After the 2025 Provincial Merger: Where to File Visa and Residence Card Applications

Since 1 July 2025 Vietnam has 34 provinces and centrally-run cities and a two-tier local government model. The change does not alter immigration procedures, but it does change where files are received and what address must appear on company documents.

Visa and temporary residence extensions

A sponsoring company may file either with the Immigration Department (reception offices in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang) or with the immigration office of the provincial police where the company is registered or the foreigner stays. After the merger, files go to the new province: a company that used to file in Binh Duong now deals with Ho Chi Minh City, one in Hai Duong with Hai Phong, one in Bac Giang with Bac Ninh.

Temporary residence declaration

Declarations are made online through the Ministry of Public Security portal, or in person at the commune or ward police — district-level police no longer receive them under the two-tier model. See how the declaration works.

Are documents with the old province name still valid?

Yes. Residence cards, work permits and business registration certificates issued lawfully before the reorganisation remain valid until they expire or are reissued. For new applications, however:

  1. Write the address using the current administrative name on forms NA2, NA5, NA6, NA7 and NA8.
  2. Update the registered address on the enterprise registration certificate if the ward or commune name changed.
  3. Attach the most recent corporate documents so the file is not returned for supplementation.

The step most companies forget: form NA16

NA16 registers the company seal and the specimen signature of the authorised person. Without it on file, nothing your company signs is accepted. It must be refiled when the seal, the legal representative or the registered address changes — including address changes caused by the merger. The current template comes from Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA.

Processing times are unchanged

Approval letter 5 working days, visa extension 5–7, temporary residence card 6–15. See fees, or call 0327 828 822 if you are unsure which province now handles your file.