Procedure And Timeline For Issuing Temporary Residence Cards To Foreigners In Vietnam

With its robust economic growth and increasingly welcoming living environment, Vietnam has become an ideal destination for foreigners to work, invest, and settle long-term. In this context, the temporary residence card is not only a necessary legal document but also a key to unlocking numerous benefits in terms of residency and mobility.

The procedure for issuing temporary residence cards can sometimes be overwhelming for foreigners or sponsoring organisations, given the complex legal regulations and procedural requirements. To provide clarity, the article Procedure And Timeline For Issuing Temporary Residence Cards To Foreigners In Vietnam outlines in detail the steps involved, processing times, and important considerations when applying for a temporary residence card in Vietnam. With this information, foreigners can confidently complete the procedures efficiently and avoid unnecessary complications.

Procedure And Timeline For Issuing Temporary Residence Cards To Foreigners In Vietnam

The procedure for issuing temporary residence card for foreigners in Vietnam will include the following basic steps:

Submission authorities

After completing the required documents, foreigners need to submit their application to the diplomatic missions, consular offices, or other authorised agencies of their country in Vietnam. For NG3 temporary residence cards, the application is submitted to the competent authorities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Agencies, organisations and individuals inviting or sponsoring foreigners eligible for visa categories LV1, LV2, ĐT, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LD1, LD2, LS, or TT can submit the application to the Immigration Department where the inviting organisation is based or where the sponsor resides.

Foreigners wishing to submit their applications online can do so via the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal. Supporting documents can be sent through public postal services as instructed by the Immigration Department (if any).

Application submission review

If the application is complete and valid, the application submitter shall print and issue an appointment letter to return the result to the application submitter; and request to pay fees to toll collectors. The fee collector shall hand over the receipt of money collection to the applicant for a temporary residence card or notify on the National Public Service Portal or the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Public Security requesting the issuance of a temporary residence card for online payment and receiving electronic receipts.

If the application is missing or invalid, the application submitter shall guide or notify on the National Public Service Portal or the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Public Security for the submitter to complete the application.

In case of ineligibility and refusal to receive the application, the officer will reply in writing or notice on the National Public Service Portal or the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Public Security and clearly state the reason.

Fee payment

The fee for issuance of temporary residence cards to foreigners in Vietnam for each type of temporary residence card is as follows:

• Temporary residence card with a term of not more than 02 years: 145 USD/card.
• Temporary residence card with a term of more than 02 years to 05 years: 155 USD/card.
• Temporary residence card with a term of over 05 years to 10 years: 165 USD/card.

Cases exempt from temporary residence card fees

Pursuant to Article 5 of Circular No. 25/2021/TT-BTC stipulating the collection rate, regime of collection, remittance, management and use of charges and fees in the field of exit, entry, transit and residence in Vietnam, the following cases are exempt:

• Guests (including spouses and children) of the Party, the State, the Government or the National Assembly or of leaders of the Party, the State, the Government or the National Assembly are invited as individuals.
• Officials and employees of diplomatic missions, foreign consulates and representative offices of international organisations in Vietnam and members of their families (spouses and children under 18 years of age), regardless of passport type, are not Vietnamese citizens and do not permanently reside in Vietnam are not required to pay fees on the basis of travel there is a return.
• In case of exemption under international treaties which Vietnam has signed or acceded to or on the principle of reciprocity.
• Foreigners enter Vietnam to perform relief work or humanitarian assistance for Vietnamese organisations and individuals.
• Foreigners entering Vietnam to carry out relief work or provide humanitarian assistance to Vietnamese organisations or individuals.
• Fees are waived for issuing visas or temporary residence cards to foreigners in Vietnam who violate the law but lack financial means, and whose home country’s representative agency either refuses to bear the costs or does not have a representative agency in Vietnam.
• The determination of whether foreigners in Vietnam who violate the law are eligible for fee exemption in such cases is at the discretion of the fee-collecting organisation. This organisation must review and decide on a case-by-case basis and take full responsibility in accordance with legal regulations.

In the above-mentioned cases of fee exemption, the fee-collecting organisation must affix the stamp “Fee exemption” (GRATIC) on the issued papers.

Time for issuance of temporary residence cards

Within 05 working days from the date of receipt of a complete application, the immigration authority or a competent agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall consider granting a temporary residence card.

Return results

The applicant for a temporary residence card directly receives the result at the Immigration Management Agency of the Provincial Police. When coming to receive the results, bring an appointment to return the results, identity papers, and receipts for comparison. In case of requesting the receipt of results via postal services, the guidance of the public-utility postal service provider shall be complied with.

In case the temporary residence card cannot be issued to foreigners, the officer will reply in writing or notify on the National Public Service Portal or the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Public Security and clearly state the reason.

Validity of temporary residence card

After completing the Procedure And Timeline For Issuing Temporary Residence Cards To Foreigners In Vietnam, the foreigners will be issued a Temporary Residence Card, which can be used to reside legally in Vietnam for a specified period. Depending on the type of Temporary Residence Card, identified by different symbols, the duration of validity will vary.

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 38 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 amended and supplemented in Clause 16, Article 1 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam amended in 2019, the validity period of temporary residence cards for foreigners is as follows:

• The duration of the temporary residence card issued is at least 30 days shorter than the remaining period of the passport, but not shorter than one year.
• Temporary residence cards with the symbol DT1 are valid for no more than 10 years.
• Temporary residence cards with the symbols NG3, LV1, LV2, LS, DT2 and DH are valid for no more than 05 years.
• Temporary residence cards with the symbols NN1, NN2, DT3, TT are valid for no more than 03 years.
• Temporary residence cards with the symbols LD1, LD2 and PV1 are valid for no more than 02 years.
• An expired temporary residence card shall be considered for issuance of a new card.

The above is an overview of the Procedure And Timeline For Issuing Temporary Residence Cards To Foreigners In Vietnam. If you have difficulties in finding a Law Firm to advise and support in the relevant legal field, please contact us. Phuoc & Partners is a professional consulting firm established in Vietnam and currently has nearly 100 members working in three offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Danang. Phuoc & Partners is also rated as one of the leading consulting firms in Vietnam with highly specialised teams in top legal fields such as Labour and Employment, Taxation, Merger and acquisition, Litigation. We are confident in providing customers with optimal and effective service.