Going to Vietnam for a few weeks is relatively simple.
However, settling there for several months or years requires a bit more organization.
A tourist visa or a visa exemption can be perfectly suitable for exploring the country, but it is not necessarily a sustainable solution for someone who wishes to work, study, join their family, or build their life in Vietnam.
The first thing to understand is that there is not really a single “expat visa”.
The appropriate status mainly depends on the reason for your stay:
- Tourism / exploration → exemption or e-visa
- Studies → student visa
- Employment → professional status + possibly work permit
- Investment → investor visa
- Vietnamese family → family visa / residence card or exemption certificate depending on the situation
- Vietnamese origins / Việt Kiều → specific arrangements possible
This guide helps to understand the main options and especially to know in what order to carry out the procedures.