A temporary residence card is one of the essential documents enabling foreigners to reside and and work legally in Vietnam. Beyond providing convenience for entry and exit procedures in Vietnam, the card also plays a vital role in ensuring the rights and obligations of foreigners during their stay in Vietnam. However, the application process for obtaining a temporary residence card is not always straightforward. It requires meticulous preparation of documentation, thorough understanding of legal requirements, and compliance with the proper procedures at the competent authorities. This article on Procedures For Applying For A Temporary Residence Card For Foreigners In Vietnam offers a comprehensive guide to the process, from identifying eligible applicants and preparing the necessary documents to submitting the application and receiving the results. Whether you are a business sponsoring foreign employees or an individual seeking to establish a stable life in Vietnam, this guide will help you complete the procedure quickly and in accordance with the law.
Eligible applicants for a temporary residence card
According to Article 37.1 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014, the following individuals are eligible for a temporary residence card:
- Foreigners who are members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, or representative offices of international organisations under the United Nations or intergovernmental organisations in Vietnam, along with their accompanying spouses, children under 18, and domestic staff during their term of service;
- Individuals working with agencies, organisations, or 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, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, provincial, municipal Party Committees, People’s Councils, or People’s Committees;
- Those working with political-social organisations, social organisations, or the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
- Foreign lawyers practising in Vietnam;
- Foreign investors and representatives of foreign organisations investing in Vietnam with a capital contribution of at least VND 100 billion or investments in preferential or specially incentivised sectors/areas designated by the Government;
- Foreign investors and representatives of foreign organisations investing in Vietnam with a capital contribution between VND 50 billion and less than VND 100 billion or investments in incentivised sectors designated by the Government;
- Foreign investors and representatives of foreign organisations investing in Vietnam with a capital contribution between VND 3 billion and less than VND 50 billion;
- Heads of representative offices or projects of international organisations or non-governmental organisations operating in Vietnam;
- Heads of representative offices, branches of foreign traders, or representative offices of foreign economic, cultural, or professional organisations in Vietnam;
- Foreigners undertaking internships or studies;
- Foreign journalists or correspondents residing in Vietnam;
- Foreigners working in Vietnam who are certified as being exempt from work permits unless otherwise specified in international treaties to which Vietnam is a party
- Foreigners working in Vietnam who require work permits; and
- Foreign spouses, children under 18, or dependents of foreigners granted visas bearing the codes LV1, LV2, LS, DT1, DT2, DT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1, or LĐ2, or foreigners who are parents, spouses, or children of Vietnamese citizens.
Procedure For Applying For A Temporary Residence Card For Foreigners In Vietnam
Application dossier for a temporary residence card
A. Application dossier for a temporary residence card sponsored by a company/organisation, for cases such as foreign employees, investors, and the dependents of employees working at a company or organisation. The required documents include:
- A written request for the issuance of a temporary residence card (form NA6);
- A completed application form for a temporary residence card (form NA8);
- Passport and visa/valid temporary residence card;
- 02 2x3cm passport-sized photos of the applicant;
- 01 confirmation of temporary residence registration, either online or issued by the local police station (commune/ward level);
- Introduce letter from the company/organisation appointing an employee to carry out the application process;
- Passport/national ID card of the applicant;
- Official letter for the foreign national’s entry into Vietnam issued by the Immigration Department, if any;
- A registration form for the organisation’s seal and signature (form NA16); and
- Enterprise Registration Certificate, Investment Certificate, Operation License, or Decision on Establishment of the company/organisation.
Note: Depending on specific cases, additional documents may be required:
- For foreign employees: a certified copy of the work permit or exemption certificate;
- For investors: a certified copy of the Enterprise Registration Certificate/Investment License and a certified copy of documents proving capital contribution to the company in Vietnam;
- For visiting family members of foreign employees/investors: documents proving family relationships, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, family relationship certificates, household registration, etc.
Please note that documents and materials issued by foreign countries must be consular legalised, translated into Vietnamese, notarised, and authenticated in accordance with legal regulations.
B. Application Dossier for a Temporary Residence Card Sponsored by a Vietnamese Citizen, applicable to family visits. The required documents include:
- A sponsorship letter for the issuance of a temporary residence card (form NA7);
- A completed application form for a temporary residence card (form NA8);
- Passport and Visa/valid temporary residence card;
- 02 2x3cm passport-sized photos of the applicant;
- Depending on the specific case, additional documents proving family relationships may be required, such as: a birth certificate (for sponsoring a child), a marriage certificate (for sponsoring a spouse), family relationship certificates, household registration, etc.
- The sponsor’s citizen identification card when submitting the application.
Procedure For Applying For A Temporary Residence Card For Foreigners In Vietnam
Step 1: Prepare the required documents as stipulated by law (as analysed in section 2.1 above).
Step 2: Submit the application
- Agencies, organisations, or individuals inviting or sponsoring foreign nationals as specified under Article 36.2 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam shall submit the application at the Immigration Department of the Provincial Police where the inviting organisation is headquartered, or where the individual sponsor resides.
Alternatively, the application can be submitted online via the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal. Any additional documents required may be sent via the public postal service, as instructed by the Immigration Department on the relevant portals.
- The officer receiving the application will review its legality and completeness:
- If the application is complete and valid, the officer will accept it, print, and issue an appointment slip for result collection. The applicant will be required to pay the fee to the officer in charge. Upon payment, the officer will issue a receipt, or the applicant will be instructed to make an online payment via the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal and receive an e-receipt.
- If the application is incomplete or invalid, the officer will provide guidance or issue a notification via the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal, requesting the applicant to supplement or correct the docum
- If the applicant does not meet the requirements, the application will not be accepted, and the officer will issue a written response or a notification via the relevant public service portal, clearly stating the reasons.
- Application acceptance hours: Monday to Saturday mornings (except public holidays and Tet holidays).
Step 3: Receive the result
- The applicant or sponsor collects the result directly from the Immigration Department of the Provincial Police. They must bring the appointment slip, identification documents, and the payment receipt for verification. If the applicant opts to receive the result via postal service, they must follow the instructions provided by the public postal service provi
- If the temporary residence card is not issued, a written explanation or notification will be provided via the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal, clearly stating the reasons.
- Result issuance hours: Monday to Friday (except public holidays and Tet holidays).
Applying for a temporary residence card for foreigners in Vietnam is not only a necessary step to ensure lawful residency but also serves as an important bridge, helping them integrate and build connections in the country. While the process may seem complex for those unfamiliar with it, thorough preparation of the required documents and adherence to the correct procedures can make obtaining a temporary residence card both straightforward and efficient.
The above is an overview of Procedures For Applying For A Temporary Residence Card 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.
