A Vietnam Temporary Residence Card (TRC) is a residence document issued to eligible foreign nationals for a specified period. It can replace the need to obtain a separate visa during the card's validity, but it is not permanent residence, a work permit, or a guarantee that every foreigner can stay in Vietnam long term.
Who qualifies depends on the exact immigration category, the reason for staying, the sponsor and the evidence submitted. This guide explains Vietnam TRC requirements, maximum card duration, official fees, application forms, filing steps and common complications using Vietnam's published immigration rules.
Quick answer
Eligible applicants may qualify for a TRC valid for up to 2, 3, 5 or 10 years, depending on the category and passport validity. Official card fees are USD 145–165. The published processing period is up to five working days after a complete application is received, excluding document preparation and any prior visa-related steps.
Legal and procedural sources reviewed: 27 October 2026. Immigration rules, administrative practice and fees may change. This is general information, not an individualized eligibility determination.
What is a temporary residence card in Vietnam?
A Vietnam temporary residence card, often shortened to TRC, is a document issued by a competent Vietnamese authority to a foreign national who satisfies a recognized residence category. A valid TRC can be used in place of a visa for entry and exit during its validity, subject to applicable immigration requirements. It does not turn temporary residence into permanent residence.
The most important distinction is between permission to reside and permission to work. A person applying through an employment-related category may also need a valid work permit or legally recognized exemption. Possessing a TRC alone does not remove separate employment-law obligations.
| Document or procedure | Main purpose | Does it automatically qualify you for a TRC? |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary Residence Card | Evidence of an approved temporary residence category for a specified period | The TRC is the result of a separate application. |
| Visa | Entry or stay under a designated purpose and category | No. The category and supporting facts must fit TRC rules. |
| E-visa | Electronic visa for an authorized entry/stay | No. An e-visa is not itself a TRC category. |
| Work permit or exemption | Evidence relevant to lawful employment | No. It may support an employment-route application, but immigration conditions remain separate. |
| Temporary-stay declaration | Registration of a foreigner's stay at accommodation | No. This is not an application for a residence card. |
These are separate legal concepts under Vietnam's consolidated law on foreigners' entry, exit and residence (62/VBHN-VPQH), the Ministry of Public Security's TRC application procedure and its temporary-stay declaration rules.
Who can get a temporary residence card in Vietnam?
Article 36 of Vietnam's immigration law identifies the categories that may be considered for a TRC. They include qualifying diplomatic missions and foreigners eligible for specified immigration categories such as work, investment, family, study and several specialist or institutional categories. Being in a broad group such as “employee” or “spouse” is not sufficient by itself: the documentary and sponsorship requirements must also be satisfied.
Employees and eligible workers
LĐ1 or LĐ2 may apply where the specific foreign-worker and immigration requirements are met. A sponsor may need to establish employment status and work authorization or the applicable exemption.
Family members
The TT category can cover qualifying dependent or family relationships, subject to the exact relationship, sponsor status and official documentary requirements. Marriage alone does not guarantee issuance.
Investors and certain specialists
Recognized investment categories include ĐT1, ĐT2 and ĐT3. Separate UĐ1/UĐ2 preferential categories were added with effect from July 2026. Each requires its own legal basis and evidence.
Students and other eligible groups
The DH category and specified institutional, professional or diplomatic categories may be relevant. Applicants must confirm their exact classification rather than assume all students or visitors qualify.
The 2026 addition of UĐ1 and UĐ2 does not make those categories available to every skilled worker. The Ministry of Public Security describes UĐ1 as covering specified high-quality digital-industry personnel and other legally recognized preferential cases; UĐ2 concerns eligible spouses and children under 18 of UĐ1 holders. See the official ministry explanation.
Vietnam TRC types and maximum validity
Vietnam does not issue every TRC for the same period. Article 38 sets maximum durations by category. The actual duration granted can be shorter because of passport validity, underlying eligibility documents and the authority's assessment.
| TRC symbol | Maximum validity | Examples of category context |
|---|---|---|
| ĐT1, UĐ1, UĐ2 | Up to 10 years | Qualifying investors or preferential categories and eligible dependents |
| NG3, LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT2, DH | Up to 5 years | Specified diplomatic, official, legal, investor or study categories |
| NN1, NN2, ĐT3, TT | Up to 3 years | Specified institutional, investor and family/dependent categories |
| LĐ1, LĐ2, PV1 | Up to 2 years | Eligible workers and the specified press category |
In particular, a two-year employment route does not automatically produce a two-year card. Equally, a ten-year category does not guarantee ten years of residence. For the current legal framework, consult Articles 36–38 of the consolidated immigration law and the 2026 ministry update.
Do you need a TRC to live in Vietnam?
Not necessarily. A person can have a lawful temporary stay under another valid immigration authorization without holding a TRC. The right route depends on nationality, purpose, permitted stay and immigration circumstances. A TRC can be useful for qualifying residents who need a longer-term basis for residence and repeated travel, but it is not a universal requirement for all visitors or all foreigners working with a Vietnamese company.
If you are deciding between an e-visa, a work-related visa or a TRC, first establish what activities you will actually carry out and what legal category authorizes them. Do not use repeated tourist visits as a substitute for confirming any required work authorization or residence status.
Eligibility examples: employees, spouses, investors and students
I have a job and a work permit in Vietnam
Confirm the lawful employment route, whether your case falls under LĐ1 or LĐ2, the identity of the sponsoring entity, the status of your visa, the work permit or exemption evidence and the validity of your passport. A work permit can support a residence application, but is not an automatic TRC approval.
I am married to a Vietnamese citizen or qualifying foreign resident
Ask whether the family relationship and sponsor establish a TT route in your specific situation. Be prepared to establish the legally recognized relationship, the sponsor's identity or status and the other evidence required by the receiving authority. Do not assume a foreign marriage certificate will be accepted without the required formalities.
I own or invest in a business in Vietnam
The question is which recognized investment category—if any—your legally documented investment fits. Company registration or a business title alone does not prove a particular ĐT category. Confirm the applicable threshold, qualifying evidence, visa/residence classification and sponsor route for your case.
I study at an institution in Vietnam
Check whether the school or educational program supports the DH category and can provide the documents needed for your application. Enrollment and an offer letter are not always interchangeable with immigration sponsorship evidence.
If your circumstances involve several categories at once, ask the relevant sponsor or immigration authority to confirm the applicable route before preparing an application.
Documents required for a Vietnam TRC application
The official application dossier is built around an inviting or sponsoring party's request, the foreign applicant's form, passport, photographs and evidence of entitlement to the requested TRC category. The Ministry of Public Security's procedure checklist identifies the following commonly required items:
| Item | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Sponsor request | NA6 for an organization/agency or NA7 for an individual sponsor, as appropriate. |
| Applicant declaration | NA8 temporary residence card application form. |
| Passport | The foreign applicant's valid original passport. |
| Photographs | Two 2 × 3 cm photographs: one attached to the application and one separate, as indicated in the published procedure. |
| Category evidence | Documents substantiating eligibility; depending on the route, these may include a work permit, evidence of a lawful exemption or other qualifying documents. |
Do not copy unofficial forms from third-party websites without checking the version. The government procedure provides links to the applicable templates. Family relationship, investment or study applications can require different supporting papers, so the table is a starting point rather than a guarantee of a complete category-specific file.
How to apply for a temporary residence card in Vietnam
The published process generally involves the sponsor and the appropriate immigration authority. Use the government portal instructions for the route and province that actually apply to the application.
STEP 01
Confirm the TRC category
Check the legal purpose of stay, sponsor, current visa or residence status, passport expiry and supporting authorization.
STEP 02
Prepare the correct dossier
Complete NA6 or NA7, NA8, photographs, passport and the evidence required for your particular category.
STEP 03
Submit through the proper authority
Follow the Ministry of Public Security's central or provincial procedure, or the separate competent route for applicable diplomatic cases.
STEP 04
Respond and collect the result
Provide any correctly requested additional documents, follow official payment instructions and collect the result when notified.
Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security publishes both the Immigration Department route (procedure 1.003358) and the provincial police immigration route (procedure 1.003460). Use the relevant official instructions to identify where the sponsor should file; do not rely on an old office address found in a blog post.
Can you apply for a Vietnam TRC online?
An online submission option exists within the Ministry of Public Security's published TRC procedure. However, the service is described as partially online, not a guarantee of a paperless process. The official checklist states that an applicant submitting online may still need to send the original passport through the public postal service; papers without accepted electronic certification may also require physical delivery.
Check the current online instructions on the Ministry of Public Security public service portal. Do not confuse filing a TRC dossier with registering a foreign guest's temporary stay at a hotel or home: those are separate processes.
Vietnam temporary residence card fees
The official TRC issuance fee is determined by the card's validity period. Under Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC, effective 1 April 2026, the published government fees are:
Card valid up to 2 years
$145
USD / card
Over 2 to 5 years
$155
USD / card
Over 5 to 10 years
$165
USD / card
These are government card fees, not all-in application costs. Translation, documentation, postage and third-party professional assistance—if actually required and chosen—are separate. StartInVietnam does not quote or collect TRC filing fees through this guide.
Fee references: Ministry of Finance Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC and the official TRC procedure. Confirm the applicable currency/payment instructions at filing.
How long does it take to get a TRC in Vietnam?
The official processing period is no more than five working days from receipt of a complete dossier, according to the published Ministry of Public Security TRC procedure. This is the administrative decision period, not a promise that an applicant can move from initial eligibility checks to holding a card within five days.
A card may be refused or a file may require clarification if the applicable requirements are not met. If travel is imminent, confirm the passport-handling arrangement and planned travel dates with the relevant authority instead of relying only on the nominal five-day period.
Can you switch from a tourist, business or e-visa to a TRC?
Do not assume an existing visa can be exchanged directly for a TRC. The immigration law specifies situations in which a visa's purpose may be changed, and a TRC application is a further, distinct process. The correct path depends on the applicant's status, intended immigration category, documentary evidence and current administrative instructions.
For example, a person who entered on a DN1 business visa or an e-visa and later obtains the necessary employment documentation should not presume that a direct work-route TRC filing will be accepted without checking whether an appropriate work visa step must come first.
Important local practice update
In February 2026, Fragomen and Vialto reported tighter sequencing for certain employee and dependent applications. Vialto expressly described the practice in Ho Chi Minh City. These practitioner observations should not be treated as a replacement for Article 36's national list of TRC categories or as proof that the same operational step applies to every applicant in every province.
Before changing status or making travel plans, confirm the current procedure for your exact category and filing location with the immigration authority and sponsoring organization.
What changed in Vietnam TRC rules in 2026?
Some older web guides omit important changes that are already in force as of this guide's review date:
- 1 April 2026: Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC took effect, providing the current government card-fee schedule.
- 1 July 2026: provisions of Law 118/2025/QH15 took effect, including the new UĐ1 and UĐ2 visa/TRC categories; the ministry also identifies TRC validity up to ten years for UĐ1/UĐ2.
- 24 July 2026: Circular 87/2026/TT-BCA came into effect for foreigner temporary-stay declarations, which remain distinct from TRC issuance.
A separate development to monitor for future reviews is Decree 393/2026/NĐ-CP on foreign workers. It was issued on 20 October 2026 but its stated effective date is 5 December 2026. It is not in effect as of 27 October 2026 and should not be used to describe employment permission today.
Renewals, lost cards, new passports and common mistakes
A TRC has an expiry date; do not assume it renews automatically. If a card is expiring, the basis for residence has changed, the passport is being replaced or a card has been lost, check the applicable procedure early rather than copying the steps for a first-time application.
Passport expiring soon
The 30-day validity buffer may restrict card duration. Ask about passport renewal before filing if the requested card would run too close to passport expiry.
Sponsor or employment changes
Residence eligibility can depend on the original sponsor and purpose. Verify whether changed circumstances require new immigration documentation.
Lost or damaged card
Confirm the applicable replacement steps and documents with the issuing authority. Do not treat a replacement as identical to a first application.
Near-expiry travel plans
Plan travel around actual passport and residence validity. The published decision clock does not cover every prerequisite or shipment.
Vietnam temporary residence card FAQ
How much does a temporary residence card cost in Vietnam?
The official issuance fee is USD 145, 155 or 165 per card, depending on the approved validity band. Document preparation or third-party costs, if any, are separate.
How long does TRC processing take?
The published time limit is up to five working days after a complete application is received. This does not include collecting papers or completing any necessary prior visa or work-authorization step.
Can a US citizen get residency in Vietnam?
US nationality alone does not create or exclude TRC eligibility under the category-based framework discussed here. A US citizen must meet a qualifying immigration category and the associated sponsorship and evidence requirements, just as other applicants must.
Can I get a TRC if I marry a Vietnamese citizen?
A qualifying family relationship may support a TT-category route, but the sponsor, relationship evidence and current immigration status must be assessed. Marriage does not mean a card is issued automatically.
Does a Vietnam TRC allow me to work?
A TRC is a residence document, not a stand-alone authorization for any job. Check foreign-worker rules, any applicable permit or exemption, and the conditions of the specific role separately.
Can I register temporary residence online?
If you mean declaring a foreign guest's stay at accommodation, that is different from applying for a TRC. Vietnam has separate temporary-stay declaration rules. The TRC application itself offers online filing options but can still require original papers.
How many years is a Vietnam TRC valid?
Depending on category, the maximum is two, three, five or ten years. Actual validity may be shorter, and the TRC must end at least 30 days before the passport expires.
Can I apply directly while holding an e-visa?
An e-visa alone does not establish entitlement to a TRC. Whether another lawful visa/status step is necessary depends on the applicant's intended category, evidence and current filing practice. Confirm the route before applying.
Official sources and next steps
For an individual application, begin with the most recent government instructions and ask the appropriate immigration authority or legitimate sponsoring organization to confirm the category, forms and submission route.
- Consolidated immigration law — 62/VBHN-VPQH (including Articles 36–38)
- Law 118/2025/QH15 and Ministry of Public Security's 2026 explanation
- Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC (government fees)
- TRC filing at the Immigration Department — procedure 1.003358
- TRC filing at provincial police immigration divisions — procedure 1.003460
- Official document checklist and NA6, NA7, NA8 references
- Circular 87/2026/TT-BCA (accommodation-related temporary-stay declaration)
Before you prepare a TRC application
Write down your intended residence category, sponsor, current visa/status, passport expiry and the documents supporting your claim. Compare them with the official procedure applicable where your sponsor files.
StartInVietnam publishes independent informational guidance and is not representing itself here as an immigration authority, a licensed legal adviser, or an active TRC filing service. This guide does not accept applications, collect passports or guarantee outcomes.
