Temporary Residence Card Services for Foreigners

I. OVERVIEW OF THE TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARD

1. Definition – Temporary Residence Card Services for Foreigners

According to Clause 13, Article 3 of Law No. 47/2014/QH13, a Temporary Residence Card is a document issued by the immigration management authority or an authorized agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It allows foreigners to reside in Vietnam for a specified period and serves as a substitute for a visa.

2. Eligible Cases, Symbols, and Validity

As stipulated in Article 36 of Law No. 47/2014/QH13, as amended by Clause 14, Article 1 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14, the following cases are eligible for a Temporary Residence Card:

• Foreigners who are members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, or representative offices of international organizations under the United Nations or intergovernmental organizations in Vietnam, along with their spouses, children under 18 years old, and accompanying domestic workers during their term (NG3);
• Foreigners entering Vietnam with visas marked LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1, LĐ2, TT.

Table of Details on Symbols, Eligibility, and Validity of Temporary Residence Cards:

Symbol	Eligibility	Validity of the Temporary Residence Card (at least 30 days shorter than the passport’s validity)
NG3	Issued to members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations under the United Nations, intergovernmental organizations, and their spouses, children under 18 years old, and accompanying domestic workers during their term.	Up to 5 years
LV1	Issued to individuals working with central agencies 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 Office, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, provincial and municipal Party Committees, People’s Councils, and People’s Committees.	Up to 5 years
LV2	Issued to individuals working with political-social organizations, social organizations, or the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.	Up to 5 years
LS	Issued to foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam.	Up to 5 years
ĐT1	Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with contributed capital of at least 100 billion VND or investing in industries or regions eligible for special investment incentives as decided by the Government.	Up to 10 years
ĐT2	Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with contributed capital between 50 billion and less than 100 billion VND or investing in industries encouraged for development by the Government.	Up to 5 years
ĐT3	Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with contributed capital between 3 billion and less than 50 billion VND.	Up to 3 years
NN1	Issued to heads of representative offices or projects of international organizations and foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam.	Up to 3 years
NN2	Issued to heads of representative offices or branches of foreign traders, and representative offices of economic, cultural, or other professional organizations in Vietnam.	Up to 3 years
DH	Issued to individuals entering Vietnam for internships or studies.	Up to 5 years
PV1	Issued to resident reporters and journalists in Vietnam.	Up to 2 years
LĐ1	Issued to foreigners working in Vietnam who are exempt from work permits, except in cases where international treaties to which Vietnam is a signatory provide otherwise.	Up to 2 years
LĐ2	Issued to foreigners working in Vietnam who are required to have work permits.	Up to 2 years
TT	Issued to foreigners who are spouses or children under 18 years old of foreigners holding visas with symbols LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1, LĐ2, or foreigners who are parents, spouses, or children of Vietnamese citizens.	Up to 3 years

II. SERVICE PROCEDURE AT VINASC – Temporary Residence Card Services for Foreigners

1. Steps to Follow – Temporary Residence Card Services for Foreigners

• Step 1:

Vinasc receives information regarding the application for a Temporary Residence Card from the client, covering the following basic details:

• • Collecting and reviewing the client’s personal information, including passport, visa, and temporary residence registration details.
  • Verifying the validity of the passport: the passport must be valid for at least 13 months.
    Note:
    • For labor-based applications, if the passport’s validity does not meet the work permit requirements, the Temporary Residence Card will be issued based on the passport’s validity, but not less than one year.
    • For Chinese nationals with an e-passport (E Passport), the procedure will be converted to a visa issuance with a maximum validity of one year.
  • Documents proving eligibility for the Temporary Residence Card (valid for at least one year, if applicable), such as: Work Permit/Work Permit Exemption Certificate; Business Registration Certificate/Investment Certificate; Confirmation of being a Chief Representative or Board Member; Birth Certificate; Marriage Certificate, etc.
• Step 2:

Depending on the specific case, Vinasc will provide consultation and guidance regarding the procedures for issuing a Temporary Residence Card to foreigners. Both parties will discuss and agree on the service details. Vinasc will then draft the necessary documents based on the provided materials and deliver them to the client for verification.

• Step 3:

We will guide the client in preparing the required documents for the Temporary Residence Card application, including:

• • Original passport valid for at least 13 months, along with a work-purpose visa.
  • Two 2×3 cm photos (one affixed to the application form, one unattached).
  • Temporary residence confirmation from the local police authority.
  • Certified copies of documents proving eligibility for the Temporary Residence Card (valid for at least one year, if applicable): Work Permit/Work Permit Exemption Certificate; Business Registration Certificate/Investment Certificate; Confirmation of being a Chief Representative or Board Member; Birth Certificate; Marriage Certificate. (Foreign documents must be legalized, translated into Vietnamese, and certified).
  • For cases where foreigners are sponsored for TT card issuance: Original passport and Temporary Residence Card/Visa (LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1, LĐ2) of the sponsor.
• Step 4:

Vinasc prepares the following documents and hands them to the client for signing:

• • A written notification from the inviting organization to the immigration management agency, along with the following:
    a) Certified copies of licenses or decisions from competent authorities establishing the organization.
    b) Letter of introduction for the organization’s seal and authorized representative’s signature (Form NA16).
  • Application form for a Temporary Residence Card for foreigners (Form NA8).
  • Written request for a Temporary Residence Card: Form NA6 (for organizations) or Form NA7 (for individuals).
  • Letter of authorization for Vietnamese staff to complete the Temporary Residence Card application process at the Immigration Department.
• Step 5:

Receive the signed documents from the client and verify their authenticity.

• Step 6:

Submit the application to the Immigration Department where the inviting organization or sponsor is located, or where the individual sponsor resides.
Organizations or individuals sponsoring foreigners can choose between two methods for applying for a Temporary Residence Card:

• • Submit the application directly at the Immigration Department.
  • Submit the application online via the Ministry of Public Security’s public service portal.

Note: For online applications, the organization must register for an electronic immigration account, while Vietnamese citizens must register for a public service account.
Based on the client’s needs and actual circumstances, Vinasc will provide suitable and effective solutions.

• Step 7:

Deliver the final result to the client.

2. Specific Result and Estimated Timeline

• Result: Temporary Residence Card for foreigners.
• Estimated Timeline: 10-15 working days.
  The timeline starts from the day Vinasc receives all required documents from the client.

3. Summary Table of Required Documents:

No.	Document Details	Prepared by
		Client (1)	Vinasc Group (2)	Prepared by Vinasc Group on behalf (3)
1	Original passport, visa/temporary residence card	X
2	Temporary residence confirmation issued by the local police authority	X
3	Two 2×3 cm photos with a white background	X
4	Request letter from the organization, agency, or individual applying for the invitation/sponsorship (Form NA6 for organizations/agencies, Form NA7 for individuals)		X
5	Application form for issuing a Temporary Residence Card for foreigners (Form NA8)		X
6	Documents proving eligibility for the Temporary Residence Card, such as: work permit; confirmation of being a Chief Representative or Board Member; or other valid documents demonstrating eligibility for the Temporary Residence Card	X		X
7	Letter of authorization for employees		X
8	Certified copy of the employee’s national ID card		X

(*) According to the procedure, clients are responsible for preparing the documents listed in column (1), while Vinasc is responsible for those in column (2).
(*) In cases where clients face difficulties in preparing the required documents, Vinasc can assist by handling the preparation of documents listed in column (3). However, this will depend on specific circumstances and may involve the following issues:

• Additional Costs: Costs for document preparation may vary depending on the state agency and legal regulations in Vietnam at different times.
• Additional Time: Extra time may be needed to prepare these documents.

(*) During the preparation period, clients are requested to scan all the listed documents so that Vinasc can proceed with timely preparation.
(*) In special cases, state authorities may request additional information to supplement the application, such as tax reports.

For detailed consultation regarding Temporary Residence Card applications for foreigners, please contact Vinasc Group.

III. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Temporary Residence Card Services for Foreigners

1. How long is the Temporary Residence Card valid?
   Temporary Residence Cards for foreigners in Vietnam are valid for 1 to 10 years, depending on the purpose and related factors such as visa type, nationality, and specific regulations at the time of issuance.
2. Can the Temporary Residence Card be renewed after expiration?
   If a Temporary Residence Card expires, it can be reissued if the holder meets the requirements and intends to continue residing in Vietnam.
3. Do foreigners need to leave Vietnam when their Temporary Residence Card expires?
   If the card expires and is not renewed, the foreigner must leave Vietnam unless they possess other valid documents allowing continued residence.
4. Can foreigners traveling in Vietnam apply for a Temporary Residence Card?
   A Temporary Residence Card cannot be issued to foreigners holding a tourist visa.
   However, foreigners meeting the following conditions may convert their visa purpose and then apply for a Temporary Residence Card:

• Possess valid documents proving they are investors or representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam as per Vietnamese law.
• Have documents proving a relationship (e.g., parent, spouse, or child) with the inviting or sponsoring individual.
• Are invited or sponsored by an organization or agency for work purposes and have a valid work permit or exemption from the work permit requirement under labor laws.
• Enter Vietnam with an e-visa and possess a valid work permit or exemption from the work permit requirement under labor laws.

5. What are the penalties for foreigners violating Temporary Residence Card regulations?

   According to Article 18 of Decree 144/2021/NĐ-CP, administrative penalties for violations in the field of security, social order, safety, and other related areas are as follows:

• Fine of 500,000 to 2,000,000 VND:
  • Using a temporary residence certification, extension, or card for less than 16 days beyond its expiration without authorization.
• Fine of 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 VND:
  • Using a temporary residence certification, extension, or card for 16 to 30 days beyond its expiration without authorization.
• Fine of 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 VND:
  • Using a temporary residence certification, extension, or card for 30 to 60 days beyond its expiration without authorization.
• Fine of 10,000,000 to 15,000,000 VND:
  • Using a temporary residence certification, extension, or card for 60 to 90 days beyond its expiration without authorization.
• Fine of 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 VND:
  • Entering Vietnam with activities not aligned with the purpose stated in the visa or Temporary Residence Card application.
  • Using a temporary residence certification, extension, or card for more than 90 days beyond its expiration without authorization.
  • Organizations employing foreigners without completing visa or Temporary Residence Card sponsorship procedures, except in cases eligible for purpose conversion under the law.

Violations of Temporary Residence Card regulations will result in administrative penalties. The fines can go up to 40,000,000 VND, along with additional sanctions.