Special visa exemption policy for high-profile foreigners

Definition of high-profile foreigners

According to the Government’s Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP, high-profile foreigners shall be:

a) Guests of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee, State President, Chairman of the National Assembly, Prime Minister, Standing member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, Vice State President, Vice Chairpersons of the National Assembly, Deputy Prime Ministers, President of the Viet Nam Fatherand Front Central Committee, Chief Judge of the Supreme People’s Court, Chief Prosecutor of the Sumpreme People’s Procuracy, Auditor General of the State Audit of Viet nam, Ministers and equipvalent positions, Secretary of Provincial/Municipal Party Committee, Chairpersons of Provincial/Municipal People’s Councils, and Chairpersons of Provincial/Municipal People’s Committees.

b) Scholars, experts, scientists, professors, chief engineers, and high-quality workforce in digital technology industry.

c) Investors, leaders of major business giants in the world.

d) Influential individuals in the fields of culture, art, sports and tourism.

dd) Honorary consuls of Viet Nam abroad.

e) Invited guests of academies, universities, and major businesses. The Government shall compile a list of these academies, universities and businesses.

g) Other cases requiring visa exemption for foreign affairs purposes or to serve socio-economic development will be decided by the Minister of Public Security based on proposals from relevant agencies and organizations.

Conditions for visa exemption

High-profile foreigners shall meet the following conditions:

a) Have valid passports

b) Shall not fall into cases not allowed to enter Viet Nam in accordance with the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence in Viet Nam.

In addition to the above conditions, high-profile foreigners shall only be exempted from visa requirements if they are invited to enter Viet Nam by a competent agency.

Special Visa Waiver Card

If a high-profile foreigner is exempted from visa requirements, he/she shall be issued a Special Visa Waiver Card to enter Viet Nam.

A Special Visa Waiver Card shall be made in two formats with equal validity: Electric Card or Hard Card with a chip.

Hard Card with a chip shall be issued to high-profile foreigners who are in Viet Nam and their biometric information and fingerprints are already available in the National Database on Entry and Exit.

High-profile foreigners issued with Special Visa Waiver Card shall be able to enter Viet Nam on multiple occasions.

Special Visa Waiver Card shall be valid no more than FIVE Years.

Issuance of Special Visa Waiver Card

Inviting agencies/organizations shall submit a request form along with a copy of foreigner’s passport to the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security.

What a high-profile foreigner should do upon arriving in Viet Nam?

High-profile foreigners shall have to show their valid passports and Special Visa Waiver Card to immigration officers upong arriving in Viet Nam.