PROCEDURE FOR EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARD VIETNAM

Living and working legally in Vietnam long-term is a concern shared by many foreigners. Among various visa options, the Temporary Residence Card (TRC)—valid from over 1 year up to 10 years—remains a top choice due to its convenience and benefits. However, when the TRC approaches its expiration date, many foreigners find themselves unsure about how to extend it and whether the renewal process is complicated. If you wish to continue staying in Vietnam for purposes such as working, investing, or reuniting with family, extending your TRC is essential. Yet without prior experience, preparing and submitting the application may be challenging. To assist you, Visa5s.com has put together this detailed guide on the procedures for renewing your Temporary Residence Card. Let’s explore the full process below.

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ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VIETNAM TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARD (TRC)

As of 2025, according to the latest Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, the Temporary Residence Card (TRC) remains one of the most popular and widely used long-term residence documents for foreigners living and working in Vietnam. The TRC is issued to specific groups of foreigners, including investors and company shareholders in Vietnam, foreigners granted work permits, and accompanying family members (spouses and children) of those who already hold a valid TRC. The validity of a TRC ranges from 2 to 10 years, but must be at least one month shorter than the passport’s expiration date. Notably, TRCs will not be issued to foreigners whose passports are valid for less than one year. In certain cases, such as when the passport has run out of pages and must be replaced, or in the event of a lost TRC, the foreigner is required to apply for a replacement TRC either based on the new passport information or based on the details of the previously issued card (in case of loss). In such situations, it is important to carefully follow the procedures to ensure legal status and avoid any issues during entry or exit from Vietnam

WHEN SHOULD YOU RENEW YOUR TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARD IN VIETNAM?

Renewal is required if you change or renew your passport, as the Temporary Residence Card (TRC) must match your current passport information.
If you change your employer or sponsor, or if the purpose of your stay or visa type changes (e.g., switching from investment to employment), your TRC will need to be updated accordingly.
In case your current card is lost, damaged, or contains incorrect information, you should apply for a replacement or renewal as soon as possible.
If your TRC is nearing expiration, you must submit your renewal application at least 3 days before it expires to avoid overstaying, provided that you complete your work permit renewal procedure within the new validity period.

WHO CAN APPLY FOR EXTENSION OF VIETNAM TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARD?

Owner of a one-member limited liability company;
Members of the Board of a joint-stock company;
Foreigners who own Vietnam work permit/ Work permit Exemption Certificate;
Foreign Spouse (Relatives) such as father, mother, wife, husband, children under 18 of the granting Temporary Residence Card Vietnam.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR VIETNAM TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARD RENEWAL?

Temporary Residence Cards will not be issued if the applicant’s passport is valid for less than one year, and the duration of the residence card will always be at least one month shorter than the duration of the holder’s passport.

CATEGORY	INVESTMENT TRC (DT TYPE)	LABOR TRC (LD TYPE)	VISITING RELATIVES TRC (TT TYPE)
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR TRC EXTENSION BASED ON APPLICANT CATEGORY	Notarized copy of the Business Registration Certificate and Investment License which clearly and detailed shows the capital contribution of the foreign investor; Certificate of seal sample registration or Written notice of posting information about the enterprise's seal sample on the national business registration information portal. A valid and suitable Vietnam visa (type DT)	A notarized true copy of work permit or work permit exemption; A valid and suitable Vietnam visa (type LĐ/DN)	Consular legalized of Marriage Registration Certificate or Birth Certificate; A notarized true copy of the sponsor’s work permit or work permit exemption; A notarized true copy of the sponsor’s temporary residence card; A notarized true copy of the sponsor’s passport A valid and suitable Vietnam visa (type TT)
GENERAL DOCUMENT CHECKLIST FOR VIETNAM TRC EXTENSION APPLICATIONS	Business License certificate/ Investment certificate/ Operating license/ Establishment decision (Depending on the type, there will be appropriate documents) A written request for a Temporary Residence Card (NA6 form) must be signed and sealed by a legal representative of the company; Declaration of foreign applicant’s information (NA8 form) must be signed by the applicant; Introduction letter; Two (2) passport-sized photographs (2cm x3cm); The applicant’s original passport; Proof of residence registration certified by local police station or online certification; If foreigners lose their Temporary Residence card: Application for loss of temporary residence card certified by the ward police committee.
DOCUMENT PREPARATION GUIDELINES FOR VIETNAM TRC EXTENSION	Kindly note that in case of accompanying relatives, documents showing proof of relationship such as birth certificates, marriage registration and family register must be consular legalized and translated into Vietnamese, unless they are exempt from consular legalization under the provisions of Article 9 of Decree No. 111/2011 / ND-CP dated 05/12/2011 of the Government on consular certification, consular legalization.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND SUBMISSION LOCATIONS FOR VIETNAM TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARD EXTENSION

4 STEPS APPLICATION PROCESS	STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE FOR VIETNAM TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARD (TRC) EXTENSION
Step 1: Prepare Temporary Residence Card Required Documents	Gather all documents as listed in the checklist provided above, according to the type of TRC you are applying for. Scan your documents clearly and organize them according to the required sections. There are three upload sections, each labeled for a specific type of document. Each section allows files up to 5MB. You may combine multiple documents into a single file or upload them separately, as long as they are within the size limit.
Step 2: Online Submission for Temporary Residence Card Extension via the Immigration Portal	For Companies or Organizations: Use the company’s digital signature USB/token to register an account on the National Public Service Portal For Individual Sponsors: Register an account using a verified mobile phone number Step-by-Step Process: Fill out the application form online with the foreign applicant’s information (refer to the Form name NA7 or NA8 depending on your case). Upload all required documents as PDF scanned copies. Carefully review all the information and uploaded files. Click “Submit” to officially send the application. Save the application reference code to track the processing status online. After Online Submission, bring all original hard-copy documents to submit at Immigration office and present the application reference code.
Step 3: Submit Original Documents at the Immigration Office	Once your online submission is accepted, bring the original documents to the Immigration Department in the province where you reside for verification. Processing Time: 5 - 7 working days (excluding weekends and public holidays, and time waiting the system to received your application). Note: Processing may take longer during peak periods, so plan accordingly. Below is the address of Immigration Office in some main city in Vietnam: 📍 Hanoi: No. 06 Quang Trung Street, Ha Dong District, Hanoi, Vietnam or No. 44 Pham Ngoc Thach Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam 📍 Ho Chi Minh City: 196 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 📍 Da Nang: 78 Le Loi Street, Thach Thang Ward, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City, 550000, Vietnam 🕘 Opening hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00–11:30 & 13:30–16:00
Step 4: Getting Result of Vietnam Temporary Residence Card	You can check your application status through the Immigration Portal. Once your result is available, visit the Immigration Office with your receipt, ID card, or passport to collect your TRC. Reminder: Before leaving the Immigration Office, make sure to verify the information and expiration date on your new residence card.