How to get a temporary residence card in Vietnam?

According to the provisions of the Law on Entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (amended in 2019), Temporary residence card is a document issued by an immigration authority or a competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for foreigners who are allowed to reside for a limited period of time in Vietnam and have the validity replacing visa.

Who are issued a temporary residence card?

• Foreigners being members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations of the UN, intergovernmental organizations in Vietnam, their spouses, children under 18 years of age, and housemaid that go along during their term of office shall be issued with temporary residence cards with the symbol NG3;
• Foreigners issued with LV1, LV2, ĐT, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ, TT visas shall be issued with temporary residence cards with the same symbols.

In which the meaning of the symbols is construed as follows:

• LV1 – Issued to people who come to work with units affiliated to Vietnam’s Communist Party; the National Assembly, the government, Central Committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front, the People’s Supreme Court, the People’s Supreme Procuracy, State Audit Agency, Ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, the People’s Councils, the People’s Committees of provinces;
• LV2 – Issued to people who come to work with socio-political organizations, social organizations, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
• LS – Issued to foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam;
• DT1 – Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam and contributing capital of VND 100 billion or more or investing in business lines benefitting from investment incentives, in administrative divisions benefitting from investment incentives decided by the Government;
• DT2 – Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam and contributing capital of VND 50 billion to less than VND 100 billion or investing in business lines benefitting from investment incentives treatment decided by the Government;
• DT3 – Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam and contributing capital of VND 3 billion to less than VND 50 billion;
• NN1 – Issued to Managers of representative offices or projects of international organizations and foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam;
• NN2 – Issued to heads of representative offices, branches of foreign traders, representative offices of other foreign economic, cultural, professional organizations in Vietnam;
• DH – Issued to people who come to study or serve internship;
• PV1 – Issued to journalists who have permanent residences in Vietnam;
• LD1 – Issued to foreigners working in Vietnam and certified of eligibility for work permit exemption, unless otherwise specified by international agreements to which Vietnam is a signatory;
• LD2 – Issued to foreigners working in Vietnam requiring work permit;
• NG3 – Issued to members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations affiliated to the UN, representative offices of intergovernmental organizations and their spouses, children under 18 years of age, and housemaids during their term of office;
• TT – Issued to foreigners that are spouses or children under 18 years of age of foreigners issued with LV1, LV2, LS, DT1, DT2, DT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LD1 or LD2 visas or foreigners that are parents, spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens.

What kinds of documents you need to prepare for a dossier applying for a temporary residence card?

• A written request from the inviting entity;
• A declaration bearing a picture;
• The passport;
• Papers proving the status you meet the requirements to get a temporary residence card.

Is the process of applying for a temporary residence card complex?

• 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 making entry on LV1, LV2, LS, DT1, DT2, DT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LD1, LD2 and TT visas 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.

How is the duration of temporary residence cards?

• 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 new issuance.

What can Consultancy service of Viet An law help clients?

• Consulting the client’s problems on the provisions of the law on temporary residence cards for foreigners;
• Consulting on the conditions for foreign workers to be granted temporary residence cards;
• Instructing clients to prepare necessary papers and documents to apply for temporary residence cards for foreign workers;
• Translating, notarizing and consularing legalization of documents used for the application for temporary residence card;
• Completing the application dossier for a temporary residence card in Vietnam for clients;
• On behalf of the client to carry out the procedures for issuing a temporary residence card at a competent state agency;
• Beside the above contents, Viet An Law also supports clients to advise on the provisions of law relating to procedures for granting temporary residence cards for foreigners: consultation on procedures for issuing work permits; procedures for confirming that the employee is not subject to a work permit and visa application procedures in Vietnam.

What does a specified dossier for a foreign worker that has been granted a work permit include?

• Copy of the Business Registration Certificate or other equivalent documents;
• Copy of seal sample registration certificate;
• Copy of Tax Registration Certificate;
• A copy of work permit with term of 1 year or more;
• 04 3 × 4 cm photos, bare head, taken from the front, with clear face, clear ears, no colored glasses, taken within 6 months;
• 01 photocopy of passport, valid visa, immigration note (enclosed with the original for comparison);
• Copy of temporary residence certificate certified by ward police.

What does a specified dossier for foreign workers who not required to work with a work permit?

• Copy of Investment Certificate or other equivalent documents;
• Copy of seal sample registration certificate;
• Copy of Tax Registration Certificate;
• A copy of proof of eligibility for a work permit;
• 04 3 × 4 cm photos, bare head, taken from the front, with clear face, clear ears, no colored glasses, taken within 6 months;
• 01 photocopy of passport, valid visa, immigration note (enclosed with the original for comparison);
• Copy of temporary residence certificate certified by ward police.

What does a specified dossier for relatives accompanying the foreign workers who not required to work with a work permit?

Beside the dossier for the foreign workers, the accompanying relative needs to provide the following documents:

• 04 3 × 4 cm photos, bare head, taken from the front, with clear face, clear ears, no colored glasses, taken within 6 months;
• 01 photocopy of passport, valid visa, immigration note (enclosed with the original for comparison);
• Copy of temporary residence certificate certified by ward police.
• Copies of documents proving the purpose of applying for temporary residence certification: depending on each specific case, a notarized copy of the Marriage Registration Certificate must be provided; Birth certificate; Proof of family relationship,..

What are requirements and conditions for a temporary residence card issuance?

• Foreigners must temporarily reside for 1 year or more in Vietnam;
• Passport valid from 01 year or more.

Consulting service fee

Please contact Viet An Luat directly to get a detailed quote.