For foreigners wishing to reside in Vietnam, they must belong to the subjects to be granted temporary residence card.  For most of the case, the temporary residence cardholder are investors who invest to establish a company in Vietnam, or employee being employed and sponsored by an organization in Vietnam.

Temporary resident card (TRC) is a multiple visas and has continuous valid from 2 to 5 years. In the valid term, foreigners who have TRC will easily to entry into /exit from Vietnam multiply as needed, save much more time and cost than time to time or single visas. 

The following shall detail the procedures to be implemented for applying for a temporary residence card in Vietnam.

I. Subjects to be Granted Temporary Residence Card (‘TRC”)

• 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. (NG3)
• 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. (LV1)
• Issued to people who come to work with socio-political organizations, social organizations, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (LV2)
• Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam. (DT)
• Issued to Managers of representative offices or projects of international organizations and foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam. (NN1)
• Issued to heads of representative offices, branches of foreign traders, representative offices of other foreign economic, cultural, professional organizations in Vietnam. (NN2)
• Issued to people who come to study or serve an internship. (DH)
• Issued to journalists who have permanent residences in Vietnam. (PV1)
• Issued to people who come to work. (LD)
• Issued to foreigners that are parents, spouse, and children under 18 years of age of the foreigners issued with LV1, LV2, DT, NN1, NN2, UNIVERSITY, PV1, LD visas, or foreigners that are parents, spouse, and children of Vietnamese citizens. (TT)

II. Conditions for Implementation

Time to stay in Vietnam more than 01 year;

Valid passport more than 01 year;

In case of having a work permit, the work permit of the foreigner must be valid for 01 year from the date of the application for a temporary residence card. For investors, there must be written documents proving that foreigners contribute capital to, or invest in, enterprises in Vietnam (business registration certificates, investment licenses …).

III. The validity of the temporary resident card:

The duration of TRC is at least 01 months shorter than the duration of the passport.

Temporary resident cards with the code NG3, LV1, LV2, ĐT, and DH have a term of no more than 05 years.

Temporary resident cards with the code NN1, NN2, TT have not more than 03 years.

Temporary resident cards with the code LD and PV1 have a term of no more than 02 years.

Expired temporary resident cards will be considered for the issuance of a new card.

IV. Required documents to apply TRC

Depending on situations, the following documents would be required: investment licenses, permits the establishment of enterprises, work permit in Vietnam, certificate of board members and permits the establishment of representative offices, marriage/birth registration

The dossier needs to have several types of document as following:

• A written request of agencies, organizations and individuals offering, guarantee and propose for temporary residence card (Form NA7)
• 01 declaration of information of foreigners who apply for temporary residence, with photos and sealed by the agency or organization: A written request for a temporary residence card (Form NA8); a declaration about Foreigners applying for temporary resident card (Form N7B)
• Two 3 x4 cm size photographs;
• Passport, valid visa, immigration cards (bring original for comparison);
• Notice of use of the seal of the enterprise
• 01 copies or photo (bring the original for comparison) proof of purpose to stay in Vietnam.

V. Implementing agencies to apply TRC:

Immigration management Department, Police provinces and cities directly under the Central Government.

VI. Duration to obtain TRC in Vietnam: 05 to 07 days;

The officer receiving the application will check the legality and the content of the file. If the application is complete and valid, the officer receives the application and prints a receipt for the submitter.

VII. Some difficulties when carrying out the procedure

Everyone can apply for a TRC by themselves, but not all cases are eligible for a TRC. When applying for a TRC, have some difficulties like the visa is not for right purposes; foreigners don’t understand the required documents, procedures for applying for TRC so that you don’t know how to write the declaration of TRC; have confusion about the declaration form used for individuals and agencies, organizations…

 As a result, the application file is invalid and will be returned. You will have to go to implementing agencies many times to complete the application file, which is costly, laborious, time-consuming but not yet available. Therefore, foreigners need the assistance of a reputable law firm to carry out the procedure effectively to be granted temporary residence card.

For someone, issuing Vietnam TRC  is rather complex and makes them feel confused too much. Apolo Lawyers is a reliable law firm with board experienced in this expertise, we believe to provide the client with a smooth process to obtain TRC in the shortest time.

More information can be found on the website: www.apolo.com.vn

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