VISA AND TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARD COMPARISON
Primary legal basis:
- Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2024
- Regulation No. 51/2019/QH14 on amending regulations in Law No. 47/2014/QH13.
By the international integration trend, Vietnam gradually became the attractive destination for foreign employees to earn, study, invest and spend their life. On the other hand, the regulations regarding the immigration, exit and residence are upgraded for creating more encouraging opportunities for foreigners, whereas to procure the State secure and order. Documents such as visa and Temporary Residence Card (TRC) are both the easiest and commonly occurring misunderstandings. The article below will analyse, compare the similarities and differences among Visa and TRC, according to Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2024, thus acknowledging the readers clearly about the conditions, legal rights and the residence period of foreigners in Vietnam.
Contents
I. What is the Temporary Residence Card (TRC)?
Pursuant to Article 3.13 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2024, Temporary Residence Card (TRC) is the document authorized by the Department of Immigration or the competence authority of Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the foreigners that have temporary residence permission in Vietnam and have alternative valid for Visa.
According to Article 36.1 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2024, the subjects of Temporary Residence Card including:
“1. The cases eligible for the issuance of a Temporary Residence Card include:
- a) Foreigners who are members of diplomatic missions, consular posts, or representative offices of international organizations under the United Nations or intergovernmental organizations in Vietnam, together with their spouses, children under 18 years of age, and domestic helpers accompanying them for the duration of their term.
- b) Foreigners entering Vietnam on visas bearing the symbols LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1, LĐ2, TT.”
The visa symbols prescribed in the provision above are defined as follows:
- LV1 – Issued to individuals entering Vietnam to work with agencies, departments, and units under the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam; the National Assembly, the Government, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the State Audit Office, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government-attached agencies; as well as provincial Party Committees, municipal Party Committees, People’s Councils, and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities.
- LV2 – Issued to individuals entering Vietnam to work with socio-political organizations, social organizations, or the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
- LS – Issued to foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam.
- ĐT1 – Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam who have capital contributions valued at VND 100 billion or more, or who invest in sectors or geographical areas eligible for investment incentives as decided by the Government.
- ĐT2 – Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam who have capital contributions valued from VND 50 billion to less than VND 100 billion, or who invest in sectors encouraged for development as determined by the Government.
- ĐT3 – Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam who have capital contributions valued from VND 3 billion to less than VND 50 billion.
- NN1 – Issued to individuals serving as Heads of representative offices or projects of international organizations or foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam.
- NN2 – Issued to individuals serving as heads of representative offices or branches of foreign traders, or of representative offices of foreign economic, cultural, or other specialized organizations in Vietnam.
- DH – Issued to individuals entering Vietnam for internship or study purposes.
- PV1 –Issued to journalists and press correspondents permanently based in Vietnam.
- LĐ1 – Issued to foreigners working in Vietnam who are confirmed not to fall under the scope of work permit requirements, except in cases where an international treaty to which Vietnam is a party provides otherwise.
- LĐ2 – Issued to foreigners working in Vietnam who are required to hold a work permit.
- TT – Issued to foreigners who are spouses or children under 18 of foreigners granted visas bearing the symbols LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1, or LĐ2, or to foreigners who are parents, spouses, or children of Vietnamese citizens.
The validity periods of the types of Temporary Residence Cards under Article 38 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam are currently prescribed as follows:
– The validity period of the Temporary Residence Card shall be at least 30 days shorter than the remaining validity of the passport.
– The Temporary Residence Card bearing the symbol ĐT1 shall have a validity of no more than 10 years.
– Temporary Residence Cards bearing the symbols NG3, LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT2, and DH shall have a validity of no more than 5 years.
– Temporary Residence Cards bearing the symbols NN1, NN2, ĐT3, and TT shall have a validity of no more than 3 years.
– Temporary residence cards bearing the symbols LĐ1, LĐ2, and PV1 have a validity period of no more than 02 years.
II. What is a visa?
A Vietnam visa is an entry permit issued by the competent Vietnamese authorities to foreign nationals, allowing them to lawfully enter Vietnam for residence, employment, study, or other permitted purposes for a specified period of time. It is a mandatory document for foreign nationals upon entry into Vietnam, except in cases where visa exemption applies.
According to the new regulations under Law No. 51/2019/QH14, effective from 01 July 2020, Vietnam visas are classified into 21 main categories, including: DL, DN1, DN2, NG, DH, LV, HN, PV, VR, TT, LĐ 1, LĐ2, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, ĐT4, SQ,…
Common types of visas:
- Tourist visa: Allows entry into Vietnam for tourism purposes.
- Business visa (DN): Issued to foreign nationals entering Vietnam for work, contract signing.
- Family visit visa (TT): Issued to relatives of foreign nationals who are lawfully working or studying in Vietnam, or to relatives of Vietnamese citizens (VR).
- Work visa (LĐ): Issued to foreign nationals who hold a work permit in Vietnam, with a maximum validity of up to 2 years.
- Electronic visa (E-visa): A visa issued online, with a maximum validity of 90 days, permitting either single or multiple entries.
- Investment visa (ĐT): Issued to foreign investors with investment projects in Vietnam, with a validity period ranging from 1 to 5 years, depending on the project scale.
III. Differences between temporary residence cards and visas for foreign nationals in Vietnam
From the above definitions of visas and temporary residence cards, it can be observed that the similarities between a visa and a temporary residence card are: (1) both are entry permits used for lawful entry; and (2) both allow residence within the period specified on the document.
In addition to the similarities mentioned above, these two types of documents have numerous differences. The following table is provided to help readers distinguish between temporary residence cards and visas:
| Criteria | Temporary Residence Card | Visa |
| Purpose of issuance | Issued to foreign nationals entering Vietnam for an extended period.
For example: investment, study, employment, accompanying family members of workers, etc. |
Issued to foreign nationals entering Vietnam for a short-term period.
For example: family visits, tourism, etc. |
| Conditions for issuance | The passport must be valid for at least 13 months.
Depending on the case, a Vietnamese organization or individual must issue an invitation or act as a guarantor. Temporary residence registration with the local police (commune/ward) must have been completed. |
The foreign national’s passport must be valid for at least 30 days beyond the intended visa expiration date.
The applicant must not fall under the cases of inadmissibility specified under the Immigration Law. |
| Form of issuance | Affixed or stamped in the passport, which may be an electronic visa (E-visa) or a directly affixed visa. | Issued separately, containing a photograph, personal information, card number, and period of residence. |
| Validity period | Typically 1–12 months, depending on the type of visa (DL – tourist, DN – business, LĐ – work, ĐT – investment, etc.) | Valid for 1–10 years, depending on the type (corresponding to the previous visa type: ĐT – investment, LĐ – work, TT – family visit, NN – diplomatic, etc.). |
| Issuing authority | Immigration authority.
Competent authority under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. |
Immigration management authority.
Competent authority under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Vietnamese embassy abroad. Vietnamese consulate general abroad. |
| Entitlements | Allows multiple entries and exits without the need to obtain a new visa.
Permits long-term legal residence in Vietnam. Facilitates opening bank accounts, renting property, and lawful employment. |
Allows entry and residence for the period specified on the visa.
Must be renewed or re-applied for upon expiration. Does not permit long-term residence. |
| Fees | Higher fees, typically ranging from USD 145 to 320, depending on the type and duration. | Depending on the type and duration (ranging from USD 25 to 135 or more). |
A temporary residence card is only issued on the basis that the foreign national holds a corresponding visa (e.g., LĐ – work, ĐT – investment, TT – family visit, NN – diplomatic, etc.).
In other words, a visa serves as the ‘initial step,’ while a temporary residence card represents long-term residence based on that visa.
IV. Is it possible to apply for a temporary residence card for a foreign national holding a business visa (DN)?
As mentioned above, under the provisions of Clause 1, Article 36 of the 2014 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreign Nationals in Vietnam, business visas (designated DN1, DN2) are not included in the list of visa types eligible for conversion into a temporary residence card.
In cases where a temporary residence card is desired, a new visa must first be obtained under categories compliant with the law, from which the temporary residence card can then be issued.
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