Conditions For Obtaining Temporary Residence Cards For Foreigners In Vietnam

In the context of deepening international integration, Vietnam has become an attractive destination for foreigners, ranging from investors, experts, and employees to individuals wishing to live and work long-term. To legalise their residence in Vietnam, a temporary residence card is one of the indispensable documents, offering numerous benefits such as visa exemption, convenient travel, and assurance of lawful residency. The temporary residence card not only allows foreigners to reside legally for an extended period but also helps them save time and costs by eliminating the need for frequent visa renewals.

However, many foreigners or sponsoring businesses face difficulties in understanding and complying with legal requirements. The Article Conditions For Obtaining Temporary Residence Cards For Foreigners In Vietnam will provide a comprehensive and detailed overview of the conditions for applying for a temporary residence card, including the eligible groups, card validity, and key considerations, offering useful information to save time and minimise legal risks.

What is a temporary residence card?

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.

Cases of being granted a temporary residence card

Conditions For Obtaining Temporary Residence Cards For Foreigners In Vietnam depend on specific cases and are governed by relevant legal regulations. Cases of being granted a temporary residence card include:

a) Foreigners who are members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organisations of the United Nations, intergovernmental organisations in Vietnam and their spouses, children under 18 years of age, and maids accompanying them for a term of office;

b) Foreigners entering Vietnam with visas with the symbols LV1, LV2, LS, DT1, DT2, DT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LD1, LD2, TT; includes groups with corresponding symbols as follows:

• LV1 – People who come to work with departments, agencies and units under the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam; The National Assembly, the Government, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the State Audit Office, ministries, ministerial-level agencies and agencies attached to the Government; provincial Party Committees, city Party Committees, People’s Councils, People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities.
• LV2 – People who come to work with socio-political organisations, social organisations, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• LS – Issued to foreign lawyers practising in Vietnam.
• DT1 – Foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organisations investing in Vietnam with contributed capital of VND 100 billion or more or investing in industries and trades eligible for investment incentives or geographical areas eligible for investment incentives decided by the Government.
• DT2 – Foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organisations investing in Vietnam with contributed capital valued at between VND 50 billion and less than VND 100 billion or investing in industries and trades encouraged for development investment decided by the Government.
• DT3 – Foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organisations investing in Vietnam with contributed capital valued between VND 3 billion and less than VND 50 billion.
• NN1 – Person who is the Head of Representative Office, a project of an international organisation or foreign non-governmental organisation in Vietnam.
• NN2 – Heads of representative offices, branches of foreign traders, and representative offices of other foreign economic, cultural and professional organisations in Vietnam.
• DH – People who enter internships and studies.
• PV1 – Reporter and press resident in Vietnam.
• LD1 – Foreigners working in Vietnam who have certified that they are not subject to work permits unless otherwise provided for by international treaties to which Vietnam is a signatory.
• LD2 – Foreigners working in Vietnam are required to have a work permit.
• TT – Foreigners who are spouses or children under 18 years old of foreigners who are granted visas with the symbols LV1, LV2, LS, DT1, DT2, DT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LD1, LD2 or foreigners who are parents, spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens.

Cases of not being granted a temporary residence card are cases in which foreigners use short-term visas and do not meet the conditions for being granted a temporary residence card for long-term work and study needs in Vietnam.

Procedures for applying for temporary residence cards for foreigners in Vietnam

Conditions For Obtaining Temporary Residence Cards For Foreigners In Vietnam

The specific time limit will be determined in accordance with the purpose of entry of foreigners as well as at the request of the guarantor agency, organisation or individual. However, to ensure validity, the validity of a temporary residence card lasting from 01 year to 05 years must always be at least 30 days shorter than the remaining validity of the passport. Therefore, in case a foreigner wants to apply for a temporary residence card with a long period but the passport period is still short, foreigners should carry out passport replacement procedures before applying for a temporary residence card.

Cases in which foreigners may be forced to leave the country and no longer be granted temporary residence cards include:

• The temporary residence period had expired but did not leave the country;
• For reasons of national defence, security, social order and safety.

Procedures for applying for a temporary residence card

After meeting all  the Conditions For Obtaining Temporary Residence Cards For Foreigners In Vietnam, foreigners take the following steps to carry out the procedures for applying for a temporary residence card:

• Step 1: Prepare a complete dossier in accordance with the law.
• Step 2: Submit the dossier to the Immigration Management Agency of the provincial-level Police where the inviting or sponsoring agency or organisation is headquartered or where the inviting or sponsoring individual resides. Or submit the dossier online via the National Public Service Portal or the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Public Security and send additional dossiers via public postal service according to the notice of the Immigration Department on the National Public Service Portal or the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Public Security (if any).
• Step 3: In case the dossier is valid after being inspected by the officer, the foreigner will receive a receipt. In case the dossier is invalid, the foreigner shall supplement the dossier completely.
• Step 4: Pay the fee and receive the result

The above is an overview of the Conditions For Obtaining Temporary Residence Cards For 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.