Categories of Foreigners Eligible for Temporary Residence Cards Under Vietnamese Law

According to current immigration regulations of Vietnam, the following categories of foreigners are eligible to apply for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC)

Categories of Foreigners Eligible for Temporary Residence Cards Under Vietnamese Law

According to current immigration regulations of Vietnam, the following categories of foreigners are eligible to apply for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC):

● Foreigners Working in Vietnam

This category includes individuals who enter Vietnam to work and possess a valid Work Permit or Professional Practice License issued by a competent Vietnamese authority.
Eligible persons include:

• Experts, managers (General Director, Deputy General Director, Director, Deputy Director, Department Head, Deputy Department Head);
• Technical workers in factories, workshops, and industrial zones;
• Professionals such as lawyers, doctors, pilots, professional athletes, etc.

Depending on their specific occupation, these foreigners are typically granted visas and residence cards bearing the following symbols: LĐ1, LĐ2, LS, PV, etc.

● Foreign Investors in Vietnam

Foreigners who establish companies, contribute capital, or purchase shares in Vietnamese enterprises or in foreign-invested organizations in Vietnam are also eligible.
This group includes:

• Company owners;
• Shareholders of joint-stock companies;
• Capital-contributing members of limited liability companies;
• Chairpersons of the Members’ Council or the Board of Directors;
• Representatives of foreign capital contributions in Vietnamese companies.

These individuals are typically issued investor residence cards with one of the following symbols: ĐT1, ĐT2, or ĐT3.

● Foreigners Who Are Family Members of TRC Holders

Foreigners who are spouses, parents, or children of another foreigner who already holds a Temporary Residence Card in Vietnam are also eligible to apply for a residence card under the dependent (TT) category.

● Foreigners of Vietnamese Origin or with Vietnamese Family Members

This category includes individuals of Vietnamese descent or foreigners who have close family relations with Vietnamese citizens, such as spouses, parents, children, grandparents, etc.

● Foreigners Entering Vietnam on Diplomatic or Press Assignments

Foreigners entering Vietnam as diplomatic personnel, representatives of international organizations, or foreign correspondents operating under Vietnamese diplomatic and media laws are also entitled to apply for a residence card corresponding to their visa category.

Validity Period of Temporary Residence Cards for Each Category

The validity of a Temporary Residence Card depends on the applicant’s visa type and legal status, as follows:

1.     Temporary Residence Cards valid from 1 to 2 years are issued to:

o    Foreign workers employed in Vietnam; and

o    Their dependents (spouses, children, parents) accompanying them.
(Visa/Residence Card symbols: LĐ1, LĐ2, TT)

2.     Temporary Residence Cards valid from 2 to 10 years are issued to:

o    Foreign investors;

o    Diplomatic personnel and members of international organizations;

o    Other specialized categories such as NG3, LV1, LV2, LS, DH, NN1, NN2, TT, depending on the case and the nature of the visa.