Permanent residence registration for foreigners in Vietnam

In the case of foreigners permanently residing in Vietnam, they usually have to carry out the procedures for permanent residence registration with the immigration management agency of the Ministry of Public Security. In the following article, Viet An Law will present regulations and procedures for permanent residence registration for foreigners in Vietnam in accordance with current laws.

Legal basis

• Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014
• Circular 31/2015/TT-BCA guiding the issuance of visas, temporary residence cards, entry and exit permits, settlement of permanent residence for foreigners in Vietnam, as amended and supplemented by Circular 65/ 2022/TT-BCA.

Cases where foreigners are considered for permanent residence in Vietnam

• Foreigners with meritorious services and contributions to the cause of construction and defense of the Vietnamese Fatherland are awarded medals or state honorary titles by the Vietnamese State.
• Foreigners are scientists and experts temporarily residing in Vietnam.
• Foreigners who are guaranteed by their father, mother, wife, husband and children who are Vietnamese citizens who are permanently residing in Vietnam.
• Stateless people who have resided continuously in Vietnam since 2000 or earlier.

Conditions for permanent residence registration for foreigners in Vietnam

General conditions

Foreigners in one of the cases where foreigners are considered for permanent residence in Vietnam will be considered for permanent residence if they simultaneously meet the following conditions:

• Have legal domicile;
• Having a stable income to ensure life in Vietnam;
• Specific conditions for each case are considered.

Specific conditions

• Foreigners who are scientists and experts temporarily residing in Vietnam must be requested for permanent residence by ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies or government-attached agencies that perform state management in their professional fields. there.
• Foreigners who are guaranteed by their father, mother, wife, husband, and children who are Vietnamese citizens who are permanently residing in Vietnam and want to permanently reside in Vietnam must ensure that they have temporarily resided in Vietnam for 03 consecutive years or more.

Note

The method of calculating the time of temporary residence in Vietnam for 3 consecutive years or more is specified in Article 5.2 of Circular 31/2015/TT-BCA, specifically: Determined on the basis of the entry verification stamp, the export verification mark Visa granted at the border gate has a total duration of temporary residence in Vietnam from 03 years or more in the last 4 years up to the date of applying for permanent residence.

Application for permanent residence registration for foreigners in Vietnam

For people with nationality

• Application for permanent residence;
• Judicial record issued by the competent authority of the country of which the person is a citizen;
• A note of the representative mission of the country of which the person is a citizen, requesting that Vietnam settle for such person’s permanent residence;
• Certified copy of passport;
• Papers proving the general and separate conditions for each case are considered for permanent residence according to regulations;
• A letter of guarantee for a foreigner sponsored by a parent, wife, husband or child who is a Vietnamese citizen and is permanently residing in Vietnam.

For people without nationality

• Application for permanent residence;
• Proof of continuous temporary residence in Vietnam before 2000 and general eligibility for permanent residence. Specifically, permanent residence applicants submit one of the following documents: temporary residence certificate; temporary residence registration book; a written explanation of the time of temporary residence in Vietnam, certified by the police of the commune, ward or town where the stateless person temporarily resides.

Procedures for permanent residence registration for foreigners in Vietnam

• Submit application: The applicant for permanent residence submits the application at the immigration management agency as prescribed (see where to submit the application for each case to be considered for permanent residence below).
• Decision-making: The Minister of Public Security shall consider and issue a decision for permanent residence within 04 months from the date of receipt of a complete dossier; In case it is deemed necessary to carry out additional verification, the extension may be extended but must not exceed 02 months.
• Written notification of settlement results: The immigration management agency shall notify in writing the settlement results to the applicant for permanent residence and the Police Department of the province or city under central authority where the foreigner applies for permanent residence.
• Notification of final results to foreigners: Police of the province or centrally run city where the foreigner applies for permanent residence shall notify the foreigner to be settled for permanent residence within 05 working days from the date of receipt. notified by the immigration authority.
• Receive a permanent residence card: foreigners must go to the immigration management agency of the police station of the province or centrally run city where they apply for permanent residence to receive the card within 03 months from the date of receiving the notice of settlement for permanent residence. reside.

Location to apply

• Immigration Office: in case a foreigner applying for permanent residence is a person who has made merits and contributed to the cause of construction and defense of the Vietnamese Fatherland, is awarded a medal or honorary title by the Vietnamese government. State and foreigners who are scientists and experts temporarily residing in Vietnam.
• Immigration Management Department of the Police Department of the province or centrally run city where he/she applies for permanent residence: in the case of a foreigner who is protected by his/her father, mother, wife, husband or child being Vietnamese citizens who are permanently residing in Vietnam . consuls and stateless persons who have temporarily resided continuously in Vietnam since 2000 or earlier.

Term of permanent residence card

Permanent residence card for foreigners is valid for 10 years. Therefore, every 10 years, a permanent resident must go to the police station of the province or centrally run city where he/she permanently resides (the card-issuing agency) to issue and change the card.

Replacement and reissuance of permanent residence cards in Vietnam

Replacement of permanent residence card is the case where the permanent residence card of a foreigner in Vietnam expires (every 10 years). The reissuance procedure is only carried out in case the permanent residence card is lost, damaged or the content written in the card is changed.

Dossier for replacement of permanent residence card

• Application form for replacement of permanent residence card;
• The permanent residence card;
• A certified copy of passport, except for those without nationalities.

Dossier for reissuance of permanent residence card

• Application form for reissuance of permanent residence card;
• The permanent residence card (or a report on the loss of the card);
• A certified copy of passport, except for those without nationalities;
• Papers proving changes in permanent residence card.

Time limit for reissuance of permanent residence card: 20 days from the date of receipt of complete application.

Above is an informational article about permanent residence registration for foreigners in Vietnam. Customers wishing to register for permanent residence for foreigners in Vietnam, or consulting on residence, administrative and civil law, please contact Viet An Law for the best support.