Vietnam Business Visa DN1 and DN2: Requirements and Process
The DN visa is the standard business category for foreigners coming to Vietnam to meet partners, run a project, survey the market or service equipment — without signing a Vietnamese labour contract. It comes in two symbols: DN1 for people working with a Vietnamese entity, and DN2 for those entering under commercial service commitments, to set up a commercial presence or conduct other work.
Key facts
- Maximum validity: 12 months
- Sponsor: a Vietnamese company, registered with the Immigration Department
- No work permit required — because no labour contract is signed
- Cannot be converted directly into a temporary residence card
Documents the sponsoring company provides
- Form NA2 — application for entry approval (new template since 1 July 2026)
- Business registration certificate
- Form NA16 — registered seal and signature specimen, filed once per company
- Passport scan of the invited person
Process and timing
- The company files NA2 with the Immigration Department — about 5 working days.
- The approval letter is emailed to the applicant.
- The visa is stamped at the airport (25 USD single entry, 50 USD multiple entry under 3 months) or issued by a Vietnamese embassy.
- Inside Vietnam the visa can be extended with form NA5, up to 12 months in total.
When DN is the wrong category
If the person will actually be employed — salary from a Vietnamese entity, fixed role, reporting line — the correct path is a work permit and an LD visa, which then allows a temporary residence card of up to two years. Using DN for de facto employment is a common compliance risk during labour inspections.
Service fee from 2,500,000 VND. See the full fee table or contact us on 0327 828 822.
