Temporary Residence Card (TRC) in Vietnam 2026 for Foreigners

A Temporary Residence Card (TRC) is the document issued by Vietnam's immigration authority that allows a foreigner to reside in Vietnam long term, for between 1 and 10 years depending on the category, and to leave and re-enter the country freely while the card is valid. During its validity the card replaces the visa, so the holder does not need to apply for a new visa before each trip. For foreign employees, investors and their families who plan to stay in Vietnam, the card is far more practical than repeated visa renewals.

This guide explains, for foreign employees, investors and the companies that sponsor them, who qualifies for a Temporary Residence Card in 2026, how long each type of card lasts, what the dossier contains, how the procedure works, and what the government fees and processing times are.

Legal basis

The card is governed by the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (Law No. 47/2014/QH13), as amended and supplemented by Law No. 51/2019/QH14 and Law No. 23/2023/QH15. Government fees are set by Circular No. 25/2021/TT-BTC. The competent authorities are:

the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security; and
the provincial Immigration Offices of the provincial Police.

Visa or Temporary Residence Card

A visa is permission to enter Vietnam and stay for a limited, usually short, period. Electronic visas under Law No. 23/2023/QH15, effective from 15 August 2023, are valid for up to 90 days, for single or multiple entry. A Temporary Residence Card is designed for long-term residence. The deciding factor is how long the foreigner expects to stay: short stays use a visa, while long-term residence should move to a card.

Criterion	Visa	Temporary Residence Card
Nature	Permission to enter and stay for a limited period	Permission for long-term residence
Duration	Short term (an e-visa is valid for up to 90 days)	From 1 year to 10 years depending on the category
Replaces a visa	No	Yes, for the validity of the card
Suitable for	Short stays	Investors, employees and family members staying long term
Form of the result	Visa in the passport or an e-visa	Card issued by the immigration authority

Who can get a Temporary Residence Card

Cards are issued under a symbol that reflects the purpose of residence. The main groups are:

Investors (symbols DT1 to DT3). Foreign investors who have contributed capital to a company in Vietnam. The tier depends on the amount of capital, and investors in the lowest tier, DT4, do not receive a card.
Employees (symbols LD1 and LD2). Foreigners working in Vietnam who hold a valid work permit or a confirmation of not being subject to a work permit.
Family visitors (symbol TT). The spouse or children of a Vietnamese citizen, or of a foreigner residing in Vietnam, such as the family of an investor or employee holding a card.

In every case there must be a sponsoring agency, organisation or individual in Vietnam, and the foreigner's passport must still be valid for the required period.

How long each card is valid

Holder	Card symbol	Maximum card validity
Investor contributing VND 100 billion or more	DT1	Up to 10 years
Investor contributing VND 50 billion to under VND 100 billion	DT2	Up to 5 years
Investor contributing VND 3 billion to under VND 50 billion	DT3	Up to 3 years
Investor contributing under VND 3 billion	DT4	No card, a one-year visa renewed annually
Employee with a work permit or exemption confirmation	LD1, LD2	Up to 2 years
Family visitor (spouse or child)	TT	Up to 3 years

Two limits apply to every card:

the card is always issued for a period at least 30 days shorter than the remaining validity of the passport; and
for employees, the card in practice follows the underlying work permit, which is valid for up to 2 years and can be extended once.

The investor tiers are explained in more detail in our guide to the investor visa (DT) tiers.

The work permit comes first for employees

For employees, the work permit, or the confirmation of not being subject to a work permit, is the basis for the residence card. The employee should therefore obtain that document before applying for the card. Under Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, work permits are valid for up to 2 years and, from 2025, are issued by the provincial People's Committee through the Department of Home Affairs, which replaced the former Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, or by the industrial zone management board for enterprises located in an industrial zone.

Some foreigners do not need a work permit at all. For example, the owner or a capital-contributing member of a limited liability company, or a member of the Board of Directors of a joint stock company, with a capital contribution of VND 3 billion or more, only needs a confirmation of not being subject to a work permit. That confirmation is then used as the basis for the card. See our guides on work permits for foreigners and on work permit exemption.

Work permit dossiers usually include foreign documents that must be legalised and translated with certification in the correct form. Errors at this stage are a common reason for requests for additional documents, which delays both the work permit and the card.

Documents required

The dossier for a Temporary Residence Card typically includes:

the application form for a Temporary Residence Card for a foreigner, on the prescribed form;
the foreigner's valid passport;
documents proving the category of residence (see below);
the legal documents of the sponsoring agency, organisation or individual in Vietnam;
the written request of the sponsoring agency, organisation or individual; and
photographs of the foreigner as required.

The documents proving the category depend on the purpose of residence:

Employees: the work permit, or the confirmation of not being subject to a work permit.
Investors: documents proving the capital contribution or investment in Vietnam.
Family visitors: documents proving the family relationship, such as spouse or child.

The exact list depends on the visa held, the card symbol and the category of residence, so each case should be reviewed before filing.

Step-by-step procedure

Identify the right card. Review the purpose of entry and residence (investment, employment or family) to determine the correct card symbol and the conditions that apply. This can usually be done on the same day.
Prepare the dossier. Prepare the application form, the passport and the documents proving the category of residence, together with the sponsor's legal documents. This typically takes 2 to 5 working days.
Sponsor's application. The sponsoring agency, organisation or individual in Vietnam requests the card in its own name, usually within 1 to 2 days.
Filing. The dossier is filed with the Immigration Department or the competent provincial Immigration Office, which takes about 1 day.
Follow-up. If the dossier is incomplete, the authority requests additional documents, which are corrected and refiled within the processing period.
Receipt. The card is collected and handed to the foreigner, together with guidance on its validity and the obligation to declare residence.

The authority processes the card in about 5 working days from receipt of a complete and valid dossier. The total time in practice also depends on how long it takes to obtain the underlying documents, such as the work permit or the investment certificate.

Government fees

Under Circular No. 25/2021/TT-BTC, the government fee depends on the validity of the card:

Card validity	Government fee
From 1 to 2 years	145 USD per card
Over 2 years and up to 5 years	155 USD per card
Over 5 years and up to 10 years	165 USD per card

These fees are paid to the state and do not include service fees. LTV Law's service fee depends on the type of card and the work involved and is quoted on request.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a visa and a Temporary Residence Card?

A visa allows a foreigner to enter and stay in Vietnam for a limited, usually short, period. A Temporary Residence Card, issued by the immigration authority, allows long-term residence of 1 to 10 years depending on the category and replaces the visa during its validity, so a foreigner staying long term does not need to apply for visas repeatedly.

Do I need a work permit before applying for a Temporary Residence Card?

For employees, yes. The work permit, or the confirmation of not being subject to a work permit, is the basis for the employee card, so it must be obtained first. Investors instead rely on documents proving their capital contribution, and family members on documents proving the relationship.

How long is a Temporary Residence Card valid?

It depends on the symbol. Investor cards are valid for up to 10 years (DT1), 5 years (DT2) or 3 years (DT3); employee cards (LD1 and LD2) for up to 2 years; and family visitor cards (TT) for up to 3 years. Every card expires at least 30 days before the passport does, and DT4 investors do not receive a card.

Can my spouse and children get a card too?

Yes. The spouse and children of a foreigner residing in Vietnam, or of a Vietnamese citizen, can apply for a family visitor card under the TT symbol, valid for up to 3 years, on the basis of documents proving the family relationship.

Where is the application filed and how long does it take?

The application is filed with the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security or the competent provincial Immigration Office. Processing takes about 5 working days from receipt of a complete and valid dossier, but the total time also depends on preparing the underlying documents.

How much is the government fee for a Temporary Residence Card?

Under Circular No. 25/2021/TT-BTC, the fee is 145 USD per card for a validity of 1 to 2 years, 155 USD per card for over 2 years and up to 5 years, and 165 USD per card for over 5 years and up to 10 years. Service fees are charged separately.

Should an employee of a foreign-invested company apply for a visa or a card?

An employee who works in Vietnam on a stable, long-term basis should usually apply for an employee card (LD) or, if they are also an investor, an investor card (DT), rather than applying for visas repeatedly, because the card lasts longer and replaces the visa. The work permit must be obtained first for an employee card.

How LTV Law helps

LTV Law handles the full pathway from the work permit, or the exemption confirmation, to the Temporary Residence Card for foreign employees and investors, including issuance, renewal and family member cards, and represents clients before the immigration authority. See our visa and Temporary Residence Card service and our work permit service.

To review your case and the right card for you and your family, contact our team.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.