Vietnam Permanent Residence Card for Foreigners
A Vietnam permanent residence card lets a foreigner live in Vietnam indefinitely without a visa or temporary residence card; the card is exchanged every 10 years. Only four groups qualify: people awarded state orders or titles for contributions to Vietnam; scientists and experts residing in Vietnam; foreigners sponsored by a Vietnamese parent, spouse or child with permanent residence in Vietnam (after at least 3 years of continuous temporary residence); and stateless persons residing continuously since 2000 or earlier. Applications go to the Immigration Department, take 4 months and cost 100 USD.
On this page
- Who can apply
- Conditions
- Documents
- Where, how long, how much
- 10-year card exchange
- Permanent vs temporary residence card
- FAQ
Who can apply (Article 39)
- Foreigners awarded orders or honorary titles by the Vietnamese State for contributions to Vietnam.
- Scientists and experts temporarily residing in Vietnam.
- Foreigners sponsored by a parent, spouse or child who is a Vietnamese citizen with permanent residence in Vietnam.
- Stateless persons who have resided continuously in Vietnam since 2000 or earlier.
Ordinary employees and investors are not eligible; they use a temporary residence card instead (up to 10 years for DT1 investors).
Conditions (Article 40)
- A lawful place to live and a stable income to support yourself in Vietnam.
- Scientists and experts need a recommendation from the head of a ministry-level agency.
- Family-sponsored applicants must have resided in Vietnam continuously for at least 3 years.
Documents (Article 41)
- Application for permanent residence (form NA12).
- Criminal record certificate from your country of nationality, legalised and translated.
- Diplomatic note from your embassy asking Vietnam to grant permanent residence.
- Certified copy of your passport.
- Proof of eligibility (housing, income, family relationship).
- Sponsorship letter (form NA11) for family-sponsored cases.
Forms NA11, NA12 and NA13 were revised by Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA from 1 July 2026. Foreign documents need consular legalisation and notarised translation.
Where, how long, how much
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Where to file | Vietnam Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security |
| Processing | 4 months from a complete file, plus up to 2 months if extra checks are needed |
| Notification | Within 5 working days of the decision |
| Collection | Within 3 months of notification |
| Fee | 100 USD (Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC), non-refundable |
10-year card exchange (Article 43)
The card must be exchanged every 10 years at the provincial immigration office where you reside, using form NA13, the old card and a certified passport copy (not required for stateless persons). Lost or damaged cards are re-issued the same way.
Permanent vs temporary residence card
| Permanent | Temporary | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | 4 groups in Art. 39 | Workers, investors, family members, students and others |
| Validity | Indefinite, exchanged every 10 years | 2–10 years by category |
| Processing | 4 months | 5 working days |
| Fee | 100 USD | 145–165 USD |
FAQ
Can I get permanent residence by marrying a Vietnamese citizen?
Possibly, if your spouse is a Vietnamese citizen with permanent residence in Vietnam who sponsors you, and you have resided in Vietnam continuously for at least 3 years with lawful housing and stable income.
Can investors get permanent residence?
Investors are not one of the four groups, so they normally use a DT temporary residence card.
Is the fee refundable?
No. Under Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC the permanent residence card fee is not refunded.
Need help with your application?
We check eligibility and prepare, legalise and translate your documents. Contact us or call +84 327 828 822.
Legal basis: Articles 39–43, Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners; Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA; Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC.
