Briefly: as of September 2026, there is no separate visa for digital nomads in Vietnam, and the launch date has not been announced. Remote workers can work visa-free (45 days for Russian citizens) or with an e-visa for up to 90 days; e-visas cannot be extended within the country.
The new UĐ1 visa (effective July 1, 2026) is not a nomad visa: it is issued to digital industry specialists under the sponsorship of a Vietnamese organization.
Vietnam may launch a visa for digital nomads by the end of 2026.
First things first: as of September 2026, Vietnam does not have an official Digital Nomad visa, and its exact launch date cannot be confirmed at this time. However, such regimes already exist or are being launched in the region, and Vietnam itself is simultaneously expanding its visa system for digital professionals, including the new UĐ1 category, effective July 1, 2026.
This is a forecast, not news. But it's precisely these kinds of stories that are important to monitor in advance: when a country begins to consolidate long-distance visa routes for tech specialists while simultaneously striving to increase inbound flows, a new category for remote workers ceases to seem like a pipe dream.
We want to gather real-world experiences of Digital Nomad visas in Vietnam/Asia, not found in AI or the news: people's stories, helpful contacts with authorities, closed lists, and chats. Here's what we're doing for you:
Analysis of people's cases (approved/denied, documents).
Requests to the Ministry of Internal Affairs/Immigration (official forms, publication of their responses).
Contacts of companies/agents (those who will actually help with the paperwork).
Checklist/letter templates in Vietnamese with translation
Updates from expat chats (Telegram/FB).
What is a DN visa?
A DN visa, or Digital Nomad visa, is a separate legal status for people who live in one country but work remotely for foreign employers or clients. Its purpose is to distinguish between ordinary tourists and those who spend months in a country, rent accommodation, and spend money within the economy, but do not take a job with local companies.
Vietnam doesn't yet have such a category. It's important not to confuse it with the UĐ1 visa: the UĐ1 visa comes into effect on July 1, 2026 , and is designed for foreign digital technology professionals whom Vietnam wants to attract to its economy, rather than simply accommodate as remote residents. Simply put, the UĐ1 visa is a route for skilled tech talent within the Vietnamese system, while the DN visa would be for someone working for the outside world and living in Vietnam.
How do nomads live now?
While there's no dedicated DN visa, most digital nomads use an e-visa, which allows them to stay in Vietnam for up to 90 days. This is a viable solution for entry and short-term residence, but not a fully-fledged long-term status for remote work .
Because of this, the entire segment lives in a transitional zone: formally, a person has the right to enter, but there is no separate visa framework specifically for remote work. In practice, this usually means a short planning horizon, dependence on current immigration regulations, and the constant question of whether it will be as easy to extend one's stay in a few months .
What the neighbors already have
This is where Vietnam is starting to lose the regional race. Its neighbors are already offering clear, well-designed programs for remote workers, and this is changing audience expectations across the region.
Thailand has a Destination Thailand Visa: it's valid for five years, and a single entry typically allows a stay of up to 180 days. Basic requirements include proof of funds of at least THB 500,000.
Malaysia operates the DE Rantau Nomad Pass, which allows 1–2 years of stay and requires a verified annual income of US$24,000 .
In the Philippines, the Digital Nomad Visa program has already been established as a separate program for remote workers with foreign income, valid for up to one year with the possibility of extension.
Indonesia is also promoting separate routes for remote workers, including a one-year visa with established financial criteria .
Against this backdrop, Vietnam appears not as a country without demand, but as a country without a developed product to meet this demand.
Why are we waiting for a DN visa in Vietnam?
The first sign is regional competition. While Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia are already offering or developing separate remote work programs, Vietnam inevitably finds itself under pressure from comparison. For someone choosing a base in Southeast Asia, the question has long been not just "where is it cheaper to live" but also "where will I have a clear status?"
The second signal is Vietnam's own goals. The country officially aims to attract 25 million foreign tourists by 2026, meaning it needs not only mass tourism but also longer-stay options with predictable rules. Furthermore, the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Council has already proposed introducing long-term visas for remote workers, so as not to cede this segment to its neighbors.
The third signal is the logic of the UĐ1 visa itself. If the state is already creating a separate long-term category for digital specialists, this indicates that Vietnam's visa system is moving toward a more precise segmentation of foreign talent, not just the classic "tourist/investor/employee" categorization. This isn't yet proof of the imminent launch of the DN visa, but it is a strong enough set of indicators to monitor the issue seriously.
What to do now
If you're planning a move to Vietnam in 2026, you should only rely on the current regulations: currently, an e-visa valid for up to 90 days and no official DN status is required. Don't plan as if you already have a new visa in your pocket; no one can guarantee that right now .
In practice, this means a simple thing: document current conditions while they're clear. If you're considering Vietnam as your next base, you shouldn't evaluate the promised future program, but rather the current reality—the e-visa duration, frequency of trips, level of personal risk, and your willingness to live without a separate visa for your remote work. If the DN visa does become available, its initial versions will likely be closer to those of neighboring countries—with financial thresholds, proof of remote income, and a set of basic requirements already in place in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
