“I’ve invested tens of billions of dong in Vietnam, hold an investment registration certificate and a long-term temporary residence card — can I apply for permanent residence?” This is a very common question among foreign investors, and the answer may surprise many: Vietnamese law provides no permanent residence channel specifically for investors. No matter how large the investment, an investor can only obtain permanent residence by falling into one of the four statutory categories.
The 4 categories eligible for permanent residence (Article 39)
Under Article 39 of the Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam (consolidated document 62/VBHN-VPQH, consolidating Laws 47/2014/QH13, 51/2019/QH14, 23/2023/QH15, 118/2025/QH15 and 103/2025/QH15 — in force from 01/7/2026), exactly four categories may be considered for permanent residence:
- Persons of merit awarded orders or titles by the Vietnamese State;
- Scientists and experts temporarily residing in Vietnam;
- Persons sponsored by their father, mother, spouse or child who is a Vietnamese citizen permanently residing in Vietnam;
- Stateless persons who have continuously resided in Vietnam since before 2000.
For investors, the two realistic doors are: marriage to a Vietnamese citizen (category 3) or recognition as an expert in the field of activity (category 2). Simply “investing a large amount of capital” is not on the list.
General conditions: lawful accommodation and stable income (Article 40)
Besides falling into one of the four categories, applicants must have lawful accommodation and a stable income ensuring life in Vietnam (Article 40.1). Note that the law does not quantify “stable income” — the competent authority assesses each dossier individually.
Each category also carries specific conditions:
- Expert category (Article 39.2): must be recommended by the Minister or head of the ministerial-level agency managing the relevant professional field. The “expert” criteria may reference Article 3.3 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP (university degree plus experience) — but this is a labour-management standard; the formal recommendation is decided by the specialised ministry under Article 40.2 and is not automatic;
- Family sponsorship category (Article 39.3): must have continuously resided in Vietnam for 03 years or more. The calculation follows point a, clause 2, Article 5 of Circular 31/2015/TT-BCA (still in force): total temporary residence of at least 03 years within the 04 most recent years as of the filing date, based on immigration stamps at border gates.
Dossier and processing time (Article 41)
The permanent residence dossier (Article 41.1) comprises:
- An application for permanent residence;
- A criminal record certificate issued by the competent authority of the country of nationality;
- A note verbale from that country’s representative agency requesting Vietnam to grant permanent residence;
- A certified copy of the passport;
- Documents proving eligibility under Article 40;
- A sponsorship letter — for the family-sponsored category (Article 39.3).
Processing time is 04 months from receipt of a complete, valid dossier; if additional verification is needed, it may be extended by no more than 02 months. The decision is made by the Minister of Public Security. The permanent residence card is re-issued every 10 years (Article 43) — a card renewal, not a re-application for permanent resident status.
The realistic path for investors
In practice, the usual route is: investor visa (DT) → investor temporary residence card → permanent residence. A notable change from Law 118/2025 (effective 01/7/2026): the ĐT1 temporary residence card is valid for up to 10 years (Article 38.2 of VBHN 62) — the longest validity in the current card system. Investor visa symbols follow capital thresholds in Article 8: ĐT1 for VND 100 billion and above, ĐT2 for VND 50 billion to under 100 billion, ĐT3 for VND 3 billion to under 50 billion, and ĐT4 for under VND 3 billion. However, even holding a 10-year ĐT1 card, an investor may only apply for permanent residence through one of the four Article 39 gates.
A special exception: the international financial center
Resolution 222/2025/QH15 (27/6/2025), point b clause 1 Article 20, and Decree 327/2025/ND-CP (issued 18/12/2025, effective 17/01/2026) open a special channel: key investors, experts, scientists, exceptionally talented individuals and senior managers working long-term at agencies or organisations headquartered at the international financial center shall be “considered” for a permanent residence card at the proposal of the Operating Authority, under procedures more favourable than the general rules. Use the law’s exact wording — “considered” is not an automatic right; the target group is limited and criteria follow Article 3 of Decree 327/2025/ND-CP.
Do not confuse: a long-term temporary residence card is not permanent residence
The most common trap is the claim “invest X billion and get permanent residence”. The legal reality: no capital threshold automatically yields permanent residence. The 10-year ĐT1 investor card is a long-term stay document that still expires and must be renewed, and it does not carry permanent-resident rights. Permanent residence is an administrative decision of consideration by the Minister of Public Security — different in nature from a temporary residence card issued by the immigration authority.
FAQs
With VND 100 billion invested (ĐT1), can I get permanent residence?
Not automatically. The capital level only determines the visa symbol and the card’s validity. For permanent residence, the investor must still fall into one of the four Article 39 categories.
Married to a Vietnamese citizen — how long before I can apply?
Three cumulative conditions: (i) sponsorship by the Vietnamese spouse who permanently resides in Vietnam; (ii) continuous temporary residence of 03 years or more (calculated as at least 03 years of stay within the most recent 04 years); (iii) lawful accommodation and stable income.
How long does the procedure take?
04 months from receipt of a complete, valid dossier; up to 02 additional months if further verification is required.
Need help with visa, residence or permanent residence procedures for foreigners in Vietnam? Reach us via the Contact page of FLAT Law Firm.
The information above is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice.
For reference only, not legal advice. Content quality-checked by the AI Legal Council; not yet reviewed by a human lawyer.