A VCSEL may include an n-type substrate layer and an n-type bottom mirror on a surface of the n-type substrate layer. The VCSEL may include an active region on the n-type bottom mirror and a p-type layer on the active region. The VCSEL may include an oxidation layer over the active region to provide optical and electrical confinement of the VCSEL. The VCSEL may include a tunnel junction over the p-type layer to reverse a carrier type of an n-type top mirror. Either the oxidation layer is on or in the p-type layer and the tunnel junction is on the oxidation layer, or the tunnel junction is on the p-type layer and the oxidation layer is on the tunnel junction. The VCSEL may include the n-type top mirror over the tunnel junction, a top contact layer over the n-type top mirror, and a top metal on the top contact layer.