Regulations on temporary residence cards for foreigners: Duration, benefits

Details of regulations on temporary residence cards for foreigners such as: Conditions for issuance, validity period and benefits of temporary residence cards will be shared by fdiinvietnam.com in this article.

Temporary Residence Card (abbreviated as TRC) is one of the types of documents issued by the immigration authority or the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to foreigners for a limited period of stay in Vietnam.

Regulations and conditions for granting temporary residence cards to foreigners

1. Conditions for granting temporary residence cards to foreigners

Foreigners who have legally entered Vietnam and meet the following conditions will be considered for a temporary residence card:

• Foreigners’ passports must be valid for at least 13 months;
• Foreigners entering the country with visas with symbols DT1, DT2, DT3, LV1, LV2, LD1, LD2, NN1, NN2, LS, DH, PV1, TT, NG3.
• Registered temporary residence at the ward/commune police according to regulations;
• There is an individual or organization in Vietnam inviting and guaranteeing;
• Have documents proving the purpose of applying for a temporary residence card such as: Work permit, investment certificate, work permit exemption certificate…

2. Types of temporary residence cards issued to foreigners

Temporary residence cards issued to foreigners have symbols corresponding to the symbols of entry visas. Specifically as follows:

Type of temporary residence card	Foreigners granted temporary residence cards
NG3	Issued to employees of international organizations under the United Nations, diplomatic agencies, consulates, intergovernmental organization staff in Vietnam and their relatives (spouse, children under 18 years old) and accompanying domestic workers.
LV1	Issued to foreigners working at agencies and units under the Central Party Committee, National Assembly, Government, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, Supreme People’s Court, Supreme People’s Procuracy, State Audit, ministries, ministerial-level agencies under the Government; provincial Party Committees, city Party Committees, People’s Councils, and People’s Committees at provincial level.
LV2	Issued to foreigners working with socio-political organizations, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).
LS	Issued to foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam.
DT1	Issued to foreign investors and representatives of foreign organizations in Vietnam with investment capital of 100 billion VND or more or investing in industries/locations with investment incentives.
DT2	Issued to foreign investors and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with investment capital from 50 billion VND to less than 100 billion VND or investing in industries/locations with investment incentives.
DT3	Issued to foreign investors and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam with investment capital from 3 billion VND to less than 50 billion VND or investing in industries/locations with investment incentives.
LD1	Issued to foreign experts and workers working in Vietnam with confirmation that they are not subject to work permit issuance.
LD2	Issued to foreign experts and workers working in Vietnam who are required to have a work permit.
NN1	Issued to foreigners who are Heads of representative offices or projects of international organizations or foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam.
NN2	Issued to foreigners who are heads of representative offices, branches of foreign enterprises, foreign economic and cultural organizations in Vietnam.
DH	Granted to foreign students and postgraduates studying in Vietnam.
PV1	Issued to foreigners who are reporters and journalists residing in Vietnam.
TT	Issued to foreigners who are spouses, children under 18 years old of foreigners granted visas with symbols LV1, LV2, LS, DT1, DT2, DT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LD1, LD2; Issued to foreigners who are fathers, mothers, wives, husbands, or children of Vietnamese citizens.

Note: Foreign investors with investment capital of less than 3 billion VND will not be granted a temporary residence card and will not be exempted from a work permit, but will only be granted an investment visa with the symbol DT4.

2. Competent authority to issue temporary residence card

Individuals and businesses that invite or sponsor can submit applications for temporary residence cards for foreigners at the following agencies:

• Immigration Department – ​​Ministry of Public Security:
  + Head office address at 44 – 46 Tran Phu, Ba Dinh, Hanoi;
  + Representative office address at 333 – 335 – 337 Nguyen Trai, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City;
• Immigration Department of Provincial/City Police.

Depending on the type of temporary residence card that a foreigner applies for, whether for work, labor, investment or visiting relatives, the application documents and procedures for a temporary residence card for a foreigner are also different. You can refer to the article for details: Procedures for making a temporary residence card for foreigners. 

Duration of temporary residence card issued to foreigners

The validity period of each type of temporary residence card with different symbols will be different, specifically:

• Temporary residence card with symbol DT1: Maximum validity of 10 years;
• Temporary residence card with symbols DT2, LV1, LV2, LS, DH, NG3: Maximum validity of 5 years;
• Temporary residence card with symbols DT3, TT, NN1, NN2: Maximum validity of 3 years;
• Temporary residence card with symbols PV1, LD1, LD2: Maximum validity of 2 years;
• Expired temporary residence cards will be considered for renewal.

 See more: Documents and procedures for applying for temporary residence card extension for foreigners.

Benefits of foreigners owning temporary residence cards

When owning a temporary residence card, in addition to being able to reside permanently in Vietnam, foreigners will also enjoy the following benefits:

• During the time of holding a temporary residence card, foreigners can enter and exit Vietnam many times without needing a visa;
• Respected and protected by the Vietnamese state and law in terms of health, property, honor and dignity;
• Freedom to travel, access and enjoy cultural values, participate in cultural life, tourism and beliefs in Vietnam;
• Be given priority and facilitated when carrying out investment, business and scientific and technological development activities in Vietnam;
• Get married and have children with Vietnamese people.

Some questions about temporary residence cards for foreigners

Call us at 0978 578 866 (North) – 033 9962 333 (Central) – 0946 724 666 (South) for support.