天美麻豆

I just want to say THANK YOU for your website. It has been most informative, as I contemplate a move to Danang to RETIRE. I just don't know how to get around the 30-day visa situation, not an easy procedure for older guys like me.
-@jwdtw

It's very simple:

1. As of today's exchange rate, Invest $120,748.80 USD in a government approved venture and receive a 3-year Temporary Resident Certificate.

2. Use your bachelor's degree, get certified as a teacher of English as a second language, get legally hired by an employer here (with a valid work permit) and get a series of business visas or a TRC (depending on the length of your contract).

3. Come here on a tourist visa, fall sincerely in love with a wonderful Vietnamese woman, get married and apply for a 3 year TRC.

That whole process might possibly be accomplished with only 3 or 4 consecutive eVisas, each new one requiring a border run, but you might find that you need to return to the United States to get additional paperwork done to qualify.

Note that a sham marriage ("making use of a marriage for the purpose of immigration, residence or naturalization in Vietnam or a foreign country; for enjoying preferential regimes of the State or for another purpose other than that of building a family") is illegal in Vietnam

4. Split your time between Vietnam and Cambodia, Laos or Thailand.

Easy.

Just please be very careful looking for ways to "get around" the legal requirements.

Nobody wants to see you deported and ending up on the immigration blacklist.

I just want to say THANK YOU for your website. It has been most informative, as I contemplate a move to Danang to RETIRE. I just don't know how to get around the 30-day visa situation, not an easy procedure for older guys like me.
-@jwdtw

The easiest way to get around the 30-day visa situation is to choose another country.

Many folks are doing the one-way visa run from VN these days. Others just aren't arriving in the first place.

Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of great options, but there are options.

@jwdtw

Hi there jwdtw.

Your question comes up again and again from many members. It is a recurring theme.

Please see this thread with comments from OceanBeach92107

We could easily justify a sticky for this subject (Retirement in VN).

Hello @Jwdtw,

Welcome on board !

We are very appreciative of your message and hope you will find all the information you need for a smooth move.

Please note that I have changed the title of your topic for better visibility.

All the very best,

Bhavna

@OceanBeach92107 Thanks, Ocean Beach, for your time and effort to give me a reply. The business route is out; I'm not poor, but I don't have the amount of money you showed. As for teaching, I am a lifetime professional teacher, but at 88, I just wish that I could relax in wonderful Danang fot my remaining time and also not get into that in and out of the country every 3 or 6 months process. Of course I know that every country has to control who comes in, yet I naively wish that it was easier than it is for us old guys.

@OceanBeach92107 Thanks, Ocean Beach, for your time and effort to give me a reply. The business route is out; I'm not poor, but I don't have the amount of money you showed. As for teaching, I am a lifetime professional teacher, but at 88, I just wish that I could relax in wonderful Danang fot my remaining time and also not get into that in and out of the country every 3 or 6 months process. Of course I know that every country has to control who comes in, yet I naively wish that it was easier than it is for us old guys.
-@jwdtw

Cambodia is offering聽 a one year visa for 360 usd, much better than the stupid system in Viet Nam.

@jwdtw I thought that there was a retirement visa for Americans.

Not available anymore?

@jwdtw I thought that there was a retirement visa for Americans.
Not available anymore?
-@lifeisgoodok

Hi lifeisgoodok.

Unfortunately Vietnam does not have, nor has it ever had, a retirement visa.

This is regardless of the expat's nationality. (jwdtw is Armenian)

See here for a recent discussion on this topic.

@jwdtw I thought that there was a retirement visa for Americans.
Not available anymore?
-@lifeisgoodok

The 1 year business visa that many Americans used for retirement here is now only available if there is a Vietnamese company willing to officially sponsor the individual.

@lifeisgoodok & @jwdtw

Currently, the only available TOURIST visa is 30 days then exit and enter on a new one.

There is no 3, or 6-month TOURIST visas at the moment.

When in country there are other options as discussed above, which involve, investment, work, sponsorship or marriage.

Hi! You can get the retirement extension of stay in Cambodia for about $300 with a reputable visa agent. Cambodia is an easy stay and you can visit Vietnam as you want with a number of border crossings. Flights from Phnom Penh are reasonable and land crossings are open. Been thinking of doing that from Kampot early next year. BTW, the 6 month and 1 year retirement extension is multiple entry. I live in Siem Reap. Cost of living, nice people, fun retirement scene, etc. Give it some thought if you want close to Vietnam but not the 30 day evisa. Before the pandemic times, I lived in Cambodia but just traveled all around and it worked very well. Also spent some time in Vietnam then.

Take care! The Cambodia forum here has good information on life in Cambodia, visa stuff, etc.

@mpmilestogo,

Thanks for your info here is a link for people to check your out.

@AndyHCMC thanks! I have problems posting links from my iPhone.聽 Hope everyone having a wonderful day. Even OB! 馃槂

The Vietnam investor visa has become more difficult to get due to much closer scrutiny by the government.

Previously, to obtain the 3 year TRC, people would BORROW the 鈧�3,000,000,000 VN膼 needed, deposit it for a few days to one week, and then withdraw the money, paying loan shark interest rates on the loans (usually arranged by a lawyer).

New controls have made those types of arrangements impossible.

So now, investors need to come up with 100% of the capital contribution and leave it untouched for the duration of the TRC.

I can't remember the name, but I know at least 1 expat in 膼脿 N岷祅g has previously reported that, in order to remain in country with his partner, he needed to come up with more money than he previously needed for his 3 year TRC, just to remain in country on a 1 year business visa as a co-owner of a business with his GF.

@OceanBeach92107 wow! Sure seems different and more difficult. I remember during pandemic times desiring to start a LLC in hanoi focusing on digital travel so to speak. As I did it,聽 it did not seem so daunting but now when I look I can鈥檛 imagine doing all that again for the investment I put in out of my own pocket. Of course I failed at it and then had to get the money out of Vietnam. I followed soon after and ended up in Mexico at the same time OB was there but in different states.

Now it seems many avenues to work. Invest, charter and start a LLC have changed so much. I ll just stick with being a lazy old retired guy.

@OceanBeach92107 wow! Sure seems different and more difficult. I remember during pandemic times desiring to start a LLC in hanoi focusing on digital travel so to speak. As I did it, it did not seem so daunting but now when I look I can鈥檛 imagine doing all that again for the investment I put in out of my own pocket. Of course I failed at it and then had to get the money out of Vietnam. I followed soon after and ended up in Mexico at the same time OB was there but in different states.
Now it seems many avenues to work. Invest, charter and start a LLC have changed so much. I ll just stick with being a lazy old retired guy.
-@mpmilestogo

I don't know that any of the requirements for establishing a business have changed, other than the strict control of the capital contribution.