Temporary Residence Card procedures for foreign children who have a vietnamese parent

The following guidelines apply to cases where a foreign child has either a father or mother who is a Vietnamese citizen and wishes to apply for a temporary residence card in Viet Nam. The procedures comply with the latest provisions of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners (Law No. 47/2014/QH13, amended by Law No. 51/2019/QH14).

The following guidelines apply to cases where a foreign child has either a father or mother who is a Vietnamese citizen and wishes to apply for a temporary residence card in Viet Nam. The procedures comply with the latest provisions of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners (Law No. 47/2014/QH13, amended by Law No. 51/2019/QH14).

I. APPLICABLE LEGAL BASIS

·        Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Viet Nam (2014).

·        Amended Law of 2019.

·        Decree No. 144/2021/ND-CP providing detailed guidance on immigration management.

·        Official instructions issued by the Immigration Management Department – Ministry of Public Security.

II. VALIDITY OF TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARDS ISSUED TO CHILDREN

Under current regulations, the temporary residence card issued to a foreign child who has a Vietnamese parent may have a maximum validity of up to 5 years. If the child’s passport expires in less than 5 years, the card validity cannot exceed the passport expiry date.

III. CONDITIONS FOR CHILDREN TO OBTAIN A TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARD

·        The child’s passport must be valid for at least 13 months at the time of application submission.

·        The visa currently used in Viet Nam must match the correct purpose of entry.

·        A Birth Certificate or other legally valid documents proving the father–child or mother–child relationship must be provided (with consular legalization if issued abroad).

·        The Vietnamese parent must have lawful residence in Viet Nam (permanent residence or temporary residence).

IV. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

A complete application dossier includes:

·        Birth Certificate or other documents proving parent–child relationship.

·        Form NA7 – Sponsorship and application for temporary residence card for foreigners.

·        Form NA8 – Application form for temporary residence card.

·        Original passport and valid visa of the child.

·        Two (02) color photos sized 2 x 3 cm.

·        Household Registration Book or temporary residence documents of the Vietnamese parent.

·        Vietnamese parent’s Identity Card/Citizen ID Card.

·        Temporary residence confirmation (if required by the local authority).

V. APPLICATION SUBMISSION AND PROCESSING

1.      Submit the dossier at the Immigration Office of the provincial/municipal Police where the Vietnamese parent legally resides.

2.      Alternatively, submit directly at the Immigration Department – Ministry of Public Security in Ha Noi or Ho Chi Minh City.

3.      Pay the applicable immigration fee (in VND or USD).

4.      Processing time: 05 working days from the date the dossier is fully received.

VI. IMPORTANT NOTES UNDER THE LATEST REGULATIONS

·        Documents proving family relationship issued abroad must be consular legalized and translated into Vietnamese.

·        If the child entered Viet Nam under an incorrect visa purpose, the visa must be converted before applying for a residence card.

·        If the child’s passport has a short remaining validity, renewal is recommended to avoid reduction of temporary residence card duration.

·        Children born in Viet Nam without a passport must complete birth registration – nationality registration – passport issuance before applying for a temporary residence card.