Insights
Temporary Residence Card (TRC) in Vietnam 2026: cost and process
By Nguyễn Quốc Trung — Deputy General Director · Updated
A foreign employee who will live in Vietnam for the length of an assignment usually applies for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) once the work permit is in hand. A TRC lets the holder reside in Vietnam without repeated visa renewals. This guide covers who qualifies, how long a TRC lasts for a worker, the documents and timeline, and the published all-in cost.
Key facts (2026):
- A TRC lets a foreign worker reside without repeated visa renewals; granted on a valid work permit.
- Term follows the work permit — up to 2 years, renewed with it; processed in about 5 working days.
- Nhân Kiệt service USD 450 per employee, all-in (incl. government fees), plus 8% VAT.
Updated 12 October 2026: added a table of TRC symbols and maximum terms, what happens when a card expires, and TRCs for the spouse and children of a foreign employee.
What is a Temporary Residence Card and who can get one?
A Temporary Residence Card (TRC) is a document issued by the immigration authority that lets a foreign national reside in Vietnam for a fixed period without renewing a visa each time. For foreign employees, the common route is a TRC granted on the basis of a valid work permit, sponsored by the Vietnamese entity that employs them. Other categories — investors, board members and chief representatives — can also qualify, but for an assigned worker the TRC follows the work permit.
How long is a TRC valid for a foreign worker?
For a work-permit holder, the TRC is granted in line with the work permit, up to 2 years, and is renewed together with it. This matters for planning: because a work permit is capped at 2 years and renewable once, the worker's TRC tracks the same horizon. Holding a TRC removes the need to apply for a new entry visa on each trip, which is the main practical benefit over a standard business visa.
What documents does a TRC application need?
The core of a TRC file is a valid passport, the granted work permit, and the sponsoring employer's documents, together with the temporary-residence registration at the local police. Passport photos and the immigration application forms complete the set. Because the TRC depends on the work permit, the practical sequence is to secure the work permit first, then apply for the TRC.
How much does a TRC cost in Vietnam?
The Nhân Kiệt TRC advisory and application service is USD 450 per employee, inclusive of government fees and exclusive only of 8% VAT. You pay one all-in fee rather than tracking separate line items. If you also need the work permit and entry visa, each is priced separately so you take only what you need — see the full service menu in PEO cost in Vietnam 2026.
How long does a TRC take?
Once the work permit is issued and the file is complete, a TRC is typically processed in around five working days. The realistic timeline therefore stacks after the work permit: several weeks for the permit, then the TRC on top. Planning both together — rather than treating the TRC as an afterthought — avoids a gap where the worker is in Vietnam on a short visa while the residence card is still pending.
TRC or a long visa: which does a worker need?
A TRC is the better fit for someone staying for the assignment, while a business visa suits short visits. A business visa must be renewed and does not confer residence, whereas a TRC gives a stable residence status aligned with the work permit. For a foreign employee working here for a year or more, the TRC plus work permit is the standard, lower-friction combination; for short trips, see our guide to the Vietnam work visa.
What TRC symbols are there in Vietnam and how long does each last?
A Temporary Residence Card carries a symbol for the purpose of residence, and each symbol has its own maximum term under Article 38 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (as amended in 2019): employees hold LĐ1 or LĐ2, valid for up to 2 years, while ĐT1 investors can get up to 10 years. The symbols businesses meet most often:
| Symbol | Issued to | Maximum term |
|---|---|---|
| LĐ1 | Employees certified as exempt from a work permit | 2 years |
| LĐ2 | Employees who must hold a work permit | 2 years |
| ĐT1 | Investors contributing VND 100 billion or more, or investing in sectors or areas given investment incentives by the Government | 10 years |
| ĐT2 | Investors contributing VND 50 billion to under 100 billion, or investing in sectors encouraged for development | 5 years |
| ĐT3 | Investors contributing VND 3 billion to under 50 billion | 3 years |
| NN1, NN2 | Chief representatives of offices or projects of international and foreign non-governmental organisations; heads of representative offices or branches of foreign traders | 3 years |
| TT | Spouse and children under 18 of holders in the groups above; parents, spouse and children of Vietnamese citizens | 3 years |
A TRC's term must always end at least 30 days before the passport expires, so a passport close to expiry will shorten the card below the maximum. Investors contributing under VND 3 billion (ĐT4) can only get a visa, not a TRC.
When a TRC expires, is it renewed or reissued?
A Temporary Residence Card is not extended on the old card: when it expires, the holder may be granted a new card (Article 38(6) of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, as amended in 2019). For an employee, a new card can only be issued while the work permit, or the certificate of work-permit exemption, is still valid, so the right order is to renew or reissue the work permit first and then file for the new TRC.
In practice, start early so the new card arrives before the old one expires; if the card lapses while the employee is still in Vietnam, they have to switch to a visa and may be fined for overstaying. Nhan Kiet tracks each person's work-permit, TRC and passport expiry dates together and sends reminders in advance.
Can the spouse and children of a foreign employee get a TRC in Vietnam?
Yes — the spouse and children under 18 of a foreigner holding a visa or TRC with the symbol LĐ1, LĐ2, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2 or certain other symbols may be granted a TRC with the symbol TT, valid for up to 3 years and in practice usually not beyond the employee's own card. The file needs documents proving the relationship, such as a marriage certificate and the children's birth certificates; documents issued abroad must be consular-legalised, or from 11 September 2026 carry an apostille if the issuing country applies the Apostille Convention with Vietnam, and then be translated and notarised.
A TT card lets family members live with the employee but does not allow them to work; a spouse who wants to work in Vietnam needs a work permit of their own.
Why Nhân Kiệt
Nhân Kiệt Supplying Manpower Co., Ltd (tax code 0308022768, established 2009) holds a labour sub-leasing licence (No. 15/2019/SHCM) and an employment-services licence (No. 22139/2023/45/SLĐTBXH-VLATLĐ) issued in Ho Chi Minh City, and is certified to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 45001, ISO 14001 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022. Under our PEO service, your Vietnamese entity stays the employer while we handle the work permit, TRC, visa and monthly compliance together. For a quotation, call +84 908 636 108 (Mr Trung) or +84 28 3505 4224. This is general information, not legal advice.
See also: EOR services in Vietnam · Vietnam work permit for foreigners 2026: cost, documents, process · Vietnam work visa for foreign employees 2026: DN, LD, EV explained
Call +84 908 636 108 or see labour compliance, payroll outsourcing, EOR Vietnam.