Việt Nam
Chinese
Key points
Foreigners temporarily residing in Vietnam under visa symbols LV1, LV2, LS, DT1, DT2, DT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LD1, LD2, TT, UD1 and UD2 are eligible for a temporary residence card (TRC) under Article 36 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam. The sponsoring company or individual files the application with the immigration authority; the card is considered within 05 working days (Article 37). Validity ranges from 02 to 10 years depending on the symbol (Article 38, as amended by Law No. 118/2025/QH15 from 1 July 2026); the fee is USD 145–165 per card.
1. What a temporary residence card is and who qualifies
A temporary residence card is a document issued by the immigration authority or the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a foreigner permitted to reside in Vietnam for a definite term; it has the same value as a visa (Clause 13, Article 3 of Law No. 47/2014/QH13, as amended by Law No. 51/2019/QH14, Law No. 23/2023/QH15 and Law No. 118/2025/QH15). During its validity the holder may enter and exit Vietnam without applying for a visa or extending temporary stay after each entry.
Under Article 36, two groups qualify: (a) members of diplomatic missions, consular posts and UN or intergovernmental organisations, together with their spouses, children under 18 and accompanying domestic staff (card symbol NG3); and (b) foreigners temporarily residing in Vietnam who fall under visa symbols LV1, LV2, LS, DT1, DT2, DT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LD1, LD2, TT, UD1 and UD2. The card carries the same symbol as the corresponding visa.
For businesses, the relevant symbols under Article 8 are: DT1 for foreign investors and representatives of foreign investing organisations with capital contribution of VND 100 billion or more, or investing in incentivised sectors or areas; DT2 for VND 50 billion to under VND 100 billion or sectors encouraged for development; DT3 for VND 3 billion to under VND 50 billion; LD1 for foreigners with a certificate of work permit exemption; LD2 for foreigners who require a work permit; TT for spouses and children under 18 of the above holders, or parents, spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens. UD1 and UD2, added by Law No. 118/2025/QH15 with effect from 1 July 2026, cover high-quality digital technology talent and other preferential categories and their family members. Investors contributing less than VND 3 billion (DT4) are not eligible for a card.
Before sponsoring, a company must have notified its legal-entity file to the immigration authority under Clause 2, Article 16: a certified copy of its establishment licence or decision and a document introducing its seal and the signature of its authorised person. This notification is made once and updated when details change.
2. Application dossier
Clause 1, Article 37 requires four components:
a) A written request from the sponsoring agency, organisation or individual: form NA6 for organisations, form NA7 for individuals sponsoring relatives;
b) The TRC application form NA8 with a photo attached, plus two 2x3 cm photos (one on the form, one loose);
c) The original passport, valid for at least 30 days longer than the requested card term; for online filing the passport is sent to the receiving office by public postal service;
d) Documents proving eligibility under Clause 1, Article 36.
Supporting documents vary by symbol: a valid work permit issued under Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP dated 7 August 2025 (LD2) or a work permit exemption certificate (LD1); the Investment Registration Certificate, Enterprise Registration Certificate or approval of capital contribution or share purchase showing the investor's contributed capital, and a letter of appointment for a representative of a foreign investing organisation (DT1–DT3); marriage and birth certificates and a copy of the sponsor's card (TT), with foreign documents legalised or apostilled under Decree No. 293/2026/ND-CP, translated into Vietnamese and certified; the licence of the representative office or branch and the appointment of its head (NN2). Circular No. 70/2026/TT-BCA dated 25 May 2026 (effective 1 July 2026) amended the forms under Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA and Circular No. 31/2015/TT-BCA; the receipt form NB7 now carries a file code and barcode, and online applicants via the National Public Service Portal do not sign the form by hand.
3. Step-by-step procedure
Confirm the sponsor's legal-entity notification under Clause 2, Article 16; confirm the foreigner is lawfully residing under the correct visa symbol and holds a work permit, exemption certificate or investment documents.
Complete NA6 or NA7 and NA8 with photo and the foreigner's signature; sign and seal exactly as registered; attach certified copies of supporting documents.
Submit to the Immigration Department (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City) or the Immigration Division of the provincial police where the sponsor is headquartered or resides, in person, online via the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security portal, or by public postal service. A receipt (form NB7) is issued.
Within 05 working days of receiving a complete dossier the immigration authority considers and issues the card (Point c, Clause 2, Article 37). Fees are paid at the counter or online; the card is collected in person or by post.
The holder declares temporary residence at the place of stay under Article 33; the sponsor tracks the card, work permit and passport expiry dates and applies for a new card before the current one expires.
4. Validity and fees
Under Article 38, as amended by Law No. 118/2025/QH15, the card is issued for a term at least 30 days shorter than the remaining validity of the passport, with the following caps: DT1, UD1 and UD2 up to 10 years; NG3, LV1, LV2, LS, DT2 and DH up to 05 years; NN1, NN2, DT3 and TT up to 03 years; LD1, LD2 and PV1 up to 02 years. An expired card may be replaced by a new one (Clause 6). In practice an LD2 card cannot outlast the work permit, which is limited to 02 years under Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP; a TT card cannot outlast the sponsor's card.
Circular No. 28/2026/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance dated 27 March 2026 (effective 1 April 2026, replacing Circular No. 25/2021/TT-BTC and Circular No. 62/2023/TT-BTC) sets the fees: USD 145 per card valid up to 02 years; USD 155 for over 02 to 05 years; USD 165 for over 05 to 10 years; USD 10 per temporary stay extension; USD 5 for transferring a card to a new passport. Fees may be collected in Vietnamese dong at the conversion rate and are not refunded if the application is refused.
5. Risks and recommendations
Overstaying the card, using it for a purpose other than the one declared, or failing to declare residence exposes the foreigner to administrative sanctions under Decree No. 282/2025/ND-CP dated 30 October 2025 (effective 15 December 2025, replacing Decree No. 144/2021/ND-CP) and to compelled exit or deportation under Article 30 of the Law. When a work permit expires, is revoked or the employment ends, the basis for an LD2 card no longer exists and the sponsor must notify the immigration authority. For FDI companies, the card should therefore be planned together with the work permit; for individual investors, the capital contribution recorded on the Enterprise Registration Certificate determines the symbol and term; for family members, relationship documents should be apostilled or legalised early so that TT applications are filed in the same batch.
7S Law recommends that companies keep a single tracker for passport, work permit and card expiry dates for each foreign employee; complete the legal-entity notification with the immigration authority immediately after incorporation; prepare foreign documents to apostille or legalisation standard before the employee enters Vietnam; and file for a new card at least one month before the current one expires.
Lawyer's view
“A residence card is only as durable as the ground it rests on. Treat the work permit, the capital contribution and the card as one linked file and review it on a schedule, rather than fixing each document when it is about to expire.” – Lawyer Nguyen Huu Hiep, Director of 7S Law Firm.
6. Frequently asked questions
a) Can a foreigner on a tourist visa apply for a card?
No. Only holders under the symbols listed in Clause 1, Article 36 qualify. The sponsor must first convert the visa purpose under Article 7, for example once a work permit has been issued.
b) Who can obtain a 10-year card?
Only DT1, UD1 and UD2 cards may be issued for up to 10 years under Clause 2, Article 38, as amended from 1 July 2026. DT2 is capped at 05 years, DT3 at 03 years and LD1/LD2 at 02 years.
c) Is the card extended or reissued?
The Law provides for a new card rather than an extension (Clause 6, Article 38). The sponsor files a fresh dossier with a valid work permit or investment document.
d) What happens when the passport is renewed?
The holder applies to transfer the card to the new passport for a fee of USD 5 under Circular No. 28/2026/TT-BTC; the term remains unchanged but may not exceed the new passport's validity minus 30 days.
7S Law assists foreign investors, experts and their families with temporary residence cards, work permits and visas in Vietnam. See also our guide on company formation in Vietnam.
Author: 7S FDI Desk
7. Legal basis
a) Law No. 47/2014/QH13 on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam dated 16 June 2014, as amended by Law No. 51/2019/QH14, Law No. 23/2023/QH15 and Law No. 118/2025/QH15 (effective 1 July 2026): Articles 3, 8, 16, 33, 36, 37, 38;
b) Circular No. 70/2026/TT-BCA dated 25 May 2026 of the Ministry of Public Security, effective 1 July 2026;
c) Circular No. 28/2026/TT-BTC dated 27 March 2026 of the Ministry of Finance, effective 1 April 2026;
d) Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP dated 7 August 2025 on foreign workers in Vietnam;
e) Decree No. 282/2025/ND-CP dated 30 October 2025 on administrative sanctions in security and public order; Decree No. 293/2026/ND-CP on consular legalisation and apostille.
This article provides legal information as at the update date and does not replace advice on a specific case. Contact 7S Law: +84 877 523 888 – lienhe@7slaw.vn
