Tiếng Việt
For foreigners desiring a long-term stay in Vietnam, obtaining either a 5-Year Visa Exemption or a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) is crucial. However, distinguishing clearly between these two documents is challenging, which are associated with pursuing Vietnamese residency among foreigners.
What are 5-year Visa Exemption and Temporary Residence Card (TRC)?
First and foremost, a 5-year Visa Exemption is valid for individuals who are spouses or children of Vietnamese nationals with their passports, ID cards, and residency in Vietnam. On the other hand, a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) serves as an extended visa granted by the competent immigration authority to foreigners authorized to dwell in Vietnam for durations normally ranging from one to three years. Individuals holding a temporary residence card are exempt from the requirement for any type of Vietnam visa when exiting or entering Vietnam during the validity period of their TRC.
Cases for issuing a 5-year Visa Exemption or Temporary Residence Card in Vietnam
The 5-year visa exemption is authorized for:
- Vietnamese people residing abroad do not have Vietnamese passports
- Foreign spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens, whether residing in Vietnam or living abroad
- Vietnamese citizens residing abroad
Temporary Residence Card is granted for:
- Foreigners with family ties to Vietnamese citizens (including fathers, mothers, wives, husbands and offspring)
Required documents when applying for 5-year Visa Exemption and Temporary Residence Card in Vietnam
5-year Vietnam Visa Exemption: Document requirements differ for overseas Vietnamese and foreign spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens.
- Vietnamese Overseas:
- A 5-year visa exemption application form
- 2 recently taken photos
- Foreign passport, travel document, or permanent residence card in foreign country (valid for at least 1 year)
- A Birth Certificate
- An Identity Card
- A certificate of Vietnamese citizenship
- Family Register Book
- Latest voter’s card
- A copy of Vietnamese Citizenship Restoration Decision
- Certificate of Loss Vietnamese nationality
- A Vietnamese passport
- Foreign Relatives of Vietnamese:
- A 5-year visa exemption application form
- 2 recently taken photos
- Foreign passport, travel document, or permanent residence card in foreign country (valid for at least 1 year)
- Certificate of Marriage
- Certificate of Birth
- Decision of adoption
- Certificate of relationship with father, mother, children
- Other valid documents as regulated by the Vietnamese Law
Temporary Residence Card:
- Relatives’ visitation Temporary Residence Card (valid for 3 years):
- Application form (Form NA7)
- Information form (Form NA8) with photo
- Identity card of Vietnamese people
- Confirmation of foreigner’s temporary residence
- Foreigner’s current visa
- Relationship verification documents (eg. Marriage Certificate, Birth Certificate, Proof of Vietnamese spouse’s or parent’s citizenship Household Registration Book copy, CT07)
- 2 passport-sized photos (usually 2×3 cm)
- Original passport with valid visa (valid for at least 1 year)
Reminders of application between 5-year Visa Exemption and Temporary Residence Card
5-year Visa Exemption:
- The application for the 5-year Visa Exemption can be submitted remotely
- Issued by Vietnamese immigration authorities or embassies
Temporary Residence Card:
- In-person application by a Vietnamese relative is mandatory
- Only issued by immigration authorities in Vietnam
Duration of validity for the 5-year Visa Exemption and Temporary Residence Card
A 5-year visa exemption grants multiple entries over a five-year period, with each stay limited to 180 days.
On the other hand, a temporary residence card typically holds a maximum validity of three years. Holders of temporary residence cards can enter and exit Vietnam as necessary for work purposes, offering flexibility and cost-saving benefits. There are no restrictions on the duration of stay for each entry, allowing holders to remain in Vietnam until the expiration date of their temporary residence card.
