People Advisory Services Tax Alert | August 2025 | Update on recent developments regarding Vietnam’s visa exemption policy

The alert highlights the recent changes on visa exemptions policy in Vietnam reflected through below regulations:

• Decree 221/2025/ND-CP issued on 8 August 2025

• Resolution 229/NQ-CP issued on 8 August 2025

• Resolution 44/NQ-CP issued on 7 March 2025

Vietnam Government has made remarkable developments in visa policy to create an attractive environment for driving economic growth and enhancing its appeal to international visitors.

This alert highlights the updates regarding recent changes on visa exemptions policy in Vietnam reflected through below regulations:

• Decree 221/2025/ND-CP1 issued on 8 August 2025 (Decree 221)

• Resolution 229/NQ-CP2 issued on 8 August 2025 (Resolution 229)

• Resolution 44/NQ-CP3 issued on 7 March 2025 (Resolution 44)

1. Decree 221 

• Decree 221 took effect from 15 August 2025, granting time-limited visa exemption to seven (7) groups of individuals, including:

• Guests of high-ranking officials such as i.e. the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the President, the Chairperson of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, etc.

• Scholars, experts, scientists, professors from universities and research institutes; chief architects; high-quality human resources in the digital technology industry

• Investors, leaders of corporations, leaders of major enterprises worldwide

• Professionals working in the fields of culture, arts, sports, and tourism who have a positive influence on the public Individuals active in the fields of culture, arts, sports, and tourism who have a positive influence on the public

• Honorary consuls of Vietnam abroad

• Guests of research institutes, universities, and large enterprises. Based on the proposals of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government-affiliated agencies, the government will decide on the list of research institutes, universities, and large enterprises that are allowed to invite foreigners

• Other cases that require visa exemption for foreign affairs or to support economic and social development as decided by the Minister of Public Security based on proposals from agencies and organizations

• The card holders of this special visa exemption may enter Vietnam multiple times within the visa exemption validity period, capped at five (5) years and must be at least 30 days shorter than the passport’s remaining validity. 

• Each entry to Vietnam is granted a temporary residence certificate for 90 days or for equal to the card’s remaining validity whichever is shorter. Request for extension of temporary residence or the issuance of a visa or temporary residence card may be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

  2. Resolution 229

• The Vietnam Government issued Resolution 229 on 8 August 2025 to grant visa exemption for citizens of the 12 countries including the Kingdom of Belgium, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Slovenia and the Swiss Confederation.

• Resolution 229 is effective from 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028. Accordingly, citizens of the 12 listed countries are granted visa exemption for a temporary stay of up to 45 days from the date of entry for tourism purposes, regardless of passport type, provided they fully comply with Vietnam’s entry requirements as stipulated by law.

  3.  Resolution 44

• Citizens from these 12 countries will be eligible for visa exemption to enter Vietnam with a temporary stay of 45 days from the entry date, regardless of passport type and entry purpose, on the basis of fully compliance with the entry conditions as prescribed by Vietnamese laws: the Federal Republic of Germany, the French Republic, the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Russian Federation, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Kingdom of Norway, and the Republic of Finland.

• This visa exemption policy will be implemented from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028 and will be considered for extension according to the provisions of Vietnamese law.

^{1 Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP (Decree 221) dated 8 August 2025 on special visa exemption card for foreigners belonging to special preference categories to support economic — social development}

^{2 Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP (Resolution 229) dated 8 August 2025 on visa exemption under the tourism stimulus program for citizens of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Slovenia and the Swiss Confederation}

^{3 Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP dated 7 March 2025 on visa exemption for citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany, the French Republic, the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Russian Federation, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Kingdom of Norway, and the Republic of Finland}