Temporary Residence Card (TRC) for foreigners

In the process of economic integration and extensive cultural exchange, more and more foreigners conduct business activities and reside in the territory of Vietnam. Foreigners who want to stay for a long time in Vietnam to carry out their investment, business, diplomatic missions, etc. must apply for a temporary residence card. The following article will provide some information about temporary residence cards for foreigners in Vietnam.

What is Temporay Residence Card?

According to Clause 12 Article 3 Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Viet Nam: “Temporary residence card is a document issued by an immigration authority or a competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a foreigner who is permitted to reside in Vietnam for a certain period of time. This card has the same validity as a visa.”

Unlike a visa, a temporary residence card has a longer duration, usually issued with a term of 1 to 5 years. Foreigners with a temporary residence card shall be granted visa-free and can enter and exit as many time as they need in the duration of the card without carrying out procedure for visa application. In addition, temporary residence card holders can also sponsor their relatives to enter Vietnam corresponding to the duration of the card.

Cases in which temporary residence cards are issued and duration of TRC

It stipulates in Article Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Viet Nam that: 

• Foreigners being members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations of the UN, intergovernmental organizations in Vietnam, their spouses, children under 18 years of age, and housemaid that go along during their term of office shall be issued with temporary residence cards with the symbol NG3.
• Foreigners issued with LV1, LV2, ĐT, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ, TT visas shall be issued with temporary residence cards with the same symbols.

Regarding to duration of temporary residence card, Article 38 Law on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Viet Nam amend in 2019 provides as follow:

• Validity of issued temporary resident cards shall be at least 30 days shorter than remaining validity of passports.
• Validity of DT1 temporary residence cards does not exceed 10 years.
• Validity of NG3, LV1, LV2, LS, DT2 and DH temporary residence cards do not exceed 5 years.
• Validity of NN1, NN2, DT3 and TT temporary residence cards do not exceed 3 years.
• Validity of LD1, LD2 and PV1 temporary residence cards do not exceed 2 years.
• An expired temporary resident card shall be considered for issuance a new.

Conditions for being granted a temporary residence card

• The validity of the foreigner’s passport shall be at least 13 months (In case the passport has duration for 13 months, the Immigration Authority will issue a temporary residence card with a maximum validity of 12 months).
• Foreigners must complete procedures for declaration of temporary residence at the commune or ward police station or register online according to regulations.

An application for the temporary residence

Article 37 Law on on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Viet Nam, the dossier consists of:

• A written request from the inviting entity;
• A declaration bearing a picture;
• The passport;
• Papers proving the status mentioned in Clause Article 36 of this Law.

Depending on the subject who applies the application for a temporary residence card, the proofs will be different.

Procedures for issuance of temporary residence card

Step 1: Agencies, organizations and individuals directly inviting or sponsoring shall submit application for issuance of temporary resident cards for foreigners specified in Point b Clause 1 Article 36 of this law at immigration authorities where the inviting or sponsoring agencies or organizations are based or where the inviting or sponsoring individuals reside

The immigration authority shall receive and check the legitimacy of the application

• If the application is sufficient, accurate and legitimate, the competent authority shall give the receipt to person who submits the application
• If the application is not satisfactory, the competent authority shall inform and instruct to amend or supplement the application.

Step 2: Within 05 working days from the receipt of sufficient documents, the immigration authority or the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall consider issuing the temporary residence card.

Fees for issuance of Temporary Residence Card

Pursuant to Circular No. 25/2021/TT-BTC, Fees for issuance of Temporary Residence Card are provided as follows:

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