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      The Government of Vietnam has issued new policies through several decrees and a resolution to attract highly qualified personnel to work at the International Financial Center (IFC), affecting labor, social security, personal income tax, and immigration procedures for both Vietnamese and foreign employees.

      These measures are detailed in Decree 325/2025/ND-CP,1 Decree 324/2025/ND-CP,2 Decree 327/2025/ND-CP,3 and Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15.4

      WHY THIS MATTERS

      The newly established incentives are designed to help support recruitment and retention of high-level talent by providing streamlined immigration, employment, and tax benefits for individuals working at the IFC in Vietnam. For employers, these measures may reduce administrative barriers, accelerate onboarding, and improve compliance certainty. For globally mobile employees, especially foreign nationals, the policies offer extended work authorization (up to ten years), eligibility for permanent residence, and significant personal income tax exemptions through 2030. 

      Key Highlights

      Labor and employment

      • No cap on foreign worker proportion at the IFC.
      • Eligible foreign nationals may receive work permits or exemptions valid for up to ten years.
      • Streamlined permit processes: some cases qualify for exemption; recruitment notification requirements waived; dossiers processed within three working days; the IFC’s specialized agencies now process applications.

      Social insurance, health and unemployment insurance

      • Foreign nationals otherwise ineligible for compulsory social insurance may opt in voluntarily.
      • Health insurance participation governed by existing law for both Vietnamese and foreign nationals.
      • Foreign nationals may voluntarily participate in unemployment insurance and receive equivalent benefits to Vietnamese.

      Personal Income Tax (PIT)

      • PIT exemption on salaries and wages for managers, experts, scientists, and highly qualified workers (Vietnamese and foreign nationals) at the IFC, effective until 31 December 2030, subject to meeting prescribed criteria.
      • PIT exemption for income from capital transfer activities related to shares and capital contributions, also until end of 2030.

      Immigration and residence

      • Eligible foreign nationals receive UD1 visa or temporary residence card for up to ten years; spouses and children under 18 are granted UD2 cards for equivalent durations.
      • Visa issuance process capped at three working days.
      • Permanent residence available for qualifying investors, experts, scientists, and long-term senior managers; applications processed within two months.
      • Priority immigration clearance and separate airport lanes established for IFC personnel in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.

      KPMG INSIGHTS

      The policies represent a shift in Vietnam’s approach to attracting foreign expertise by aligning the IFC’s employment, tax, and immigration regimes with international best practices. The extended work authorization and PIT exemptions may significantly lower the cost and complexity of deploying global talent to Vietnam’s IFC, while voluntary participation in social and unemployment insurance provides flexibility for internationally mobile employees.

      Organizations may wish to:

      • Review eligibility criteria and procedural requirements for accessing labor, tax, and immigration incentives for staff assigned to the IFC.
      • Establish compliance protocols to help support timely and accurate application for work permits, insurance participation, and tax exemption.
      • Monitor updates on implementing regulations and administrative guidance to maintain access to available benefits.

      If assignees and/or their programme managers have any questions or concerns about the scope of the changes, its application and potential impacts, and appropriate next steps, they should consult with their qualified immigration professionals with KPMG in Vietnam (see the Contacts section).

      ENDNOTES:

      1 Viet Nam International Financial Centre, Ho Chi Minh City (in Vietnamese), “Decree No. 325/2025/ND-CP,” published on 18 December 2025. 

      2 Government of Vietnam, Official Government Portal (Bao Chinh Phu), “Decree No. 324/2025/ND-CP,” published on 21 December 2025 (access to the site may be restricted).

      3 Government of Vietnam, Official Government Portal (Bao Chinh Phu), “Decree No. 327/2025/ND-CP,” published on 22 December 2025 (access to the site may be restricted).

      4 Viet Nam International Financial Centre, Ho Chi Minh City (in Vietnamese), “Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15,” published on 27 June 2025.

      RELATED RESOURCE:

      Also see the Tax and Legal Updates, released by KPMG in Vietnam (January 2026).

      Contacts

      duong-thuy-nguyen
      Duong Nguyen

      Director

      KPMG in Vietnam

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      Disclaimer

      * Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.

      The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Vietnam.

      GMS Flash Alert is a Global Mobility Services publication of the KPMG LLP Washington National Tax practice. The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee and does not provide services to clients. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

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