Vietnam visaBusiness in VietnamVietnam DN business visa for Indian executives and traders
Indian businesspeople visiting Vietnamese partners, factories or trade fairs can use the ordinary e-Visa for meetings, but anyone working with a Vietnamese company, being paid locally or staying on repeated trips should hold a DN1 or DN2 business visa sponsored by that company: the same USD 25 single or USD 50 multiple-entry e-Visa fee, up to 90 days per visa, with the sponsor's business registration and invitation uploaded. Under Decree 219/2025 a foreigner working in Vietnam for less than 90 days in a calendar year is exempt from a work permit, so the DN visa covers short technical, sales and audit assignments; longer postings need the LD work visa and permit.
6 min read Verified 29 October 2026 against evisa.gov.vn · How we verify
Vietnam business visa: quick answers
- Who qualifies for a DN visa?
- Employees, directors and owners of companies abroad invited by a Vietnamese enterprise, representative office or project (DN1 is for those working with organisations that have legal status in Vietnam, DN2 for those offering services, setting up a commercial presence or doing other business). The sponsor provides its enterprise registration certificate and an invitation stating the purpose and dates; the applicant needs a passport valid six months and, for visits beyond meetings, an assignment letter from the Indian employer.
- What does it cost?
- USD 25 for a single-entry and USD 50 for a multiple-entry DN e-Visa of up to 90 days, paid on evisa.gov.vn. Sponsors who obtain an approval letter from the Immigration Department for a sticker visa at the embassy pay the same state fee plus the consulate's handling; one-year multiple-entry business visas (USD 135) are available to investors and representatives of foreign companies that have a presence in Vietnam.
- How long does it take from India?
- Three working days for the e-Visa once the sponsor's documents are uploaded; the sponsor's invitation itself takes a few days to prepare. Approval letters for embassy visas take five to seven working days at the Immigration Department plus two to three days at the New Delhi embassy or Mumbai consulate.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | DN1 or DN2 business visa, issued as an e-Visa or embassy sticker |
| Government fee | USD 25 single entry; USD 50 multiple entry; USD 135 for 1-year multiple (investors) |
| Stay | Up to 90 days per visa; multiple entries within validity |
| Processing | 3 working days (e-Visa); 5 to 7 working days for an approval letter |
| Sponsor | Vietnamese enterprise, representative office or project with the registration certificate |
| Work permit | Not needed for under 90 days of work in a calendar year (Decree 219/2025) |
| Converts to | LD work visa once a work permit is issued |
| Verified | 29 Oct 2026 against evisa.gov.vn and Decree 219/2025 |
Tourist e-Visa, DN business visa or LD work visa: which one
| Visa | Purpose | Sponsor | Fee | Work allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist e-Visa (EV) | Meetings, conferences, site visits with no local pay | None | USD 25 / USD 50 | None |
| DN1 / DN2 business visa | Working with a Vietnamese partner, short assignments, negotiations, setting up a presence | Vietnamese enterprise or office | USD 25 / USD 50 (USD 135 for 1 year) | Up to 90 days a year without a work permit |
| LD1 / LD2 work visa | Employment or long postings | Employer with a work permit or exemption | USD 25 / USD 50 + work permit fee | Full, per the permit |
| DT1 to DT4 investor visa | Capital contribution of VND 3 billion and above | The invested company | USD 25 to USD 155 by validity | As investor; permit-exempt for DT1 to DT3 roles |
The DN visa matters because Vietnamese authorities treat an Indian engineer commissioning a line or an auditor reviewing a subsidiary as working, even if paid in India. Decree 219/2025, in force since 7 August 2025, allows such work for a total of under 90 days in a calendar year with unlimited entries without a work permit, provided the Vietnamese host notifies the provincial labour authority at least three days before the work starts; a new decree announced for 5 December 2026 keeps the framework and employers should check the dossier form at the time of filing.
Representatives of foreign companies that have no Vietnamese entity (DN2) typically use a Vietnamese distributor, customer or law firm as sponsor. Frequent travellers should hold a multiple-entry DN visa rather than repeated tourist e-Visas, which border officers flag as pattern business travel; investors who put in VND 3 billion or more (about INR 1 crore) qualify for DT visas of one to five years instead.
Fees and what they cover
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DN e-Visa, single entry (up to 90 days) | USD 25 | Non-refundable |
| DN e-Visa, multiple entry (up to 90 days) | USD 50 | Unlimited entries |
| Multiple-entry visa, 90 days to 1 year (embassy) | USD 135 | With an Immigration Department approval letter |
| Approval letter preparation (sponsor or agent) | VND 1 to 3 million | Agent or law-firm fee |
| Work-permit exemption notification | Free | Filed by the host 3 days before the work |
| Temporary residence card (1 to 2 years), if converting | USD 145 | Only with a work permit or investor status |
Fees are state fees under Circular 25/2021 and are the same for every nationality. Vistolane coordinates the sponsor's invitation and registration certificate, files the e-Visa and charges the USD 25 or USD 50 fee at the official rate.
How the application runs, step by step
- 1
Sponsor prepares the invitation
Vietnamese company's enterprise registration certificate and an invitation letter stating purpose, dates and who bears costs.
- 2
Apply on evisa.gov.vn as DN1 or DN2
Upload the passport, photo, invitation and registration certificate; select single or multiple entry and the entry port; pay USD 25 or USD 50.
- 3
Decision in 3 working days
Download the PDF; for stays or validity beyond 90 days, the sponsor applies for an approval letter and you collect a sticker at the embassy.
- 4
Host notifies the labour authority (if working)
At least 3 days before the work starts, for the under-90-day exemption.
- 5
Enter and keep the paper trail
Carry the invitation and assignment letter; register your residence through the hotel or host within 24 hours.
Timeline for an Indian business traveller
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor documents | 2 to 5 days | Registration certificate and invitation |
| e-Visa | 3 working days | Immigration Department decides |
| Approval letter (embassy route) | 5 to 7 working days | Then 2 to 3 days at the embassy |
| Entry | Same day | Stamp to the requested exit date |
| Conversion to LD | 3 to 5 weeks | After the work permit is issued |
Trade-fair visitors and buyers on short trips can use the tourist e-Visa; anyone whose Vietnamese host will pay or host work on site should hold the DN visa and the exemption notification to avoid fines of VND 15 to 25 million for working without authorisation.
After arrival: residence registration, work limits and conversion
Every foreigner's stay is registered with the local police within 24 hours of arrival, done automatically by hotels and by the host for private stays; unregistered stays are fined. DN visa holders may attend meetings, supervise, train and negotiate, and may perform work for under 90 days in a calendar year with the host's exemption notification; beyond that the employer must obtain a work permit (10 working days under Decree 219) and the LD visa.
The DN visa can be converted inside Vietnam to an LD visa or an investor DT visa once the permit or capital registration exists, without leaving the country, and a one- or two-year temporary residence card (USD 145) follows for DN1 holders representing companies with a Vietnamese presence. Family members join on TT visas once the main applicant holds a residence card.
Document checklist: applicant
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport valid 6 months | Scan of the data page |
| Portrait photo, 4 by 6 cm | White background |
| Assignment or introduction letter from the Indian employer | Purpose, dates, who pays |
| Business card and company registration (India) | Useful at the border |
Sponsor
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Enterprise registration certificate | Vietnamese company or representative office licence |
| Invitation letter | Signed and stamped; dates and purpose |
| Work-permit exemption notification | To the provincial labour authority if work is performed |
Trip
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Entry and exit ports and dates | Within 90 days per visa |
| Hotel or host address | Residence registration within 24 hours |
| Return ticket | Checked at check-in |
Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix
Sponsor not eligible
Invitation from an individual or a company without a valid registration certificate.
The fix. Use the Vietnamese partner's registered entity or a licensed agent as sponsor.
Purpose inconsistent
Tourist e-Visa holder found working at a factory.
The fix. Hold a DN visa and file the exemption notification; Vistolane pairs the two.
Over 90 days of work
Exemption exceeded in the calendar year.
The fix. Obtain a work permit and LD visa before the 90th day.
Residence not registered
Fine for staying at a private address without police registration.
The fix. Have the host register within 24 hours.
Approval letter mismatch
Sticker visa refused because the letter named another port or date.
The fix. Match the letter, the embassy application and the ticket.
Official sources
- Vietnam Immigration Department: official e-Visa portal ↗
- Vietnam Immigration Department: visas and temporary residence ↗
- Decree 219/2025/ND-CP on foreign workers in Vietnam (7 August 2025) ↗
- Circular 25/2021/TT-BTC: fees for visas and residence documents ↗
- Embassy of Vietnam, New Delhi: e-Visa guidance ↗
Vietnam business visa questions
Other Vietnam routes
Visit Vietnam
Tourist e-Visa (single or multiple entry)
USD 25 single entry (USD 50 multiple), up to 90 days
Read the route
Work in Vietnam
Work visa (LD) and work permit
USD 25 single entry (USD 50 multiple); work permit fee VND 400,000 to 600,000 by province
Read the route
Join family in Vietnam
Family visa (TT) and temporary residence card
USD 25 single entry (USD 50 multiple); residence card USD 145 for 1 to 2 years
Read the route
