomination letter from relevant government authorities or authorised organisations. They must not fall under any exclusion or travel ban under Vietnam’s immigration law.
Special Visa Waiver Card
Qualified individuals will be granted a “special visa waiver card” in either an electronic format or as a chip-based physical card, both with equal legal validity. The card permits multiple entries into Vietnam for a maximum of five years, provided it does not exceed the passport’s validity minus 30 days.
Holders are allowed a 90-day temporary stay per entry. If the card’s validity is less than 90 days, the permitted stay will correspond to the card’s expiry date. Extensions, visas, or temporary residence cards may be granted upon request.
The Ministry of Public Security, through the Immigration Department, will oversee application processing, card issuance, and revocation if eligibility requirements are no longer met.
This is the first time Vietnam has introduced a limited-term visa exemption for high-value foreign nationals. The initiative aims to attract elite talent, high-quality human resources, start-up innovators, and leading experts in strategic sectors such as semiconductors and core digital technologies, along with renowned investors, cultural figures, and top athletes, to support the country’s vision of building a dynamic, globally competitive economy.
