CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURE FOR GRANTING PERMANENT RESIDENCE CARD

According to:

Law on Entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam No. 47/2014/QH13;

Law Amendments to a number of articles of Law on Entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam No. 51/2019/QH14.

I. WHAT DOES “PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD” MEANS?

Permanent residence cards are papers granted by immigration authorities to foreigners who are allowed to permanently reside in Vietnam and have a valid instead of Visa.

II.CASES IN WHICH GRANT OF PERMANENT RESIDENCE STATUS IS CONSIDERED

1. Foreigners who have contributed to the development and protection of Vietnam and are awarded medals or titles by Vietnam’s government.

2. Foreigners who are scientists or experts temporarily residing in Vietnam.

3. Any foreigner sponsored by his parent, spouse, or child who is a Vietnamese citizen and has a permanent residence in Vietnam.

4. Any person without nationalities who has had a temporary residence in Vietnam from 2000 or earlier.

III.CONDITIONS FOR CONSIDERING GRANT OF PERMANENT RESIDENCE STATUS

Subject	General Conditions	Specific Subject
Foreigners who have contributed to the development and protection of Vietnam and are awarded medals or titles by Vietnam’s government.	Having a legitimate residence and is making a decent living in Vietnam	Not regulated
Foreigners who are scientists or experts temporarily residing in Vietnam.		Must be proposed by the Ministers, Heads of ministerial agencies or Governmental agencies in corresponding fields.
Any foreigner sponsored by his parent, spouse, or child who is a Vietnamese citizen and has a permanent residence in Vietnam.		Have had a temporary residence in Vietnam for 03 consecutive years or more.
Any person without nationalities who has had a temporary residence in Vietnam from 2000 or earlier.		Not regulated

IV. DOCUMENT FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE CARD APPLICATION

1. A written request permanent residence status;

2. A criminal record issued by a competent authority of the country of which the applicant is a citizen;

3. A diplomatic note from a diplomatic mission of the country, of which the applicant is a citizen, requesting grant of permanent residence status to the applicant;

4. Certified true copy of the passport;

5. Papers proving the fulfillment of requirements mentioned in Article 40 of Law on Entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam No. 47/2014/QH13

6. A note of sponsorship (applied to the foreigner mentioned in Clause 3 Article 39 of Law on Entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam No. 47/2014/QH13)

V. PROCEDURES FOR GRANTING PERMANENT RESIDENCE CARD

Step 1: Prepare documents in accordance with the law.

Step 2: Foreigners applying permanent residence status shall follow the procedures at an immigration authority.

Step 3: The immigration authority shall send a written notification of the result to the applicant and the police authority of the province where the foreigner wishes to have a permanent residence.. Within 05 working days from the receipt of the notification from the immigration authority, the police authority of the province shall notify the foreigner of the grant of permanent residence status.

Step 4: Within 03 months from the receipt of the notification of the grant of permanent residence status, the foreigner must go to the immigration authority affiliated to the provincial police department to receive the permanent residence card.