Everything You Need To Know About Digital Nomad Visa when Going to Vietnam

1. What is a digital nomad visa?

The digital nomad visa is a type of authorization that permits an extended legal work stay in a foreign country without the hassle of a work visa and beyond the duration allotted by a tourist visa.

Freelancers and digital nomads who love traveling can now reside in their preferred location for a duration of 6 months up to 2 years with the digital nomad visa, and extending it is hassle-free.

2. Why get it?

Two major hindrances faced by digital nomads are visa constraints and immigration.

Prior to the introduction of digital nomad visas, individuals who pursued this lifestyle were limited to obtaining a travel visa. This option, however, prohibits visitors from participating in work-related activities within the country and typically restricts stays to no more than 90 days. As a result, digital nomads and freelance travelers were often forced to blend in with tourists while surreptitiously engaging in work-related tasks.

Once their travel visa has expired, they must visit the immigration office, endure several hours of waiting, and pay a renewal fee to extend their travel visa. In certain nations, visa renewals are not permitted, causing digital nomads to use a loophole dubbed the “visa run,” traveling to a neighboring country for a short period before returning to the original country to obtain a new travel visa stamp (which some countries do not authorize).

If you have been a digital nomad for decades, doing these will eventually tire you out—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

If you qualify, it is advisable to seek a digital nomad visa as it eradicates the need for travel visa limitations, extended periods of waiting in immigration offices, and frequent visa runs. Additionally, you can operate in a novel environment that rejuvenates your ingenuity and efficiency.

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3. How to get it?

Obtaining a digital nomad visa may vary depending on the country’s specific procedures and prerequisites, but the following provides a basic overview.

Find out whether you are eligible by going to the country’s immigration website or embassy office in your or a nearby country.
Prepare all the necessary documents such as bank statements, passport, and proof of being a digital nomad or freelancer.
Submit all documents either by applying online or at the embassy office.
Wait for approval and processing while planning the long-anticipated travel.
Collect your digital nomad visa, book your flight tickets, and begin your long-term nomadic lifestyle!

Click on the links provided at the end of this article to discover the qualifications and prerequisites for the countries involved.

4. Who is eligible for a digital nomad visa?

The eligibility requirements for a digital nomad visa vary by country, but typically include the following items needed to complete the application process.

You are location-independent.
You can work digitally and remotely.
You have a stable flow of income and earn more than the minimum requirement.
You are from one of the eligible countries (e.g, Europe allows people from certain countries to apply).
You have proof of employment or ownership of a company.
You have travel or health insurance.

5. How long does the process take?

The time required to complete a digital nomad visa application may vary between countries, but it typically takes from 3 to 4 months.

7. Can I bring my family members with me?

You can bring your family members for an extra charge with certain digital nomad visas offered by particular countries. Anguilla (UK), Antigua and Barbuda (Caribbean), Dubai (UAE), and Estonia (EU) are among the countries that permit accompanying family members.

8. What are the typical restrictions I need to be aware of?

The digital nomad visa is an official visa acknowledged by countries that have agreed to it, and it shouldn’t cause any issues while wandering in public places.

Well, unless you’re looking for trouble, no amount of visa can bail you out.

9. How do I renew my digital nomad visa?

Reapplication for digital nomad visas usually involves a renewal charge and is generally uncomplicated. Simply visit the immigration office and submit an application for renewal when the visa is nearing its expiration date.

It’s important to remember that some countries impose a limit on the length of stay even after getting your visa renewed. For instance, Estonia permits consecutive stays of up to 1.5 years. However, if you extend your stay after one year, you will only be granted another 6 months. Subsequently, you must depart from Estonia.

Pros Of Living In Vietnam

Here are five advantages of living in Vietnam that you may not know, beginning with the country’s finest offerings.

Affordable Cost Of Living

Vietnam can be a delightful surprise for those looking to move somewhere affordable. With your choice of location within the country, it’s possible to live comfortably with a budget as low as $700 per month.

Even if you opt for a more lavish way of living, complete with a superior flat, extra entertainment options, and some western luxuries, it would still prove difficult to exceed a budget of $1400.

For a mere $200, you can rent an apartment but if you plan on spending a considerable amount of time in it, you may want to consider upgrading to a better quality one that will cost you about $600 depending on the area.

Regarding food expenses, you can receive excellent value for your money. A serving of hot pho carries a price tag of approximately $2, while a customary banh mi is priced at just $1. Moreover, expenses linked with living abroad such as the internet, laundry, renting a motorbike, and more are all reasonably priced.

Warm Weather

It is necessary to discuss the weather conditions in Vietnam, which are characterized by a tropical climate consisting of two alternating seasons, wet and dry.

The ideal weather for sunbathing and swimming is between February and August, with low rainfall and temperatures ranging from 27 to 33 degrees Celsius throughout the country.

Although the wet season lasts from September to January, you shouldn’t be discouraged because the rain is usually heavy but brief. Typically, the days are pleasantly sunny with only an hour or two of rainfall in the afternoon.

During the wet season, temperatures continue to fluctuate within the range of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius.

Delicious Food

Living in Vietnam comes with a clear advantage of having access to a variety of delightful food options. Pho, the country’s signature dish, is widely available in restaurants and street corners.

You can find a dish that consists of tender beef, tasty broth, and delicate rice noodles in several food establishments. To enhance its taste, aromatic herbs or crispy bean sprouts are commonly included.

If you’re travelling to Vietnam, be sure to sample banh mi, a well-liked lunch option. This isn’t your typical baguette, however. The sandwich showcases Vietnam’s French influence with its crispy bread and pâté filling.

When pork cold cuts, pickled vegetables, red chili, fresh herbs, and mayonnaise are added, the fusion aspect emerges.

At Vietnamese restaurants, you can find a wide selection of genuine Asian cuisine. Nonetheless, if you feel like having a small reminder of your homeland, there are also numerous western restaurants, such as international fast food franchises.

Friendly Locals

Vietnamese individuals are known for their friendly nature and frequently greet tourists with big smiles and lively conversations. Even though conversing with natives might be difficult, particularly in less touristy regions, their non-verbal cues will indicate their pleasure in meeting you.

There are numerous English-speaking residents in urban areas, giving you the opportunity to converse with them or practice your Vietnamese. Even mastering a handful of phrases can put you on the right track.

Incredible Scenery

Vietnam’s tremendously varied topography is one of its most attractive features. With expansive mountains in the northern region, flourishing verdant rice fields, serpentine rivers, and idyllic shorelines, there are numerous options to consider while selecting a location.

Tourists have always loved Ha Long Bay for its scattered limestone formations and vibrant turquoise waters. One can take a boat ride and witness the wonders of nature in its still waters.

For those who prefer terraced rice fields and mountains that seem to go on forever, Sapa in the northern part of Vietnam is a must-visit destination. Living in Vietnam provides the advantage of experiencing diversity, as journeying through the country is akin to traversing a whole continent.

Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang are among the top cities for expats.

Cons Of Living In Vietnam

There is no place on earth that is flawless in all aspects, so you need to anticipate the drawbacks of residing in Vietnam.

Tricky Visa Applications

The process of obtaining a visa is a major hassle for travelers and is considered one of the downsides of residing in Vietnam. The tourism sector in the country is still in its developmental stage as it has only gained momentum over the past ten years.

Even though Vietnam is becoming a popular destination for ex-pats and remote workers, there isn’t a particular visa meant for digital nomads.

Alternative visa options exist that grant stays ranging from 14 to 90 days, contingent on your country of origin. Their prerequisites undergo periodic changes, rendering it challenging to stay abreast. Presented below are the key visa alternatives:

Visa exemption: 23 countries are exempt from needing a visa and citizens can stay in Vietnam for between 14 and 30 days, depending on their nationality. These countries include the UK, Spain, and Sweden, as well as neighboring Asian countries such as Thailand and Cambodia.
E-visa: This visa option is available for residents of 80 countries and allows a 30-day stay. These include the US, Australia, and Germany. You can learn more here.
Visa-on-arrival: Most nationalities can obtain this visa which qualifies them to stay in the country for 90 days.

High Levels Of Pollution

Vietnam is not the only place affected by air pollution, however, it is a major issue in the country. Moving to one of the major cities such as Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) can require some time to acclimate to the smog.

Hanoi and HCMC are frequently regarded as one of the most polluted cities in the world due to their low air quality.

Opting to reside in less populated urban areas like Nha Trang or Da Nang can be advantageous as the circumstances are more controllable. When dealing with the negative impact of smog on your well-being, moving to rural regions would be ideal.

However, you will have to compromise on infrastructure and WiFi connection.

Language Barriers

Because English is spoken extensively globally, it may seem simple to ignore acquiring the language of a different nation with the assumption that you will manage.

Although this holds true for numerous places, it is not applicable in Vietnam where it won’t work. In larger cities, a considerable number of inhabitants possess English language skills and you can manage with a handful of fundamental expressions.

In case you’re traveling to a countryside location, it’s important to anticipate that Vietnamese will likely be the sole language spoken by the residents. To avoid any language barriers, it is recommended to carry a guidebook or, even more advantageous, learn as much of the language in advance using an app such as Duolingo.

Tourist Scams

Similar to other popular tourist spots, there is a risk of being deceived while traveling in Vietnam, especially if you appear to be from the West. However, the vast majority of the Vietnamese people are welcoming and kind-hearted, and their utmost desire is for you to have a pleasurable stay in their nation.

Nonetheless, similar to any other place, there is inevitably a minority of individuals attempting to spoil the experience for everyone else.

A prevalent scheme used by fraudsters is to try and persuade you to purchase the priciest tickets for an occasion, claiming that all the lower-priced ones have been sold.