If you will stay in Vietnam more than 12 months and have a work permit or capital contribution behind you, a temporary residence card is cheaper and simpler than repeated visa extensions: it lasts 2 years (up to 10 for privileged categories), replaces the visa on entry and is filed once per cycle. For stays under a year, or while a work permit is still pending, extend the visa and switch to a card later.
This page covers choosing between a residence card and repeated extensions. To have us handle the file, see the residence card service.
| Criteria | Visa extension | Temporary residence card |
|---|---|---|
| Validity each time | Up to 12 months (longer for LD, DT) | 2 years, up to 10 for privileged categories |
| How often you file | Every few months to yearly | Once per cycle |
| Replaces a visa on entry | No | Yes |
| Cost per year | Higher when repeated | Lower spread over the validity |
| Who it suits | Stays under a year, pending work permit | Employees, investors, families settled here |
Rule of thumb
If the person will be in Vietnam more than twelve months and has a work permit or capital contribution behind them, the card wins on both cost and hassle. If the status is temporary or the work permit is still pending, extend the visa and move to a card later.
What the card does not do
- It is not permanent residence; it expires and a new card is issued, not extended.
- It does not replace a work permit — employment still requires one.
- It is tied to the sponsor: leaving the employer ends the basis for the card.
Validity by symbol: how long a card lasts. Costs: fee table.
Companies sponsoring foreign staff can hand the whole file to a Vietnam visa agency such as Info Travel to track visa and residence card deadlines and avoid overstay fines. Call Zalo/WhatsApp: +84327828822.
Residence card fees 2026
The cost of a temporary residence card has two parts: the state fee paid to the immigration authority and, if you use one, a service fee. State fees follow Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC (in force from 1 April 2026) and depend on the card’s validity:
| Card validity | State fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 years (e.g. a 2-year LĐ card) | USD 145 |
| Over 2 up to 5 years | USD 155 |
| Over 5 up to 10 years | USD 165 |
“Renewing” a residence card means being issued a new card for the new period, so the same scale applies. A 2-year card, the most common for employees with a 2-year work permit, costs USD 145. The full schedule is on our Vietnam visa fees page; for an all-in service quote, message us on WhatsApp +84327828822 or see our residence card service.
Returning the residence card when you leave your job
The card is tied to its sponsor. When a foreign employee leaves, the sponsoring company must notify the immigration authority in writing and the card is returned and cancelled, even if it has not expired. The foreigner then needs a new sponsor for a new visa or card, or must leave Vietnam. Details: returning or cancelling a Vietnam residence card.
