Decree No. 221/2025/NĐ-CP provides for the issuance of visa exemptions with a specified duration for foreign individuals belonging to special categories requiring preferential treatment to serve economic and social development.

DECREE

Regulations on granting visa exemptions for a specified period to foreigners

who are special subjects requiring preferential treatment to serve economic and social developmentassociation

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

Pursuant to the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam No. 47/2014/QH13 amended and supplemented by Law No. 51/2019/QH14 and Law No. 23/2023/QH15;

Pursuant to Resolution No. 227/2025/QH15 adopted by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at its 9th session of the 15th term on June 27, 2025;

The Government promulgates this Decree on regulations regarding entry, exit, and residence policies for foreigners at the International Financial Center in Vietnam.

The Government issues this Decree to regulate the granting of visa exemptions for a specified period to foreigners who are special subjects requiring preferential treatment to enter Vietnam for economic and social development purposes.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Decree stipulates the subjects, criteria, conditions, duration of visa exemption, and procedures for granting visa exemptions to foreigners who are special subjects requiring preferential treatment to enter Vietnam for economic and social development purposes.

Article 2. Applicability

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

a) Guests of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, President, Chairman of the National Assembly, Prime Minister, Standing Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vice President, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court, Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuracy, State Auditor General, Minister and equivalent positions, Provincial Party Secretaries, City Party Secretaries, Chairmen of Provincial People's Councils, Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees;

b) Scholars, experts, scientists, university professors, research institute professors; chief engineers; high-quality digital industry human resources;

c) Investors, leaders of groups, large enterprise leaders worldwide;

d) Individuals active in cultural, artistic, sports, and tourism fields with positive influence on the public;

đ) Honorary Consuls of Vietnam abroad;

e) Guests of research institutes, universities, colleges, large enterprises. Based on the proposals of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, the Government decides the list of research institutes, universities, colleges, and large enterprises that can invite foreign individuals;

g) Other cases requiring preferential visa exemptions for diplomatic purposes or to serve economic and social development, decided by the Minister of Public Security based on the proposals of relevant agencies and organizations.

2. Agencies, organizations, and individuals related thereto.

Article 3. Criteria and Conditions for Visa Exemptions

1. In cases prescribed in Points b, c, d, đ, and e of Clause 1 of Article 2 of this Decree, they must meet the criteria for determining special subjects requiring preferential visa exemptions to enter Vietnam for economic and social development purposes according to the List attached as Appendix 1 to this Decree. The Government decides to amend and supplement the List of criteria for determining special subjects requiring preferential visa exemptions to enter Vietnam for economic and social development purposes.

2. Conditions for Visa Exemptions:

a) Possessing a valid passport;

b) For cases prescribed in Point a of Clause 1 of Article 2 of this Decree: Having a notification from the competent authority according to Form NA-01 attached as Appendix 2 to this Decree;

c) For cases prescribed in Points b, c, d, đ of Clause 1 of Article 2 of this Decree: Having a proposal letter from ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, or party and state bodies according to Form NA-02 attached as Appendix 2 to this Decree;

d) For cases prescribed in Points e and g of Clause 1 of Article 2 of this Decree: Having a proposal letter from related agencies or organizations according to Form NA-02 attached as Appendix 2 to this Decree;

đ) Not falling under the categories prohibited from entry or temporarily suspended from departure as stipulated in the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam.

Article 4. Form and value of special visa-exemption card

1. The special visa-exemption card shall be issued to foreigners who are granted visa exemption for entry into Vietnam to serve economic and social development.

2. The special visa-exemption card has two forms: electronic card and chip-embedded card. The electronic special visa-exemption card and the chip-embedded special visa-exemption card have equal legal value. Authorities and organizations have the right to choose to issue either the electronic special visa-exemption card or the chip-embedded special visa-exemption card to foreigners.

3. The chip-embedded special visa-exemption card shall be issued in cases where foreigners are currently residing in Vietnam; have biometric information such as fingerprints and facial images stored in the National Database on Entry and Exit or have an e-ID account at level 02; and are granted visa exemption for a period of three years or more. Information stored in the chip includes: full name; date of birth; gender; nationality; passport number, code, issuance date, and place of issuance; facial image; fingerprints; foreigner's identification number (if available).

4. Foreigners using the special visa-exemption card may enter Vietnam multiple times within the visa-exemption period. The visa-exemption period shall not exceed five years and must be shorter than the remaining validity of the passport by at least thirty days.

5. Foreigners proposed by authorities and organizations to be granted visa exemption for entry into Vietnam to serve economic and social development may be considered for issuance of an e-ID account at level 02 according to their needs.

Article 5. Procedure for receiving and processing applications for special visa-exemption cards

1. Authorities and organizations specified in points b, c, and d Clause 2 Article 3 of this Decree shall send notifications and application documents according to the model, along with copies of the passport's personal data page, directly or electronically to the Ministry of Public Security (Department of Immigration Administration).

2. The Ministry of Public Security (Department of Immigration Administration) shall consider issuing the electronic special visa-exemption card according to Model NC-01 and notify the authority or organization about the access address to receive the electronic special visa-exemption card according to Model NB-01 or issue the chip-embedded special visa-exemption card according to Model NC-02 in Appendix 2 attached to this Decree; if not issued, it shall respond in writing to the authority or organization, stating the reasons.

3. Time limit for resolution:

a) Within no more than three working days from the date of receipt of the application file for the case specified in point b Clause 2 Article 3 of this Decree;

b) Within no more than five working days from the date of receipt of the application file for the cases specified in points c and d Clause 2 Article 3 of this Decree;

c) Within no more than seven working days from the date of receipt of the application file for the case specified in Article 4 Clause 3 of this Decree.

Article 6. Issuance of temporary residence certificates, control of entry and cancellation of the special visa-exemption card's usage value

1. Foreigners using the special visa-exemption card shall be issued a temporary residence certificate valid for ninety days for each entry, if the special visa-exemption card's validity period is shorter than ninety days, then a temporary residence certificate valid for the duration of the special visa-exemption card shall be issued; if they wish to continue staying in Vietnam, they may be considered for extension of temporary residence, issuance of a visa, or issuance of a temporary residence card according to the provisions of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam.

2. Foreigners shall present their passports and special visa-exemption cards to the immigration control units when completing entry procedures.

3. The immigration control units shall be responsible for checking passports, information, and data of the special visa-exemption card and handling entry and issuance of temporary residence certificates according to the provisions of Article 6 Clause 1 of this Decree.

4. The Ministry of Public Security (Department of Immigration Administration) shall cancel the usage value of the special visa-exemption card in cases where foreigners do not meet the criteria and conditions for visa exemption as stipulated in Article 3 of this Decree or there is a written notification from the authority or organization as stipulated in Article 7 Clause 2 of this Decree.

Article 7. Responsibilities of agencies and organizations proposing visa exemptions for foreigners who are special beneficiaries requiring preferential treatment

Clause 1. Agencies and organizations proposing visa exemptions for foreigners entering Vietnam in accordance with their functions, tasks, scope, and fields of operation shall ensure compliance with criteria and bear responsibility for the visa exemption proposals for foreigners under this Decree.

Clause 2. Agencies and organizations shall process visa exemption requests for foreigners entering Vietnam in accordance with the provisions of this Decree; coordinate with competent Vietnamese authorities to address issues arising related to foreigners who have been granted preferential visa exemptions but whose agencies or organizations no longer require such benefits or who no longer meet the criteria stipulated in this Decree; notify the Ministry of Public Security (Department of Exit and Entry Administration) in writing about these situations.

Article 8. Effectiveness and Implementation Responsibility

Clause 1. This Decree takes effect from August 15, 2025.

Clause 2. The Minister of Public Security shall decide on amending and supplementing the forms in Appendix 2 issued together with this Decree when necessary.

Clause 3. The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, agencies under the Government, Chairpersons of provincial and municipal People's Committees are responsible for implementing this Decree./.