Vietnam temporary residence card for foreign executives

A Vietnam temporary residence card lets a foreign executive live in Vietnam for a set period without renewing a short visa again and again. It works like a long visa in card form. It also lets you leave and enter the country during its validity. This guide covers who may apply, how the card differs from a visa and what papers the application needs.

What is a temporary residence card?

The card is an official document that proves a foreigner may stay in Vietnam for a fixed term. It is a photo card issued by the immigration authority. The holder does not need a separate visa to come and go while the card is valid.

The rules sit in the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, No. 47/2014/QH13. The law has been amended by Law No. 51/2019/QH14 and Law No. 23/2023/QH15. The amendments widened some entry options, so always check the current text before you plan a move.

Sources: Law No. 47/2014/QH13, Articles 36 to 38; Law No. 51/2019/QH14; Law No. 23/2023/QH15.

Who may apply?

The card is not for tourists. It is for foreigners who already hold a long stay status, such as a work visa, an investor visa or a visa to work as a manager or specialist. Family members who hold the matching dependent visa may also apply.

For a foreign executive, the usual routes are these:

• An employee with a work permit, or a written confirmation that no permit is needed, sponsored by a company in Vietnam.
• An investor or a capital contributor in a Vietnamese company, with the investment papers to prove it.
• The head of a representative office or a branch of a foreign firm.

The company or organization that sponsors you normally files the application for you. Individual sponsors are also possible in some cases.

Sources: Law No. 47/2014/QH13, Article 36 (eligible persons) and Article 8 (visa types).

How is the card different from a visa?

A visa gives permission to enter and stay for a set time. A temporary residence card is a stronger status for people who plan to stay longer. You first enter on a suitable visa. Then your sponsor applies for the card in Vietnam.

• A visa is a sticker, or an electronic grant, linked to one passport.
• A card lets you enter and exit during its term without a new visa.
• A card is issued for a longer period, which saves repeat trips to the immigration office.
• The card does not replace a work permit. You still need the right to work if the law requires it.

The card can never run longer than your passport. The law requires the card to end at least 30 days before the passport expires. If your passport has a short life left, renew it first.

Sources: Law No. 47/2014/QH13, Articles 8, 36 and 38.

How long does a card last?

The term depends on the card type, and it follows your visa category. Under the 2014 law, cards for employees on a work visa run up to two years, while some investor cards run up to five. The 2019 amendment lets the largest investors receive cards of up to ten years. For most executives, the term links to the work permit or the investment status.

Because the length depends on your status, your sponsor should confirm the term in writing before you apply. Plan the renewal about two months before the card expires. Do not wait for the last week.

Sources: Law No. 47/2014/QH13, Article 38; Law No. 51/2019/QH14 (amended provisions on investor cards).

What papers does the application need?

Exact lists can change, so ask the Immigration Department or your lawyer for the current checklist. In general, the file includes these items:

• The application form, signed and stamped by the sponsoring company or organization.
• Your passport and your current visa.
• A work permit or an exemption document, for employees.
• The business registration papers, or investment papers for investors.
• A sample seal registration and a tax code for the sponsor.
• Passport-size photos of the required size.
• A residence registration from the local police, showing your address.

Submit the file to the Immigration Department at the Ministry of Public Security, or to the provincial immigration office. The law gives the office five working days to decide once a complete file is accepted. Fees depend on the card term, and the official fee table is published by the Ministry of Finance.

Common problems are simple. A passport that expires too soon, a work permit that is nearly over, and a missing police registration slow many files. Check each paper twice before you submit.

Sources: Law No. 47/2014/QH13, Article 37; Law No. 23/2023/QH15.

Practical steps

Start with the visa that matches your role. Confirm that your work permit or exemption is valid for the planned stay. Ask your sponsor to prepare the file and hand over every paper in good time. Keep copies of all stamped forms.

When the card arrives, check the name, the dates and the passport number. Report any error at once. Carry the card with your passport. If your job, employer or address changes, tell the authority, because the card is tied to the sponsor.

This article gives general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm details with a licensed Vietnamese lawyer or the Immigration Department.

Sources: Law No. 47/2014/QH13, Articles 36 to 38; Law No. 51/2019/QH14; Law No. 23/2023/QH15.