Vietnam IFC (VIFC) Visa: UD1 for International Financial Centre Workers
A source-bound guide to the VIFC visa — eligibility, filing channel, residence card mechanics, and how the Decree 324 PIT exemption actually works in practice. Independent information, not tax, legal, or immigration advice.
What is the VIFC?
Vietnam's International Financial Centre (VIFC) is a financial-district framework being established in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. It is designed to host banks, asset managers, insurance firms, fintechs, and supporting professional services. The legal foundation rests on three instruments:
- Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15 — National Assembly founding resolution
- Decree 327/2025/NĐ-CP — VIFC immigration rules
- Decree 324/2025/NĐ-CP — VIFC personal income tax treatment
The VIFC is a distinct institutional and regulatory framework within Vietnam; it does not displace general Vietnamese law. Its tax, labour, immigration and residence benefits remain route-specific and subject to the applicable instruments and authority process.
How the VIFC visa differs from the general UD1
| Dimension | General UD1 | VIFC-linked UD1 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum validity | 5 years | Up to 10 years |
| Issuing channel | Sponsor-led Form NA-02 | IFC governing authority |
| Tax treatment | Standard PIT | Possible Decree 324 PIT exemption |
| Sponsorship | Required | Replaced by IFC entity membership |
| Form factor | Physical residence card | VIFC-specific residence card |
| Work authorization | Reviewed separately | Reviewed separately |
Source: Decree 327/2025/NĐ-CP, Decree 324/2025/NĐ-CP. The VIFC pillar covers the full VIFC pathway in detail.
The 10-year validity is the most-cited benefit, but in practice the tax treatment is what drives senior compensation planning — and it's where most of the misconceptions sit.
The Decree 324 PIT exemption — and its boundaries
Decree 324 introduces a narrow PIT exemption for qualifying VIFC income. The exemption has strict scope:
Applies to
Salary and wage income earned from work at the International Financial Center for qualifying managers, experts, scientists and individuals with high professional qualifications; a separate transfer rule may apply under Article 7(2)(b).
Does not apply to
Income outside Article 7(2)’s scope, including work not connected to the IFC, unless another rule applies.
Known end boundary
2030, unless extended. Plan compensation structures with the end boundary in mind.
Verified separately
The exemption is reviewed by the tax authority, not granted automatically with the residence card.
Common error: Treating the VIFC residence card as automatic tax relief. It is not. The card and the tax exemption are reviewed through separate channels and rest on different facts.
How to apply (at a glance)
- 1Confirm your employer is an IFC-registered member — not just based in the VIFC geographic zone.
- 2Identify the qualifying role — the position must fit the senior/specialist/executive scope.
- 3Engage the IFC governing authority — this is the filing channel, not the sponsor's Form NA-02 process.
- 4Submit evidence package — credentials, role description, employer confirmation, and any capital evidence.
- 5Track the residence card issuance — the VIFC card is a different form factor from the general UD1 card.
- 6File tax positions separately — the PIT exemption is reviewed by the tax authority, not bundled with the residence card.
The VIFC residence card guide covers the full member-employment scope, residence duration, family inclusion, and work-authorization boundaries.
VIFC vs Singapore vs DIFC — at a glance
| Dimension | Vietnam VIFC | Singapore | Dubai IFC (DIFC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum stay | Up to 10 years | 5 years (EP) | 5–10 years (Golden) |
| Tax treatment | Narrow Decree 324 PIT | Tiered, no cap gains | No personal income tax |
| Setup maturity | Operational July 2026 | Mature, decades | Mature, two decades |
| Filing channel | IFC governing authority | MOM / MyMOM | DIFC + ICA |
| Family inclusion | Via UD2 | Dependant Pass / LTSV | Included in Golden |
The VIFC vs DIFC vs Singapore comparison covers the selection framework for senior professionals in detail.
FAQ
What is the VIFC visa (Vietnam IFC)?
The name VIFC visa is used informally for the VIFC-linked UD1 residence route. Decree 327/2025/NĐ-CP covers eligible foreign nationals connected to VIFC member organizations, with a residence ceiling of up to 10 years under its applicable categories. The filing route, evidence and actual period depend on authority instructions; it is not a general remote-work visa.
How does the VIFC visa differ from a standard UD1?
VIFC-linked UD1 can provide up to 10-year residence under Decree 327/2025/NĐ-CP, compared with the general route’s five-year ceiling. The filing channel and evidence differ, and Article 7(2)(a) of Decree 324/2025/NĐ-CP creates a separate, narrow PIT measure. Holding the residence card does not automatically establish tax qualification.
Who qualifies for a VIFC residence card?
Eligible foreign nationals connected to a VIFC member organization, including qualifying investors, managers, experts, scientists or highly qualified workers under the applicable rules, may be considered for the VIFC route. Actual category, evidence, filing channel and term require confirmation. It is not a general work permit and does not cover freelancers or a non-qualifying employer.
Does the VIFC visa grant a 0% personal income tax automatically?
No. Article 7(2)(a) of Decree 324/2025/NĐ-CP covers salary and wage income earned from work at the International Financial Center for qualifying managers, experts, scientists and individuals with high professional qualifications through the end of 2030. Article 7(2)(b) separately covers certain transfers to VIFC members. Residence does not itself establish tax qualification.
Where are the VIFC hubs located?
As of September 8, 2026, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang are the confirmed VIFC hubs in the reviewed framework. Other Vietnamese cities have not been confirmed as VIFC hubs in those sources.
Can an accompanying family member work under the VIFC exemption?
No automatic family work exemption is supported. Article 5(1) of Decree 325/2025/NĐ-CP expressly excludes accompanying family members from that category. A UD2 residence card does not establish work permission; any intended employment needs a separate assessment under the applicable rules.
Official sources
- Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15 — National Assembly
- Decree 327/2025/NĐ-CP — VIFC immigration
- Decree 324/2025/NĐ-CP — VIFC PIT exemption
- Decree 325/2025/NĐ-CP — VIFC labour and work-permit rules
- Decree 283/2026/NĐ-CP — updated labour penalties, effective September 10, 2026
- Decree 293/2026/NĐ-CP — Apostille implementation, effective September 11, 2026
For VIFC-specific questions, the VIFC FAQ covers concise answers across legal, work, residence, family, tax, and employer topics.
VietnamUD1Visa.com is an independent informational platform. It does not provide legal, tax, or immigration advice. Qualified users may be referred to licensed professionals for case-specific review.