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Socialist Republic of Vietnam · study

Student / Intern Visa (DH)

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Visa for foreign students and interns enrolled with a Vietnamese educational institution or training programme.

Requires sponsorshipDoes not lead to permanent residencyAligned to the study or internship programme, with a temporary residence card available for the course length.
Processing time
Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official portal.
Government fees
Indicative only - government fees apply; confirm current amounts on the official page.
Typical duration
Aligned to the study or internship programme, with a temporary residence card available for the course length.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed Vietnam Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security) ↗

In short

As of 9 July 2026, the Student / Intern Visa (DH) for Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a sponsor-led Vietnam immigration route. Sources: official Socialist Republic of Vietnam government pages, reviewed 9 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/vietnam/student-visa-dh#answer

What is the Student / Intern Visa (DH) in Socialist Republic of Vietnam?

Student / Intern Visa (DH) is a sponsor-led Vietnam route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - government fees apply; confirm current amounts on the official page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official portal; typical duration is Aligned to the study or internship programme, with a temporary residence card available for the course length. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Vietnam Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security) on 1 June 2026.

Overview

The DH visa is issued to foreign students and interns coming to study or train at a Vietnamese educational institution or an organisation hosting an internship. The institution or host sponsors the application. Holders can usually obtain a temporary residence card aligned to the length of their programme and may sponsor certain family members on a dependent visa. It is a study and training route and is not in itself a settlement pathway.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm your institution or host is recognised and will sponsor your DH visa.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Obtain your admission or internship letter and sponsor documents and gather proof of funds.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    The institution or host sponsors the DH visa, and where eligible the temporary residence card, through the Immigration Department.

  4. After approval

    Enter Vietnam, obtain a residence card for the course length where eligible and renew while enrolled.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Student / Intern Visa (DH), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Coordinate enrolment and attendance with the institution. Check the actual work conditions before accepting a job or freelance work.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Student / Intern Visa (DH) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Vietnam

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Vietnam. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Use official Student / Intern Visa (DH) route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Student / Intern Visa (DH).

    Vietnam Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Can I work part-time on a DH student visa?+

The DH visa is granted for study or internship and does not carry open work rights; any work would generally need separate authorisation. Confirm the current conditions and any limits on the official immigration page.

Can I bring family on a DH visa?+

DH holders can in some cases sponsor certain family members on a dependent (TT) visa. Whether your relatives qualify depends on the rules, so confirm the current eligibility on the official immigration page.

After I graduate, can I switch from my DH student visa to a work visa in Vietnam?+

The DH visa is a study and training route and does not carry open work rights, so to work you would move onto the employer-sponsored LD work route, which requires a job offer from a Vietnamese employer plus a work permit from the labour authorities. Confirm the current process and any switching options on the official immigration page.

Does my time studying in Vietnam on a DH visa count toward permanent residence?+

No. The DH study or intern visa is not in itself a settlement pathway, so study time alone does not put you on the permanent-residence track; a later sponsored route such as the LD work visa can lead toward settlement instead. Confirm the qualifying conditions on the official immigration page.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Vietnam

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Vietnam Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security)

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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