Temporary residence in Viet Nam: declaration, residence card and extensions
Three different things share the word "temporary residence" in Viet Nam: the declaration of where you sleep, the temporary residence card that replaces a visa for long stays, and extending the stay you were given at the border.
Declaring where you stay
- The person running the place where you stay (hotel, guesthouse, landlord or host family) declares you to the police, not you yourself.
- The deadline is 12 hours after you arrive, or 24 hours in remote and mountainous areas (Law 23/2023/QH15).
- Since 21 May 2026 one national website, tbltkbtt.bocongan.gov.vn, handles declarations for foreigners and Vietnamese, starting with Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, An Giang, Bac Ninh, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa and three districts of Hanoi.
- Online declaration is free and open 24/7.
- Moving to a new flat or travelling to another province? The new host declares you again.
Temporary residence card
- The card (thẻ tạm trú) lets you stay and re-enter without a new visa for its whole validity.
- Since 1 July 2026 (Law 118/2025/QH15) cards marked DT1, UD1 and UD2 can last up to 10 years.
- Apply at the immigration office of the province where your sponsor is based or you live, or at the Immigration Department, partly online. You need form NA8, form NA6 (company sponsor) or NA7 (individual sponsor), your passport, two 2×3 cm photos and proof such as a work permit.
- Processing takes 5 working days.
| Card validity | Fee (from 1 April 2026) |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 years | US$145 |
| Over 2 to 5 years | US$155 |
| Over 5 to 10 years | US$165 |
Extending your stay
- A stay extension uses form NA5 and your passport, takes 5 working days and costs US$10.
- Submit it at the Immigration Department (69 Mac Thai To, Hanoi; 333–337 Nguyen Trai, Ho Chi Minh City) or online.
- E-visa holders can change visa purpose inside Viet Nam if they are investors, family of their sponsor, or hold a work permit (or proof that they do not need one).
More guides on living in Viet Nam
- VNeID for foreigners: the electronic ID account from 28 September 2026
- Work permits in Viet Nam: Decree 219/2025 for foreign workers
- Driving in Viet Nam as a foreigner: international permits and licence conversion
- SIM cards, bank accounts and emergency numbers for foreigners in Viet Nam
- Public holidays in Viet Nam 2026–2027
- Vietnamese etiquette and gift-giving: a guide for foreigners
- Opening a business in Viet Nam: grand opening customs for foreign companies
- Living in Viet Nam: a practical guide for foreigners
Sources
Facts checked on 2026-10-03 against the official sources below. Rules change: check the source before you act.
- Ministry of Public Security: who declares a foreigner's temporary residence
- Government of Viet Nam: Law 23/2023/QH15 amending the immigration law (full text)
- Government news portal: one national website for residence declarations from 21 May 2026
- Ministry of Public Security: online temporary residence declaration procedure
- Immigration Department (English): declaring foreigners' temporary residence online
- Ministry of Public Security: what is new in Law 118/2025/QH15 for foreigners
- Ministry of Public Security: temporary residence card procedure
- Government news portal: immigration fees from 1 April 2026 (Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC)
- Ministry of Public Security: stay extension procedure
- Government news portal: changing an e-visa inside Viet Nam
Written by a florist in Ho Chi Minh City
This series is written by Flosa, a flower shop in Ho Chi Minh City that delivers to homes, offices and hotels across Viet Nam. For company orders see flowers for companies; for the holidays of your own community in Viet Nam see flower holidays in Viet Nam.