Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka vs Socialist Republic of Vietnam
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka administers visas through the Department of Immigration and Emigration, with employment, investor and approved-project residence visas, the My Dream Home long-stay route for retirees, and a new Digital Nomad Visa launched in 2026. Sri Lanka does not offer a permanent-residence or citizenship-by-residence pathway - its long-stay visas are renewable but always temporary.
- Official portal
- Department of Immigration and Emigration (Sri Lanka)
- Languages
- Sinhala, Tamil
- Currency
- Sri Lankan rupee
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Vietnam's Immigration Department, under the Ministry of Public Security, issues visas and residence cards, with employment authorised separately by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA). Headline routes are the employer work visa plus work permit, the tiered DT investor visas, the Temporary and Permanent Residence Cards, and a five-year Talent Visa launched in 2025; a proposed ten-year Golden Visa has been announced but is not yet in force.
- Official portal
- Vietnam Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security)
- Languages
- Vietnamese
- Currency
- Vietnamese dong
How Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Socialist Republic of Vietnam differ
| Dimension | Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka | Socialist Republic of Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 6 | 8 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 4 | 4 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 0 | 5 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Residence Visa (Employment Category) | Work Visa (LD) and Work Permit |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | Sinhala, Tamil | Vietnamese |
| Currency | Sri Lankan rupee | Vietnamese dong |
| Primary regulator | BASL | MoJ |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 1 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Residence Visa (Employment Category)
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- No
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Work Visa (LD) and Work Permit
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Recent policy activity
Last 6 months. Each entry links to its primary government source.
- 1 February 2026Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka launches a Digital Nomad Visa
Sri Lanka introduced a Digital Nomad Visa in February 2026 for remote workers earning income from outside the country.
Department of Immigration and Emigration (Sri Lanka) →
Routes unique to Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Routes unique to Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Visa routes side by side
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (6)
Residence Visa (Employment Category)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Generally issued for one year (or the period a competent authority recommends) and renewable annually.
Digital Nomad Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to one year, renewable annually while you continue to meet the eligibility and compliance conditions; later renewals may require proof of Sri Lankan tax registration.
My Dream Home Visa Programme (retirement / long-stay residence)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Issued in two-year blocks and renewable while you continue to meet the conditions.
Residence Visa (Investor Category)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Tied to the approved investment; generally issued for a defined period and renewable while the investment and your involvement continue.
Residence Visa (Approved-Project / BOI Professional)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Generally tied to the project or the period recommended by a competent authority, and renewable while that continues.
Visit Visa (Business Purpose)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Short-stay visitor visa for the duration of the business trip; not a residence permit.
Socialist Republic of Vietnam (8)
Work Visa (LD) and Work Permit
Sponsor · To settlement · Work permits are commonly issued for up to about two years, with the LD visa and any residence card aligned to the permit.
Investor Visa (DT1-DT4)
No sponsor · To settlement · Validity rises with the tier - the highest tiers run for several years, while the lowest tier is shorter; residence cards align to the tier.
Temporary Residence Card (TRC)
Sponsor · To settlement · Issued for a multi-year period aligned to the underlying status (commonly up to two or three years), renewable.
Permanent Residence Card
No sponsor · To settlement · Long-term permanent residence, with the card periodically renewed as an identity document.
Family / Dependent Visa (TT)
Sponsor · To settlement · Aligned to the sponsor's status, with a temporary residence card commonly available for a multi-year period.
E-visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Issued for a limited maximum period per entry, with single or multiple-entry options.
5-year Talent Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · A five-year multiple-entry facility, with a capped stay per entry under the scheme terms.
Student / Intern Visa (DH)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Aligned to the study or internship programme, with a temporary residence card available for the course length.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka or Socialist Republic of Vietnam?+
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka’s Residence Visa (Employment Category) is the dominant skilled route; Socialist Republic of Vietnam’s Work Visa (LD) and Work Permit is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Which immigration system has changed more recently, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka or Socialist Republic of Vietnam?+
In the last 6 months: 1 logged policy change for Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, 0 for Socialist Republic of Vietnam. See the recent-policy section above for the details, each linked to its primary source.