Kingdom of Thailand 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:
Kingdom of Thailand
Thailand routes most long-stay foreigners through the Immigration Bureau and Thai embassies (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), with employment authorised separately by the Ministry of Labour's Department of Employment. The Board of Investment runs the higher-end Long-Term Resident (LTR) and SMART visa programmes, while the Non-Immigrant "B" plus work permit remains the standard employment route. Newer options include the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for remote workers and soft-power activities.
- Official portal
- Immigration Bureau (Thailand)
- Languages
- Thai
- Currency
- Thai baht
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 Kingdom of Thailand and Socialist Republic of Vietnam differ
| Dimension | Kingdom of Thailand | Socialist Republic of Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 6 | 8 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 5 | 4 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 0 | 5 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Non-Immigrant Visa "B" + Work Permit | Work Visa (LD) and Work Permit |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | Thai | Vietnamese |
| Currency | Thai baht | Vietnamese dong |
| Primary regulator | LCT | MoJ |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Routes unique to Kingdom of Thailand
Routes unique to Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Visa routes side by side
Kingdom of Thailand (6)
Non-Immigrant Visa "B" + Work Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Visa commonly issued for 90 days initially; work permit and stay extended in Thailand, typically year by year.
Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Long-term visa issued for up to 10 years (commonly in 5-year tranches); renewable subject to continued eligibility.
SMART Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Maximum four-year permission to stay, depending on the SMART type; renewable subject to continued eligibility.
Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Five-year multiple-entry visa; up to 180 days per entry, extendable once at an immigration office.
Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Retirement / Long Stay)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · One-year stay; renewable annually if the financial and other conditions continue to be met.
Non-Immigrant Visa "O" (Family / Spouse of Thai National)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Initial single-entry 90-day stay; extendable one year at a time at an immigration office.
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, Kingdom of Thailand or Socialist Republic of Vietnam?+
Kingdom of Thailand’s Non-Immigrant Visa "B" + Work Permit 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.
Does Kingdom of Thailand or Socialist Republic of Vietnam have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Kingdom of Thailand has more: 5 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 4 for Socialist Republic of Vietnam. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.