1. Conditions for entry
According to Clause 11 Article 1 of Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam amended on 2019:
- A foreigner shall be permitted for entry if he/she:
- possesses a passport or documents enabling international travel, except for cases of visa-free entry as specified in this Law.
Passport of a foreigner wishing to make entry in form of unilateral visa-free must be valid at least for 6 months; and
- is not subject to cases of entry suspension specified in Article 21 of Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014.
- A foreigner making entry on electronic visas must fully satisfy all conditions specified in Clause 1 of this Article and make entry via International border checkpoints decided by the Government
2. Conditions and procedures for temporary residence in Vietnam
2.1. Conditions for temporary residence card in Vietnam
In order to apply for a temporary residence card in Vietnam, a foreigner must satisfy the following conditions:
- Foreigners who are permitted to reside indefinitely in Vietnam according to Clause 14, Article 1 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam amended on 2019;
- Passport is valid for at least 13 months;
- Visa category of LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1, LĐ2 will be considered for temporary residence card with the same category;
- Foreigners must have certification of temporary residence of the Ward Police.
The following persons are not eligible to be issued a temporary residence card in Vietnam:
- Being in the criminal prosecution or being the defendant in civil, economic and labor disputes;
- Being obliged to serve criminal judgments;
- Being obliged to serve civil, economic judgments;
- Being obliged to comply with decisions on sanctioning administrative violations, tax payment and other financial obligations.
2.2. Procedures for temporary residence application
Step 1: Applying profile
Preparing a complete profiles as prescribed and applying to the Immigration Authority where the inviting or guaranteeing agency or organization is located, or where the inviting or guaranteeing individual resides. Composition profile:
- Written request of the agency, organization or individual that carry out the procedures for invitation or guarantee;
- An application form for temporary residence card with photo;
- Passport;
- Papers proving that he/she is subject to the cases specified in Article 36 of Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014.
Step 2: Receiving the profile, checking its legality and content
The Immigration Authority receives and checks the profile. The officer will instruct the applicant to supplement profile if it is not valid; or receive it and give a receipt to the applicant if it is complete and valid. Processing time will be 05 working days from the date of receipt of complete profile.
Step 3: Getting result
The person who comes to get the result will give the receipt, ID cards or passport to the officer for comparison. If it is full and right, the officer will ask him/her to pay charge, sign for receiving before giving the temporary residence card to him/her.
3. Conditions and procedures for consideration for permanent residence in Vietnam
3.1. Cases are considered for permanent residence
In accordance with Article 39 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam amended on 2019, the cases are as follows:
1. Foreigners who have contributed to the development and protection of Vietnam and are awarded medals or titles by Vietnam’s government.
2. Foreigners who are scientists or experts temporarily residing in Vietnam.
3. Any foreigner sponsored by his parents, spouse, or child who is a Vietnamese citizen and has a permanent residence in Vietnam.
4. Any person without nationalities who has had a temporary residence in Vietnam from 2000 or earlier.
3.2. Conditions for permanent residence
In accordance with Article 40 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam amended on 2019, the conditions are as follows:
1. Foreigners mentioned in Article 39 of this Law are considered for permanent residence if they have a legitimate residence and have a stable income to ensure life in Vietnam.
2. Foreigners mentioned in Clause 2 Article 39 of this Law must be proposed by the Ministers, Heads of ministerial agencies or Governmental agencies in corresponding fields.
3. Foreigners mentioned in Clause 3 Article 39 of this Law who have had a temporary residence in Vietnam for 03 consecutive years or more.
4. Procedure for permanent residence
Step 1: Applying profile
Foreigners prepare all the required profile as prescribed and apply to the Immigration, including:
- Application for permanent residence;
- A criminal record issued by a competent authority of the country of which that person is a citizen;
- The diplomatic note of the representative agency of the country of which that person is a citizen, requesting Vietnam to grant permanent residence status that person;
- Certified copy of passport;
- Papers proving the eligibility to be considered for permanent residence;
- Guarantee papers for foreigners.
Step 2: Receiving profile and considering permanent residence for foreigners
Within 4 months after receiving a complete profile, the Minister of Ministry of Public Security shall consider and decide to issue permanent residence status; in case of a required further verification, it may be extended for no more than 2 months.
Step 3: Notification of processing results
The Immigration authority shall be responsible to notify in writing the processing results to the applicant and the provincial Police of the locality where the foreigner applies for permanent residence.
Within 05 working days from receiving the notice from the Immigration authority, the provincial Police of the locality where the foreigner applies for permanent residence shall notify the foreigner of the accepted permanent residence status.
Within 03 months after receiving the notice on issuing permanent residence status, the foreigner must go to the Immigration under the provincial Police to receive the permanent residence card.
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