Validity period of the Temporary Residence Card for foreigners in Vietnam

What is the validity period of the Temporary Residence Card?

I. Definition of the validity period of a temporary residence card

The validity period of a temporary residence card for a foreigner is the period of time during which the foreigner is lawfully permitted to reside in the territory of Viet Nam, in line with the purpose of entry and the type of temporary residence card granted. During this period, the foreigner may live, work, invest or carry out other lawful activities in accordance with the card and may enter into and exit from Viet Nam in compliance with the law.

Under the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Viet Nam, temporary residence cards are issued to specific groups of foreigners with a validity period ranging from 01 year to a maximum of 10 years, depending on the visa symbol, purpose of residence and supporting legal documents.

II. Validity period of temporary residence cards by group of beneficiaries

A. Temporary residence cards with a validity period from 01 to 02 years

Temporary residence cards with a validity period from 01 year to a maximum of 02 years are primarily issued to foreign workers in Viet Nam and their accompanying family members, including:

·       LĐ1 temporary residence card: issued to foreigners working in Viet Nam who are exempted from work permit requirements, except where an international treaty to which Viet Nam is a member provides otherwise.

·       LĐ2 temporary residence card: issued to foreigners working in Viet Nam who are required to have a work permit.

·       PV1 temporary residence card: issued to foreign journalists and correspondents permanently based in Viet Nam.

·       TT temporary residence card: issued to family members of foreigners holding temporary residence cards in Viet Nam or persons of Vietnamese origin, including spouses and children; or foreigners sponsored by their family members who are Vietnamese citizens.

B. Temporary residence cards with a validity period from 01 to 03 years

Temporary residence cards with a validity period from 01 year to a maximum of 03 years are commonly issued to investors, heads of representative offices or branches of foreign entities in Viet Nam and their accompanying family members, including:

·       NN1 temporary residence card: issued to heads of representative offices or projects of international organisations and non-governmental organisations of foreign countries in Viet Nam.

·       NN2 temporary residence card: issued to heads of representative offices or branches of foreign traders; heads of representative offices of foreign economic, cultural or other professional organisations in Viet Nam.

·       ĐT3 temporary residence card: issued to foreign investors and representatives of foreign organisations investing in Viet Nam with capital contributions from VND 3 billion to under VND 50 billion.

·       TT temporary residence card: issued to spouses and children of the above-mentioned foreigners or to persons of Vietnamese origin who are sponsored by their family members who are Vietnamese citizens.

C. Temporary residence cards with a validity period from 01 to 05 years

Temporary residence cards with a validity period from 01 year to a maximum of 05 years are granted to certain groups of investors, persons working with State agencies and socio-political organisations, foreign lawyers practising in Viet Nam, persons studying or undertaking internships and their accompanying family members, including:

·       ĐT2 temporary residence card: issued to foreign investors and representatives of foreign organisations investing in Viet Nam with capital contributions from VND 50 billion to under VND 100 billion or investing in sectors or trades eligible for investment incentives as decided by the Government.

·       NG3 temporary residence card: issued to members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organisations under the United Nations or intergovernmental organisations in Viet Nam, and to their spouses, children under 18 years of age and domestic helpers accompanying them during their term of office.

·       LV1 temporary residence card: issued to foreigners working with agencies or units under the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam; the National Assembly, the Government, the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front; the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the State Audit Office; ministries, ministerial-level agencies, Governmental agencies; Provincial Party Committees, Municipal Party Committees, People’s Councils and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities.

·       LV2 temporary residence card: issued to foreigners working with socio-political organisations, social organisations and the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

·       LS temporary residence card: issued to foreign lawyers practising in Viet Nam on the basis of a law practice licence granted by the Ministry of Justice of Viet Nam.

·       DH temporary residence card: issued to foreigners coming to Viet Nam for study or internship at educational and training institutions.

·       TT temporary residence card: issued to spouses and children under 18 years of age of foreigners belonging to the above-mentioned groups; or to persons of Vietnamese origin who are sponsored by their spouses, parents or grandparents who are Vietnamese citizens.

D. Temporary residence cards with a validity period from 01 to 10 years

Temporary residence cards with a validity period from 01 year to a maximum of 10 years are issued to strategic investors, foreigners making large capital contributions or investing in sectors, trades or geographical areas eligible for special investment incentives, including:

·       ĐT1 temporary residence card: issued to foreign investors and representatives of foreign organisations investing in Viet Nam with capital contributions from VND 100 billion and above or investing in sectors, trades or geographical areas eligible for investment incentives as decided by the Government.

III. Notes on the validity period of temporary residence cards for foreigners

·       The validity period stated on a temporary residence card is determined by the Immigration Management Department based on the specific application dossier; not all cases will automatically be granted the maximum validity period provided by law.

·       The validity period of a temporary residence card must not exceed the remaining validity of the passport. Where the passport expires earlier than the proposed validity of the card, the card will only be issued up to the remaining validity of the passport.

·       Temporary residence cards are only issued to foreigners who are lawfully residing in Viet Nam, holding visas with an appropriate purpose and being sponsored by eligible organisations or individuals.