Can You Get A Retirement Visa For Vietnam
You can move to Vietnam and start an exciting new life. Vietnam is becoming a new magnet for expats looking to make their fortune or simply enjoy the slower pace of life that the country offers. However, there is still a lot of misinformation on the internet about how you can get a retirement visa work in Vietnam. I’ve put together this guide to explain what methods you can use to establish yourself in Vietnam.
Can You Get A Retirement Visa For Vietnam
The new Vietnam visa regulations have left many foreigners wondering whether they can obtain a retirement visa to live in the country. Though the government has promised that they will continue to issue visas to foreigners 65 and older, the new limitations – including the requirement to deposit $200,000 in a Vietnamese bank account – make it clear that Vietnam’s economic downturn is worrying the country’s leadership. If you or someone you know has thought about retiring in Vietnam, make sure to read this post before you make your decision.
There are a lot of reasons why people decide to move and retire to another country. Maybe you’ve visited one country and you like it so much you decide to move there. Or perhaps you have no issue with the state of your current home but want to be able to try out other cultures, cultivate new friendships, and learn about new places. And there might be a certain allure to retirement visas that just makes the idea of leaving your home, family, or friends all the more attractive.
Who is Moving to Vietnam?
Foreigners from around the world have settled in Vietnam. You’ll find a diverse assortment of expats, including English teachers, embassy staff, multinational executives, entrepreneurs, retirees, and digital nomads drawn by the low cost of living. The bigger urban areas, such as Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, have a large number of working and self-employed expats, while the smaller towns and resort areas tend to attract more retirees. Wherever you go, you’ll meet people from North America, the U.K., Europe, Australia, and the Far East.
How to Move to Vietnam
Vietnam does not offer retirement visas, but there are several options available for people who want to live here long-term. American citizens can apply for visas that are valid for periods of one month up to one year. The six-month and one-year visas allow continuous stays for up to three months at a time, and traveling abroad and returning at any time after leaving the country is legal and permissible within the visa period.
Citizens from most other countries are eligible for tourist visas that are valid for up to three months. Making a visa run abroad is legal and permissible, though you will need to obtain a new three-month visa for re-entry.
Visas can be extended from within Vietnam, but the costs tend to be quite high. From a practical standpoint, it is less expensive to leave and re-enter the country.
Business visas are available to citizens of all Western countries for periods ranging from one month to one year. Business visas are valid for a continuous stay covering the duration of the visa—no visa runs are required.
You can apply for a visa through any Vietnamese embassy, but if you plan to enter the country by air, it is easier, less expensive, and just as reliable to use a Vietnamese-based visa agent. For a nominal fee, they will obtain a visa approval letter from the Department of Immigration for you. Present the letter to the immigration counter when you arrive at the airport. You’ll pay a stamping fee to immigration—single-entry one and three-month visas cost $25, while multiple-entry visas cost up to $135, depending on their duration. In most cases, if you are applying for a six or 12-month business visa, you’ll need to use a visa agent.