Temporary Residence Card (TRC) Vietnam: 2-Year vs 5-Year Path

Quick answer: A Temporary Residence Card (TRC, "the tam tru") is a long-stay permit issued under Article 36 of the Law on Foreigners 2014 (47/2014/QH13, amended by 51/2019/QH14). It replaces the need for repeated visa runs. Maximum validity ranges from 2 years (LD1/LD2 labor, DN3 investor 3 to under 50 billion VND, up to 3 years, TT family relation, VR visiting) up to 10 years (DN1 high-tier investor over 100 billion VND, NN1 head of foreign representative office). All TRC categories require a Vietnamese sponsor and an existing matching visa code. Renewal must be filed at least 30 days before expiry per Circular 31/2015/TT-BCA. Maximum durations are set in Articles 36-38 of Law 47/2014/QH13.

1. What is a TRC and how does it differ from a visa

A Temporary Residence Card is a card-format document issued by the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security (Cuc Quan ly Xuat nhap canh - A08) that allows a foreigner to reside in Vietnam for a multi-year period without renewing a visa. Article 3 Clause 13 of Law 47/2014/QH13 defines TRC as "the document issued by an immigration management authority or a competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a foreigner who is allowed to reside in Vietnam for a definite term, which is valid as a substitute for a visa."

Key practical differences between a visa and a TRC:

• A visa is typically valid 1 to 12 months and pegged to a single entry pattern. A TRC is valid 2 to 10 years and supports unlimited multiple entries during validity.
• A visa is a sticker or e-document. A TRC is a physical plastic card.
• A TRC holder does not need a separate visa to re-enter Vietnam during the card's validity (Article 20 Clause 3).
• A TRC enables longer-term activities such as opening certain bank products, signing multi-year housing leases, and supporting dependents' family-reunion paperwork.

A TRC does not grant permanent residence, citizenship, or property ownership beyond what the Land Law and Law on Housing allow for foreigners. It is strictly a temporary residence document tied to an underlying purpose (work, investment, family).

2. The six TRC categories: code, maximum duration, sponsor

Article 38 of Law 47/2014/QH13 (as amended by Law 51/2019/QH14) sets maximum validity by visa code. The TRC code always matches the holder's underlying visa code. The table below shows the six most common TRC categories for the general public.

TRC code	Holder profile	Max duration	Required sponsor
LD1, LD2	Foreign employee with a work permit, or exempt from work permit	Up to 2 years	Vietnamese employer (enterprise, organization)
DN1	Foreign investor contributing 100 billion VND or more, or expert invited by a Vietnamese host	Up to 10 years	Host enterprise; investment certificate
DN2	Foreign investor contributing 50 to under 100 billion VND, or person doing trade promotion	Up to 5 years	Host enterprise
DN3	Foreign investor contributing 3 to under 50 billion VND	Up to 3 years	Host enterprise
NN1	Head of a representative office, project of an international organization, foreign NGO in Vietnam	Up to 10 years	Sponsoring office or organization
NN2	Head of representative office, branch of a foreign trader; head of representative office of a foreign economic, cultural, professional organization	Up to 5 years	Sponsoring office
NN3	Person working at NN1/NN2 entities	Up to 3 years	NN1/NN2 host entity
TT	Foreign spouse, child under 18 of a Vietnamese citizen or of LV1, LV2, LS, DN1, DN2, NN1, NN2, NN3, DH, PV1, LD1, LD2 holders	Up to 3 years	Vietnamese family member or primary visa holder
VR	Foreigner visiting a relative or with other purposes	Up to 6 months (special TRC tracks: 2 to 3 years)	Sponsoring Vietnamese individual or organization

Source: Article 8 (visa codes) and Article 38 (TRC maximum durations), Law 47/2014/QH13 amended by 51/2019/QH14.

Practical reading of the table:

• The "2-year path" most foreigners encounter is the LD1 or LD2 work-based TRC, valid up to 24 months. After expiry, you renew rather than reapply from scratch.
• The "5-year path" applies to mid-tier investors (DN2), heads of foreign representative offices (NN2), and some intra-company managers.
• The 10-year ceiling is rare and reserved for major investors (DN1, 100 billion VND or more) and certain heads of international organizations (NN1).
• A TRC validity may not exceed the remaining validity of the holder's passport minus 30 days (Article 38 Clause 2 of Law 47/2014/QH13).

3. Eight-step application process

The TRC application is filed by the sponsor, not by the foreigner directly, in most categories. The process below summarizes the standard route at the Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security.

1. Confirm visa code match. Verify that your current visa code matches the TRC category you will apply for (LD with LD, DN with DN, TT with TT). If your visa is DL (tourist), you cannot convert to TRC; you must first secure an LD, DN, or TT visa.
2. Sponsor registers the seal and signature sample. A first-time corporate sponsor files Form NA16 to register its legal representative's signature and company seal at the Immigration Department. Without this registration, all applications are rejected.
3. Prepare core documents. Sponsor prepares Form NA6 (introduction letter) and NA8 (TRC application). The foreigner provides passport, current visa, declared temporary residence registration (cu tru) at the local police, and category-specific evidence.
4. Submit at the competent office. File at the Immigration Department (A08) in Hanoi or HCMC, or at the provincial immigration office (PA08) where the sponsor is headquartered.
5. Pay the issuance fee. Fees follow Circular 25/2021/TT-BTC: 145 USD for TRC valid from 2 to under 5 years, 155 USD for 5 to under 10 years, 165 USD for 10 years.
6. Wait for processing. Standard processing is 5 working days from receipt of a complete dossier per Article 37 Clause 2 of Law 47/2014/QH13.
7. Receive the card. Pick up at the issuing office. The card states the TRC code, validity period, and the holder's photo.
8. Register the new card with local police. Within 12 hours of receiving the TRC (or 24 hours in rural areas), update temporary residence registration (khai bao tam tru) with the ward police where you live, per Article 33 of Law 47/2014/QH13.

4. Required documents per category

The base document set applies to every TRC application. Category-specific documents are added on top.

Base set (all categories):

• Passport, original plus a clear copy of the photo page and current visa.
• Form NA8 (TRC application by the foreigner).
• Form NA6 (sponsor's introduction letter and request).
• Two 2x3 cm photos with white background, taken within 6 months.
• Proof of temporary residence registration (sao y notarized copy or printout from VNeID/online system).

LD1, LD2 (labor) add:

• Work permit, or written confirmation of exemption from work permit issued by the Department of Labor.
• Labor contract or assignment letter.
• Business registration certificate of the employer (sao y).

DN1, DN2, DN3 (investor) add:

• Investment Registration Certificate or Enterprise Registration Certificate showing the foreigner's name and contribution amount.
• Evidence of contributed capital matching the DN tier (e.g., bank confirmation, audited capital).

NN1, NN2, NN3 (representative office) add:

• License of the representative office or branch.
• Appointment letter of the head of office (NN1, NN2) or labor contract with the office (NN3).

TT (family) add:

• Marriage certificate (legalized and Vietnamese-translated if issued abroad) or birth certificate proving the relationship.
• Copy of the Vietnamese sponsor's ID card or the primary TRC holder's TRC.

VR (visiting) add:

• Sponsor's invitation and proof of relationship or purpose.
• Confirmation of accommodation.

All foreign-issued civil documents must be consularly legalized (or apostilled and translated, depending on the issuing country's treaty status with Vietnam) before submission.

5. Renewal process: file 30 days before expiry

A TRC is not auto-renewable. To continue residing in Vietnam after the card's expiry, the holder and sponsor must file a renewal application before the current card expires. The Immigration Department's practical guideline, consistent with Circular 31/2015/TT-BCA, is to file no later than 30 days before expiry to allow processing time.

Renewal procedure mirrors the initial application:

• Sponsor submits Form NA6 plus Form NA8 with updated documents.
• Updated work permit (LD) or investment certificate (DN) or family proof (TT) must remain valid.
• The new TRC's validity again cannot exceed the passport validity minus 30 days.
• Processing time: 5 working days.
• Same fee schedule as initial issuance.

If a TRC expires without a renewal in place, the foreigner reverts to visa status only and must exit and re-enter to obtain a new visa, then restart the TRC application. Overstay penalties under Decree 144/2021/ND-CP apply from the day after expiry.

6. Five common pitfalls

Pitfall 1: Applying with a DL (tourist) visa. A tourist visa cannot be upgraded directly to a TRC. The foreigner must first exit and re-enter on an LD, DN, TT, or other matching visa, or in some cases convert the visa in-country with sponsor support before applying for a TRC.

Pitfall 2: Passport validity too short. Article 38 Clause 2 caps TRC validity at the passport's remaining validity minus 30 days. A 2-year TRC requires a passport valid for at least 2 years and 30 days at the time of application. Many applications get cut to a shorter card or rejected because of this.

Pitfall 3: Sponsor seal not registered (Form NA16). A first-time corporate sponsor that skips NA16 registration will have its TRC application rejected with no refund of the issuance fee. The fix is to register the seal first, then refile.

Pitfall 4: Missing temporary residence (cu tru) registration. Article 33 of Law 47/2014/QH13 requires the host of the foreigner's residence to declare temporary residence to the local police. Many landlords skip this. Without a valid registration record, the TRC application is rejected at the document-check stage.

Pitfall 5: Filing renewal too late. Filing within the final 7 days before expiry leaves no buffer for document correction. If the application is returned for correction and the card expires in the meantime, the foreigner is in overstay status. The 30-day buffer is the safe practice.

7. Frequently asked questions

Can I get a 5-year TRC on a labor (LD) visa?

No. Per Article 38, LD1 and LD2 cards cap at 2 years. The 5-year ceiling is reserved for DN2, NN2, and some specialized codes. A foreign employee's only path to longer-than-2-year status is to convert to an investor (DN) category or to permanent residence.

Can I include my spouse and children on my TRC?

Dependents apply for their own TT-code TRCs sponsored by the primary holder. They are not endorsed on the primary card. TT cards are valid up to 3 years, but in practice are issued for the same duration as the primary holder's card.

Does a TRC allow me to work?

A TRC only confirms residence. Work authorization comes from a work permit (or exemption confirmation) issued by the Department of Labor under Decree 152/2020/ND-CP. An LD-code TRC is issued only after the work permit is in hand. A TT, DN, or NN card alone does not authorize employment.

What happens if I leave Vietnam during my TRC validity?

You may exit and re-enter freely during the card's validity. The TRC substitutes for a visa per Article 20 Clause 3. Carry the card together with your passport at every border crossing.

Is the TRC application different in Hanoi versus Ho Chi Minh City?

The legal procedure is identical nationwide. Local Immigration Departments may have slightly different appointment systems and processing realities, but documents, fees, and statutory timelines are the same.

8. Citations

Topic	Provision	Document
Definition of TRC	Article 3 Clause 13	Law 47/2014/QH13
Visa codes (LD, DN, NN, TT, VR)	Article 8	Law 47/2014/QH13, amended by 51/2019/QH14
TRC substitutes for visa	Article 20 Clause 3	Law 47/2014/QH13
Temporary residence declaration	Article 33	Law 47/2014/QH13
Conditions for TRC issuance	Article 36	Law 47/2014/QH13
TRC application procedure	Article 37	Law 47/2014/QH13
TRC maximum validity	Article 38	Law 47/2014/QH13, amended by 51/2019/QH14
TRC forms and renewal procedure	Articles 4, 5	Circular 31/2015/TT-BCA
Issuance fees	Schedule	Circular 25/2021/TT-BTC
Overstay penalties	Article 18	Decree 144/2021/ND-CP
Work permit prerequisite for LD	Articles 7-12	Decree 152/2020/ND-CP

Disclaimer: This article is general reference information drawn from publicly available Vietnamese legal sources (see citation table). It is edited by the Asklaw Editorial Team in compliance with Vietnam's AI Law 2026 (transparency obligations) and the Law on Lawyers 2006 (65/2006/QH11, as amended by Law 20/2012/QH13). It does not constitute legal advice for any specific case and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. For personalized advice, please consult a Vietnam-licensed lawyer. Personal data (if any) is processed under Vietnam's Personal Data Protection Law 2026.