A DT investor visa approval letter is decided in 5 working days, but allow 2–3 weeks in total for a first-time investor (company registration check, document legalisation, review); established companies usually finish within a week. The capital contributed decides the symbol (DT1–DT4) and validity, and investors from DT3 upwards should then apply for a residence card instead of yearly extensions.
This page covers the DT filing process. See all categories in Vietnam visa types explained.
Stages
- Confirm the symbol from the capital contribution — this determines validity and whether a residence card is possible.
- Assemble corporate evidence: investment and enterprise registration certificates, charter, capital confirmation.
- File NA2 with the Immigration Department — 5 working days statutory.
- Collect the visa at the border gate or at the Vietnamese mission named in the letter.
- Apply for the residence card (DT1–DT3) so the investor stops filing extensions every year.
Timing in practice
Allow 2–3 weeks end to end for a first-time investor: company registration check, document legalisation and the review period rarely overlap neatly. Established companies with NA16 on file usually complete in a week.
When capital changes
Increasing or reducing the contribution changes the symbol at the next filing. Always submit the latest registration certificate; a mismatch between the old symbol and the new capital is the most common supplementation request.
Work permit question
Capital-contributing members above the statutory threshold are exempt from a work permit, but the exemption must be confirmed in writing before managerial work begins. Below the threshold, treat the investor like any employee: work permit first.
Conditions and checklist: DT requirements. Fees: fee table.
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