Tu Do Doc Lap Hanh Phuc

Plenty of people live here without work permits or residency cards.
Those on tourist visa's tend to renew in country a couple of times (I can't recall if it's 2 or 3) and then do a "visa run" typically to Cambodia and pick up a new visa there usually for 6 or 12 months.
That said the 12 month one's aren't readily available at the moment from what I've heard.

Yes. You can live in Vietnam without a work permit. You can apply for a permanent residence permit (thường trú) if you belong to one of the following categories according to
Article 13 of Ordinance 24/2000/PL-UBTVQH10 dated April 28, 2000, on immigration and residence of foreigners

a) Being unjustifiably oppressed while fighting for people’s freedom and independence, socialism, democracy and peace or for a science cause.

b) Having contributions in building and protecting the fatherland of Vietnam

c) Being the wife, husband, child, father or mother of a Vietnamese citizen residing permanently in Vietnam.

so unless you have been a human guinea pig for some similar experiments in Vietnam like the these trials or worked for the KGB during the Vietnam war, you can apply for category c.


It is good indefinitely but needs to be renewed every 3 years.

The 5 year visa exemption is another thing which exempt you from having to apply for a visa for your initial 3 months' stay. Beyond that, you need to extend/apply for (a new) visa.

You are mentioning WIFE; when you are legally married, you are entitled to a Visa Exemption - lasting 5 years and every 3 month you need to report to police for a new stamp. Not sure about price (180 000 VND).

This Visa Exemption entitles you to multiple entries (and, there do exist different interpretations, to support (your) family(s) business - whatever that might be translated to).

The second side of this coin: Any extension (stamp) depends on the good will of your wife.

Cost for the exemption, you only van make officially in home country is about 50 USD, the in VN "granted ones" are multiples of that price.

l3ully wrote:

This Visa Exemption entitles you to multiple entries (and, there do exist different interpretations, to support (your) family(s) business - whatever that might be translated to).

The second side of this coin: Any extension (stamp) depends on the good will of your wife.

This extension beyond the initial 3 months is the same process for all visa extensions whether you have the exemption or not.

See this link for the application form.

As you see,
1. you can either apply for multi or single entry. Multi is much more expensive. However, it is not applicable if you have a still valid visa exemption (i.e., not to expire soon) since every time you get out of the country and re-enter, you automatically get a new three-month stay free of charge (like a visa run).


2. ANYONE can sponsor you, so actually you don't need to stay on the good side of your wife (or wives): true to the title of this thread: Tu Do Doc Lap Hanh Phuc --> freedom, independence and happiness.

Tim,

I came here 3 years ago with the same Visa Exemption Certificate, which cost me $80 in California.

Like Anatta had mentioned, I had to check in with my local police and immigration offices every 3 months to get my "extension" stamps.

I did that for a full year.  Then, I invested some money into a local company and recieved a 2-year Temporary Resident Card. 

But, shortly after I had gotten my TRC, I moved to reclaim my Vietnamese citizenship and never had to deal with the local police and immigration people again.

Hope that shines some lights into what you are looking to do here.

Howie

Also,

Your kids can join your wife and become Vietnamese citizens, provided that they must take on Vietnamese names, with relative ease.

But you, yourself is going to have to stay here for an X amount of time before you can join them, provided that you will be willing to take a Vietnamese name.  Don't ask me why they require that.  But, I am not too sure about how long you will have to stay here, you might want to look that up a little.

Nonetheless, you have your Vietnamese wife, you don't have to worry much about work permits and things of that nature.

In term of finance, it really depends on the location that you guys will choose to live in and your lifestyle.  But, 100 thousand dollars will last much longer here than they would back in the UK. 

Don't worry.
Howie

I think the best way is to obtain the permanent resident card, but im not sure you'r qualified enough. It's better to ask a specialized agency, since they will know how many procedures or certificates that you have to get. Or maybe you only need a temporary card instead. Or maybe even none. (yup cause im not so sure about this)

I suggest you this agency: kieubaoviet.vn
Its a goverment agency, you may be consulted for free. My sister did ask for obtaining a permanent resident card (and so many of her problems *haiz*)through phone 6 months ago, and they did not charge any.

Good luck.

JaniceTruong wrote:

I think the best way is to obtain the permanent resident card, but im not sure you'r qualified enough. It's better to ask a specialized agency, since they will know how many procedures or certificates that you have to get. Or maybe you only need a temporary card instead. Or maybe even none. (yup cause im not so sure about this)

Then why the hell did you have to write this to us???  Do you think that we have it easy here???

Being active is good.  However, when that leads to confusion or chaos, people will be much better off without.

Howie

Wild_1 wrote:

JaniceTruong wrote:

I think the best way is to obtain the permanent resident card, but im not sure you'r qualified enough. It's better to ask a specialized agency, since they will know how many procedures or certificates that you have to get. Or maybe you only need a temporary card instead. Or maybe even none. (yup cause im not so sure about this)

Then why the hell did you have to write this to us???  Do you think that we have it easy here???

Being active is good.  However, when that leads to confusion or chaos, people will be much better off without.

Howie

The residence card seems to be connected to at least one more paper like a WP connected. And at least for work permits- start of the coming year - the age limit will be set to 50 (seen somewhere published, but can't proof).
Therefore, I would go for the exemption as this covers at least to certain degree some kind of activities (times might get boring, after many month or years of doing suddenly nothing).

i3lly wrote:

The residence card seems to be connected to at least one more paper like a WP connected.

Yup.  You must have a WP in order to obtain the Temporary Resident Card.  Vietnam does not want us here doing nothing!!! 

Now, the Visa Exemption Certificate only pertains to Viet Kieus or those with Vietnamese next of kin.  It allows multiple entries for 5 years.  But, the holder must check in with the local ward police and immigration every 3 months, just like the tourist visa holders.

Then, there are lost souls...  Well, they can get which ever the hell it is that they want, in any particular order that they please. 

Man, I should start charging you guys for providing all these information... 

Howie

"  Man, I should start charging you guys for providing all these information"

VNPT???

Budman,

No, mi Amigo,  I take no VNPT.  American Express only, senior!!!