Vietnam Temporary Residence Card (TRC): Complete Guide 2026
The Temporary Residence Card (TRC) in Vietnam in 2026: who it's for, why, and how to get it. Duration of 1 to 5 years, free entry/exit, no more visa required. Conditions according to category (work, investment, family) and detailed procedure.
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The TRC: the holy grail of residence in Vietnam
If you've been living in Vietnam for a while, you probably know the hassle of visa renewals. Every 3 months, you either have to leave the country for a visa run, or chase after an extension. It's tiring, expensive, and frankly not practical when you have a life set up there.
The Temporary Residence Card (TRC, or "Thẻ tạm trú" in Vietnamese) is the solution. It's a document that gives you the right to reside in Vietnam without a visa, with unlimited entries and exits, for a period of 1 to 5 years. Basically, it's administrative peace of mind for several years.
What is the TRC actually used for?
The Temporary Residence Card gives you:
- The right to reside in Vietnam without needing a valid visa
- Unlimited entries and exits: you can travel abroad and return to Vietnam without visa formalities
- The end of visa runs: no more leaving the country every 90 days
- Administrative simplification: the TRC facilitates opening bank accounts, subscribing to telephone packages, and other daily procedures
- Recognized status: the TRC is an official identity document in Vietnam, almost as good as a local ID card
Who can get a TRC?
The TRC is not accessible to all foreigners. You must belong to one of the following categories:
Category 1: Workers (the most common)
You have a valid work permit and you work for a company in Vietnam. This is the most common route taken by expats.
- TRC duration: aligned with your work permit, maximum 2 years
- Renewal: possible as long as your work permit is valid
Category 2: Investors
You have an Investment Certificate and you have invested in a company or project in Vietnam.
- TRC duration: up to 5 years
- This is the longest and most advantageous TRC
Category 3: Spouses and family
You are married to a Vietnamese citizen, or you are a parent/child of a Vietnamese citizen.
- TRC duration: up to 3 to 5 years
- Requires a marriage certificate or birth certificate proving the family relationship
Category 4: Other cases
- Students enrolled in an accredited Vietnamese institution
- Representatives of representative offices of foreign companies
- Foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam with a license
- People of Vietnamese origin (Việt kiều) and their families
Conditions and required documents
Documents common to all categories
- Passport valid for at least 13 months (the TRC cannot exceed the validity of the passport)
- Application form (provided by the Immigration Department)
- Passport photos (2 photos 2x3 cm or 4x6 cm depending on the office)
- Valid visa (you must be legally residing in the country at the time of application)
- Temporary residence declaration ("tạm trú"): your hotel or landlord must have registered you with the local police
Specific documents by category
For workers:
- Original valid work permit
- Employment contract
- Employer's business license
For investors:
- Investment Certificate (IRC) or Business Registration Certificate (BRC)
- Proof of capital contribution
For spouses/family:
- Marriage certificate (apostilled and translated if issued abroad)
- Birth certificate (for children)
- Identity document of the Vietnamese spouse/parent
- Vietnamese family book ("sổ hộ khẩu") of the spouse
Application procedure
Step 1: Prepare the file
Gather all the necessary documents. For workers, it is usually the employer or their legal firm that takes care of it. For spouses, you will often have to do the steps yourself.
Step 2: Submit the application
The file is submitted to the Immigration Office (Phòng Quản lý xuất nhập cảnh) of the province where you reside:
- Hanoi: 44-46 Trần Phú, Ba Đình
- Ho Chi Minh City: 333 Nguyễn Trãi, Quận 1 (or the office at 161 Nguyễn Du)
- Da Nang: 7 Trần Quý Cáp, Hải Châu
Step 3: Wait for processing
Official deadline: 5 working days. In practice, count on 7 to 10 days. You will have to leave your passport at the immigration office during this time.
Tip: while your passport is at the immigration office, keep a certified copy of your passport and the submission receipt with you. If the police check you, these documents justify the absence of your passport.
Step 4: Pick up your TRC
You pick up your passport with the TRC (plastic card format, separate from the passport). The TRC contains your personal information, your photo, the category, and the validity dates...