Visas and temporary residence cards (TRCs) are two common types of documents used by foreigners when staying in Vietnam. However, depending on the purpose and duration of stay, foreigners may choose different options.

What is a visa?

According to Clause 11, Article 3 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014, a visa is a document issued by a competent authority of Vietnam that permits a foreigner to enter Vietnam for a specified period. A visa may be issued for single entry or multiple entries.

A visa is often considered a solution for short-term stays or the first step for entering Vietnam. Visas can generally be divided into two main types based on the time of application:

• Entry visa:
  This type of visa commonly has a validity of up to three months. It must be obtained before the foreigner arrives in Vietnam. Typical purposes include tourism, business trips, market exploration, and serving as an initial step for foreigners to enter Vietnam and subsequently complete procedures such as applying for a work permit or making capital contributions for investment.
• Visa issued while staying in Vietnam:
  This type is usually granted to foreigners who have already entered Vietnam and wish to continue their stay. In practice, visas are often preferred when the total expected period of residence is less than two years.

What is a temporary residence card?

A temporary residence card is a document issued to foreigners who are permitted to reside in Vietnam for a long-term period, usually for two years or more, instead of using a visa.

A temporary residence card essentially has the same value as a multiple-entry visa. Cardholders may freely exit and re-enter Vietnam as many times as they wish during the validity period of the card without applying for any additional visa. A temporary residence card can also only be applied for after the foreigner has entered Vietnam for the appropriate purpose.

Common symbols on Visas/Temporary residence cards

Each individual entering Vietnam is classified under a specific symbol that reflects the purpose of their stay. Some common categories include:

• LĐ (LĐ1, LĐ2): For foreign employees/workers
• ĐT (ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, ĐT4): For foreign investors
• TT: For family visits (spouses and children under 18 of Vietnamese citizens or foreigners who are working or residing in Vietnam)
• DL: For tourism purposes

Differences in documentation

	Entry Visa	Temporary Residence Card and Visa issued while in Vietnam
Main characteristics	Issued when the foreigner has not yet entered Vietnam	Applied for during the stage of establishing long-term residence rights
Competent authority	Immigration Department	Immigration Divisions of the provincial/municipal police where the sponsoring organization/individual has its headquarters or residence
Documentation	The required documents are relatively simple and may not require complex proof of the purpose of stay or special permits. At this stage, the primary objective is to control entry security	The dossier requires documents proving the purpose of residence. For example: work permit, confirmation of capital contribution, admission letter from a Vietnamese school or educational institution, or documents proving family relationships
Submission method	Fully processed online, but requires the sponsoring organization/individual to have an electronic identification account at level 2	Requires both online submission and submission of original documents

Other notes for foreigners

• According to Article 33 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014, foreigners temporarily residing in Vietnam must report their temporary residence through the person directly managing or operating the accommodation establishment to the police of the commune, ward, special administrative zone, or the police station where the accommodation is located within 12 hours.
• According to Article 7 of this Law, the entry visa must correspond to the intended purpose from the outset. For example, to apply for a temporary residence card with the ĐT (Investor) category, foreigners should enter Vietnam using a ĐT visa. Similarly, to apply for a temporary residence card with the LĐ (Labor) category, foreigners must enter Vietnam using a DN (Business) visa.