What is Vietnam Temporary Residence Card (TRC)?

According to the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014, temporary residence card is a document issued by an immigration authority or a competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, granted to foreigners who are allowed to reside for a certain period of time in Vietnam.

Why should you apply for Temporary Residence Card in Vietnam?

There are many benefits that holders of a Vietnam temporary residence card may have:

  • Foreigners who are granted temporary residence cards can buy apartments and in the near future may buy houses. At present, the Ministry of Construction is proposing that foreigners buy houses in Vietnam to resolve real estate issues.
  • Foreigners can stay in Vietnam for a period of time while their temporary residence card is still valid without having to leave Vietnam.
  • Foreigners save money due to not have to apply for visa extension many times and save the travel costs
  • Foreigners can carry out business procedures, get married… very conveniently.

Who can apply for a temporary residence card in Vietnam

The following people can apply for a temporary residence card in Vietnam:

  • A foreigner who has Vietnam work permit which is valid for at least 12 months at time of applying for the temporary residence card.
  • Foreigners who are members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations affiliated to the United Nations, intergovernmental organizations in Vietnam and their spouses, children under 18 years of age, housemaids who are accompanied by the term of office, are granted temporary residence card with symbol NG3.
  • Foreigners who are granted with LV1, LV2, ĐT, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LD, TT visas are granted temporary residence cards with symbols similar to the visa symbols. The Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 has defined new types of symbols and duration of each type of visa symbols for foreigners in Vietnam.

Requirements and conditions for temporary residence card

  • Foreigners must temporarily stay for 1 year or more in Vietnam
  • The passport is valid for at least 13 months.

Required Documents for Applying for Vietnam Temporary Residence Card

  1. A written request for issuance of  temporary residence card for the foreigner by the guarantor (Form NA6 for agencies, organizations; Form NA7 for individuals)
  2. Information form for temporary residence card attached with photo 3cm x 4cm (Form NA8)
  3. Copy of passport and a valid visa (bring an original for comparison);
  4. 02 3*4cm photos (01 one to attach to the Information form, 01 one is kept separately)
  5. Depending on the circumstances, one of the following is required:
  6. 01 copy of Business Registration Certificate of the legal entity of guaranteeing agency, organization, or enterprise.
  7. Work permit or work permit exemption certificate;
  8. If applying for a temporary residence card in Vietnam without work permit:
  9. Investment certificate
  10. License for establishment of representative office, branch of the company
  11. Certificate of a member of the Board of Directors
  12. Birth certificate, marriage certificate, family register… if applying for temporary residence card for husband, wife, child… who are foreigners
  13. Proof of temporary residence declaration or Certification of temporary residence in the locality with the seal of the Commune Police

Note: Consular legalization and notarized translation into Vietnamese are necessary for all documents in a foreign language.

Validity of Temporary Residence Card

  • The validity of the temporary residence card in Vietnam is at least 30 days shorter than the remaining duration of the passport.
  • The temporary residence cards with the symbol ĐT1 are valid for no more than 10 years.
  • The temporary residence cards with the symbols NG3, LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT2 and DH are valid for no more than 05 years
  • The temporary residence cards with symbols NN1, NN2, ĐT3 and TT are valid for not more than 03 years.
  • The temporary residence cards with symbols LĐ1, LĐ2  and PV1 are valid for no more than 02 years.
  • Expired temporary resident cards are considered for issuing new ones.

How to Extend Vietnam Temporary Residence Card

Foreigners can extend their temporary residence card in Vietnam upon its expiry by:

  • Preparing the following documents:
    • Application form for visa issuance, stay extension (Form NA5)
    • Passport
  • Following the same procedure to get a new temporary residence card as mentioned above.

The Vietnam temporary residence card extension fee is US $10 and processing time is 5 working days after receiving full documents.