1. What is Temporary Resident Card?

According to the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners 2014 in Vietnam , Temporary Resident Card (TRC) is an official document issued by the Immigration Authority or a competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, granted to foreigners who are permitted to reside in Vietnam for a specified duration.

The TRC serves as a long-term visa for foreigners staying in Vietnam, allowing them to legally reside for an extended duration, typically ranging from 1 to 5 years, but at least 30 days shorter than the validity of their passport.

2. What are the benefits of Vietnam Temporary Resident Card?

Continuous stay: With a TRC, foreigners can remain in Vietnam for the entire duration of the card's validity without the necessity of leaving the country for visa renewals.

Cost savings: The TRC removes the requirement for frequent visa extensions, resulting in savings of both time and travel expenses.

Sponsoring family members: TRC holders have the right to sponsor their spouse and children under 18 years old to visit or live with them in Vietnam, provided the TRC remains valid and the sponsoring organization or agency agrees.

Convenience in daily life: TRC holders can access essential services such as opening bank accounts, obtaining driver's licenses, investing and getting marriage, etc, which are often restricted for those on tourist visas.

3. Who can apply for Vietnam Temporary Resident Card?

Not all foreigners residing in Vietnam are eligible to be granted a Temporary Resident Card. According to Article 36 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014, the following individuals are eligible to apply for a TRC in Vietnam:

• Members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, and representative offices of international organizations affiliated with the United Nations or intergovernmental organizations in Vietnam, along with their spouses, children under 18 years old, and accompanying domestic workers during their term of office.
• Foreigners entering Vietnam with visas bearing the following symbols: LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LD1, LD2, TT.

​Below is a detailed list of individuals who qualify for the issuance of a TRC, along with the types of TRCs and their specific validity periods:

Note:

• The TRC issued will only be valid if its duration is at least 30 days shorter than the remaining validity of the passport.
• Foreigners whose TRCs have expired will be eligible to apply for a new card.

4. What are the conditions to apply for Vietnam Temporary Resident Card?

To apply for TRC in Vietnam, foreigners must meet the following conditions:

• The passport must be valid for at least 13 months. If the passport is only valid for 13 months, the Immigration Department will issue a TRC with a maximum validity of 12 months.
• Foreigners must complete the temporary residence registration procedure at the local police station according to regulations.

The following individuals are not eligible to be issued a TRC in Vietnam:

• Being pursued for criminal liability or being a party to civil, economic, or labor disputes;
• Having obligations to enforce criminal judgments;
• Having obligations to enforce civil or economic judgments;
• Having obligations to comply with administrative penalties, tax obligations, and other financial obligations.

5. What are the required documents for Vietnam Temporary Resident Card?

(1) A written request for issuance of TRC for the foreigner by the guarantor;

• For agencies, organizations: Form NA6
• For individuals: Form NA7

(2) Declaration form requesting TRC for foreigners with photo (Form NA8);

(3) Original passport and visa (passport valid for at least 13 months and Vietnam entry visa for the intended purpose);

(4) 02 photos 2*3cm;

(5) Temporary residence registration confirmation of a foreigner, confirmed by the Ward/ Commune Police.

(6) Depending on the circumstances, the following documents is required:

For a foreigner married to a Vietnamese citizen

The following documents need to be supplemented:

• Notarized copy of the Marriage Certificate issued in Vietnam or a consular legalized copy of the Marriage Certificate note in Vietnam for cases where the marriage was registered abroad;
• Notarized copy of the Vietnamese spouse's ID card (CCCD).

For a foreign investor in Vietnam

The following documents need to be supplemented:

• Notarized copy of the Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC) or Investment Registration Certificate (IRC), clearly stating the foreign investor's capital contribution;
• Certificate of registration of the company's seal or a written notification about the publication of the company's seal information on the national business registration portal;
• Letter of introduction for the Vietnamese employee to handle the procedure for applying for a temporary residence card at the Immigration Department.

For the spouse or child of a foreigner

The following documents need to be supplemented:

• Birth certificate for children, Marriage Certificate for spouses, Family Relationship Certificate;
• Notarized copy of the ID card/Passport of the sponsoring person.

For a foreigner with a work permit or exemption from a work permit in Vietnam

The following documents need to be supplemented:

• Notarized copy of the Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC) or Investment Registration Certificate (IRC), or registration of a representative office or branch, depending on the type of business;
• Certificate of registration of the company's seal or a written notification about the publication of the company's seal information on the national business registration portal;
• Notarized copy of the Work Permit or Exemption from Work Permit for the foreign employee, with a validity of at least 12 months.

Note: All documents in a foreign language must be legalized and notarized into Vietnamese.

6. How to get  Vietnam Temporary Resident Card?

Step 1: Prepare the documents

Entities, organizations, or individuals submitting applications to sponsor foreigners for a temporary resident card must prepare a complete and valid set of documents according to each specific case as outlined in Section 5.

Step 2: Submit the application

Applications for sponsoring foreigners for a temporary resident card are submitted to the Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security, or the Immigration Office of the Provincial Police Department in the province or city where the sponsoring entity is headquartered or where the foreigner resides.

Contact information:

• In Hanoi:
  • Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security
  • Address: 44-46 Tran Phu, Dien Bien Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi City.
  • Phone: 024 38257941
• In Ho Chi Minh City:
  • Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security
  • Address: 337 Nguyen Trai, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Phone: 028 39202300
• In Da Nang:
  • Immigration Office – Da Nang City Police Department
  • Address: 78 Le Loi, Thach Thang Ward, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City.

Time for submission: Mornings, Monday to Saturday (except public holidays)

Officials responsible for receiving applications will review the legality and content of the submitted documents:

• If the documents are complete and valid, the official will give a receipt of an appointment.
• If the documents are not yet enough, the official will guide the applicant to complete the application.

The processing time of a request for a temporary resident card for foreigners in Vietnam is 05 working days from the date of receiving full documents.

Step 3: Receive the result

On the appointment date indicated on the receipt, applicants are required to bring the receipt, and ID card/passport to present to the official who will check and verify their documents.

If the result of the temporary resident card application is approved, applicants will need to pay the fee, then sign and receive the result (regardless of whether the temporary resident card is issued or not)

7. What is the State fee for applying for a Vietnam Temporary Resident Card?

Fees for temporary resident card are determined on a case-by-case basis, specifically as follows:

• Temporary resident card with a validity of no more than 02 years: 145 USD/card.
• Temporary resident card with a validity of more than 02 years to 05 years: 155 USD/card.
• Temporary resident card with a validity of more than 05 years to 10 years: 165 USD/card.

8. Phong & Partners law firm specializes in legal consulting regarding Vietnam Temporary resident card for foreigners

 A temporary resident card not only grants residency rights to foreigners but also opens up numerous opportunities for networking, working, and investing in Vietnam. To ensure rights and avoid unnecessary legal complications, seeking advice from legal experts is essential. With a team of experienced lawyers, our firm is committed to assisting clients in understanding the legal regulations related to temporary resident card and guiding them through the application process efficiently and effectively. Phong & Partners Law Firm proudly serves as a reliable address for those seeking assistance in obtaining temporary resident card in Vietnam.

Phong & Partners Law Firm offers comprehensive services related to consultation, document preparation, and representation for procedures concerning temporary resident cards, including but not limited to the following tasks:

• Consulting on legal regulations regarding temporary resident cards for foreigners.
• Guiding clients in preparing necessary documents for applying for temporary resident cards for foreign workers.
• Supporting in translating, notarizing, and legalizing documents used for applying for temporary resident cards.
• Completing the application file for obtaining a temporary resident card in Vietnam for clients.
• Representing clients in the procedure to obtain a temporary resident card at the competent state authorities.
• Advising on legal regulations related to the procedures for issuing temporary resident cards for foreigners, including work permit issuance procedures; confirming that workers do not require work permits; visa application procedures in Vietnam….
• Providing other legal services as requested by clients.

9. FAQ

a. How can I extend Vietnam Temporary Resident Card?

Depending on the type of temporary resident card for foreigners, the validity period varies but does not exceed 10 years. However, when the temporary resident card expires, foreigners who wish to continue residing in Vietnam can apply for a new card.

Documents and procedures for issuing a new card are carried out in accordance with Sections 5 and 6 of this article.

b. What to do if I lost my Vietnam Temporary Resident Card?

Reporting the loss: Go to the local police department where you reside to report the loss of your temporary resident card. The police will issue a "Temporary Residence Card Lost Report," which is essential for the reissuance process.

Gathering required documents: Prepare the necessary documents as instructed in Section 5 to apply for the reissuance of temporary resident card.

Submitting your application: Once all necessary documents have been gathered, submit the application to the Immigration Department in the province or city where you reside.

The processing time for issuing a new temporary resident card typically ranges from 5 to 14 working days.

Collecting your new card: Once processed, you will be notified to collect your new temporary resident card.