Legal basis

• Law Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014;
• Law amendments to a number of articles of law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2019.

1. Definition of temporary residence card

According to Article 3.13 of the Law Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014, 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.

2. Cases in which grant of temporary residence status is considered

According to Article 36 of the Law Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014 amended by Article 1.14 of the Law amendments to a number of articles of law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2019, regulated that:

• Foreigners who are members of diplomatic missions, consular missions, representative offices of international organizations affiliated to United Nation, intergovernmental organizations in Vietnam and spouses, children under 18 years of age and helpers accompanying on missions;
• Foreigners making entry on LV1, LV2, LS, DT1, DT2, DT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LD1, LD2 and TT visas.

3. Validity of temporary resident card

According to Article 38 of the Law Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014 amended by Article 1.16 of the Law amendments to a number of articles of law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2019, regulated that:

• 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 anew

4. Procedures for issuance of temporary residence card

According to Article 37 of the Law Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014 amended by Article 1.15 of the Law amendments to a number of articles of law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2019, regulated that:

• An application for the temporary residence card consists of:
  • A written request from the inviting entity;
  • A declaration bearing a picture;
  • The passport;
  • Documents proving eligibility specified in Clause 1 Article 36 of this Law.

• An application for a temporary residence card shall be processed as follows:
  • The diplomatic mission, consular office, or another agency authorized by the foreigner in Vietnam shall send the application for the NG3 temporary residence card to a competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
  • 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
  • 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.