Vietnam's updated strategy promotes visa benefits for foreign individuals qualified for special consideration.
Vnexpress
It also aims to create a robust coordination framework among ministries, ministry-level agencies, government-affiliated entities, local authorities, and pertinent organizations during the implementation phase.
According to the strategy, the Ministry of Public Security must collaborate with other ministries, central agencies, and relevant entities to routinely facilitate the distribution and promotion of the contents of Decree No. 221 on the government’s official website or through various suitable methods that align with existing conditions and practical circumstances as mandated by law, to enhance understanding and ensure uniformity in knowledge and actions among officials, civil servants, public sector workers, and individuals involved in the decree’s execution.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will partner with the Ministry of Public Security and relevant agencies to disseminate and promote the contents of Decree 221 to the business sector, foreign investors, and foreign individuals eligible for preferential treatment via overseas media, particularly through international communication platforms and forums concerning tourism and investment abroad.
The ministries, central agencies, and relevant organizations shall propose the issuance of special visa exemption cards for foreign individuals, ensuring adherence to the pertinent criteria and subjects as outlined in Decree 221, in alignment with the functions, responsibilities, scope, and operational domains of the respective agencies and organizations.
Concurrently, they are obliged to routinely assess and formally notify the Ministry of Public Security in writing about foreign individuals who possess a valid special visa exemption card but no longer wish to apply for visa waivers, or regarding those who no longer fulfill the criteria established in the decree; and collaborate in addressing any emerging issues concerning foreign individuals granted preferential visa exemptions.
By March 1, 2026, ministries, central agencies, government bodies, and the People’s Committees of provinces and cities, within their respective functions and responsibilities, must conduct inspections and evaluations of the legal documents pertinent to this matter and suggest amendments, additions, replacements, or the issuance of new legal documents to ensure effective enforcement of the decree (if deemed necessary).
In 2026 and the ensuing years, the Ministry of Education and Training will take the initiative in proposing standards for identifying and cataloging research institutes, universities, and major universities; while the Ministry of Finance shall lead in proposing criteria for identifying and cataloging large enterprises authorized to invite foreign nationals who qualify for special categories of preferential entry into Vietnam.
The Ministry of Public Security is charged with gathering proposals and presenting them to the government for the issuance of a resolution endorsing the eligibility criteria and list of research institutes, universities, colleges, and large enterprises authorized to invite eligible foreign nationals into Vietnam.
It is authorized to approve modifications or additions to the list based on government-published criteria, within 30 days of receiving feedback from the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Finance.
Ministries, ministry-level agencies, government-affiliated bodies, and municipal and provincial People’s Committees must report to the Prime Minister, via the Ministry of Public Security, on the status of both the decree and the action plan by August 15 each year, or as directed by the Prime Minister on an as-needed basis.