Foreigners in Vietnam must be declared for temporary residence within 12 hours (24 hours in remote areas) of arriving at their place of stay. The declaration is made by the accommodation: hotels, guesthouses, homestays, landlords, households or companies where the foreigner stays. Since 21 May 2026, the whole country uses one Ministry of Public Security system at tbltkbtt.bocongan.gov.vn (app: TBLT KBTT); the old provincial declaration websites are no longer used. Failing to declare is fined 3 to 20 million VND. Info Travel helps with account registration, declarations and missed declarations nationwide – contact WhatsApp +84327828822.
What is a temporary residence declaration for foreigners?
A temporary residence declaration notifies the police where a foreigner is staying: full name, nationality, passport number, type and validity of the visa or temporary residence card, arrival date and expected departure date. It is required by the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam and applies to every foreigner, including visa-exempt visitors, e-visa holders and temporary residence card holders.
The declaration confirmation is also often required when you extend a visa, apply for a temporary residence card or work permit, register a marriage or open a bank account.
Who must declare, and by when?
- Hotels, guesthouses, homestays, serviced apartments: declare each foreign guest at check-in.
- Landlords: declare foreign tenants, even with a long-term lease.
- Households: declare when a foreigner (spouse, relative, friend) stays overnight.
- Companies, schools, hospitals with dormitories, guest houses: declare foreigners staying on site.
Deadline: 12 hours after the foreigner arrives; 24 hours in remote areas. Each time the foreigner moves, the new place of stay must declare again. Foreign tenants should remind the landlord to declare and keep the confirmation, as it is needed for visa procedures.
Since 21 May 2026: one nationwide system
The Ministry of Public Security now handles temporary residence declarations for foreigners and stay notifications for Vietnamese citizens on a single system:
- Website: tbltkbtt.bocongan.gov.vn
- Mobile app: TBLT KBTT
There is no longer a separate link for each province: accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang or any other province declares on the same system. Accounts are still linked to the provincial police where the accommodation is located, so the data goes to the right locality. The old provincial declaration websites and the ASM software are no longer used.
Accommodation with old accounts in An Giang, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh and Phu Tho log in to the new system by adding the prefix ag_, hp_, bn_ or pt_ before the username (for example abc123 → ag_abc123). In other provinces, if you cannot log in, contact the Immigration Office or the ward/commune police where the accommodation is located.
How to declare online, step by step
- Register an account: go to tbltkbtt.bocongan.gov.vn or the TBLT KBTT app, choose register, and enter the accommodation details (name, address, type) and the representative’s details (ID card, phone number, email).
- Verify the account: follow the instructions on the system; the local police approve the account. One main account can manage several branches and sub-accounts.
- Declare the guest: choose the foreigner temporary residence declaration, upload a photo of the passport page (the system can read the details automatically), and check the name, passport number, nationality, visa/temporary residence card type, arrival date and expected departure date.
- Submit and keep the result: after submitting, look up the declaration history to save or print the confirmation when the foreigner needs it for procedures.
- Update when things change: if the guest extends the stay, changes passport or leaves early, update the information on the system.
The screen-by-screen guide below uses real screenshots of tbltkbtt.bocongan.gov.vn (the website is in Vietnamese) filled in with sample information (NGUYỄN VĂN MẪU), not a real record.
Step 1: Open the website and click “Đăng ký ngay” (Register now)
Open the website and click (1) Đăng ký ngay (Register now) if you do not have an account; if you already have one, click (2) Đăng nhập (Log in). Button (3) Tải ứng dụng (Download app) installs the app on your phone.
Step 2: Read the rules and confirm
Read the rules quoted from Circular 87/2026/TT-BCA, scroll to the bottom, tick (1) Xác nhận đã đọc kỹ quy định… (I confirm I have read the rules) and click (2) Tiếp tục (Continue).
Step 3: Enter the representative and accommodation details
- Choose the document type and click Quét mã QR thẻ CCCD (scan the ID card QR code) or upload photos of both sides of the ID card – the system fills in the details automatically.
- Representative: the homeowner, head of household or the person named on the business registration (staff cannot register on their behalf).
- Date of birth, gender.
- Phone number, ID card number and expiry date.
- Place of origin/birth, permanent address.
- Accommodation type: hotel/guesthouse, private house used for business, private house not for business, apartment, medical facility, dormitory… (see the image below).
- Accommodation name, for example: “Nhà riêng, Nguyễn Văn Thanh” (Private house, Nguyen Van Thanh).
- Accommodation email – used to receive notifications and recover codes when needed.
- Province/city and ward/commune under the new administrative units.
- Location on the map: click MAP and choose the exact location of the house.
- Address: house number, room/building number, street name.
- Receiving authority: the ward/commune police where the house is located.
- Certificate of security and order conditions: only accommodation businesses (hotels, guesthouses…) have one; private houses rented out without a business leave it blank.
Step 4: Create the account
Enter (1) the username, (2) the password and repeat it, tick (3) the commitment, enter (4) the verification code (the number shown next to it), then click (5) Xác nhận (Confirm). Then follow the screens to set up Google Authenticator: the first QR scan is to download the app, the second one gives you the verification code – take a screenshot of the QR code at this step so you can use it on another phone.
Install and use Google Authenticator
The temporary residence declaration system uses 2-step verification: every time you log in, besides your password you must enter a 6-digit code from the free Google Authenticator app. Install it on the phone of the accommodation’s representative before creating the account.
Download the app:
Android – Google PlayiPhone – App Store
- Download and install: open Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iPhone), search for “Google Authenticator” by Google LLC and tap Install.
- Open the app: tap Get started. Signing in with a Google account lets the app back up your codes; you can also use it without an account.
- Add a code: tap the + button at the bottom and choose Scan a QR code.
- Scan the QR code on the website: after creating the account in step 4, tbltkbtt.bocongan.gov.vn shows a QR code (the second scan). Point your phone camera at it. Save a screenshot of this QR code in case you change phones.
- Enter the 6-digit code: the app shows your account with a 6-digit code that changes every 30 seconds. Type the current code into the verification box on the website and tap Xác nhận (Confirm). Use the app the same way every time you log in.
Tips: keep your phone clock on automatic time; do not delete the app before moving your codes to a new phone (use Transfer accounts in the app or rescan the saved QR code); never share the 6-digit code. The images are illustrations; the real screens may differ slightly by app version.
Step 5: Log in
Enter (1) the username, (2) the password, (3) the verification code, click (4) Đăng nhập (Log in), then enter the 6 digits from the Authenticator app. If you forgot your password, click (5).
Step 6: Declare the foreigner after logging in
Go to the foreigner declaration section, add a new entry, scan or upload the passport page so the system fills in the details, check the name, gender, date of birth, nationality, passport number, visa/temporary residence card type and validity and the expected length of stay, then submit. Declare as soon as the foreigner arrives.
Common errors when declaring online
- Authenticator code is invalid: the code changes every 30 seconds; make sure the computer and phone clocks are on Vietnam time, and use the code for the account you are logging in to.
- Status “Chưa xác nhận” (Not yet confirmed): this is normal – the accommodation only needs a successful submission; the ward/commune police will confirm it. If it is “Từ chối” (Rejected) or “Xác minh lại” (Re-verify), read the reason and declare again.
- Error “passport number is currently registered and not checked out”: open the list of foreigners currently staying, check out the old record, then declare the new one.
- Guest moves to another property of the same owner: check out at the old property and declare again at the new one.
- Account locked: accounts with no declarations for 12 months or with incorrect information are temporarily locked – contact the ward/commune police where the house is located.
System technical support: Hanoi 024 3826 4026 – Ho Chi Minh City 028 3920 0365.
Declaring in person with form NA17
Download form NA17 (Word, PDF) and see a filled-in sample: form NA17 – temporary residence declaration form for foreigners.
If you do not have an account yet or the system is down, the accommodation can fill in the Temporary Residence Declaration Form for Foreigners (form NA17) and submit it at the ward/commune police or the Immigration Office where it is located, within 12 hours (24 hours in remote areas). Bring the foreigner’s passport or a copy for checking.
Fines for not declaring
Under Decree 282/2025/ND-CP (effective 15 December 2025): failing to declare 1–3 foreigners is fined 3–5 million VND; 4–8 foreigners 10–15 million VND; 9 or more foreigners 15–20 million VND. See details in fines for not declaring temporary residence for foreigners. Foreigners who overstay their visa are fined separately – see what to do if you overstay your visa in Vietnam.
Temporary residence declaration by province
The procedure is the same nationwide; what differs is the local police office that receives and supports it. Choose the province or city where the foreigner stays to see the Immigration Office address and local notes (former provinces merged into it are shown in brackets):
Info Travel temporary residence support
- Registering and verifying declaration accounts for hotels, landlords and companies.
- Declaring on behalf of landlords, updating when guests move or extend their stay.
- Handling missed declarations and urgent confirmations needed for visa extensions or temporary residence cards.
- Guidance in English for foreigners and landlords nationwide.
Fees depend on the number of guests and the location – message WhatsApp +84327828822 for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Does each province have its own declaration website?
No. Since 21 May 2026, the whole country uses tbltkbtt.bocongan.gov.vn and the TBLT KBTT app; accounts are linked to the provincial police where the accommodation is located.
Can a foreign tenant declare by themselves?
The obligation lies with the accommodation (landlord, hotel). Foreigners should ask the landlord to declare and keep the confirmation for visa and temporary residence card procedures.
Do I need a declaration when staying with friends or family?
Yes. A household where a foreigner stays must declare within 12 hours, just like an accommodation business.
I have a temporary residence card – do I still need to be declared?
Yes. The card allows long-term residence, but every place of stay must still be declared.
What is the difference between a temporary residence declaration and “tạm trú tạm vắng”?
“Tạm trú tạm vắng” is the common name for residence procedures for Vietnamese citizens under the Law on Residence (stay notification, temporary residence registration, absence declaration). For foreigners, the correct procedure is the temporary residence declaration, made by the accommodation (hotel, landlord, household) with the police under the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners. Foreigners do not “register temporary residence” under the procedure for Vietnamese citizens.
What is a temporary residence certificate?
The temporary residence certification is the permitted length of stay granted by the border immigration control when you enter Vietnam (shown by a stamp in your passport or in electronic records). It is different from the declaration confirmation the accommodation receives after declaring with the police. To stay beyond this period, you must extend your stay or get a new visa or temporary residence card.
Do I need a sponsor letter for temporary residence?
Not for the declaration: the landlord or hotel only needs your passport, visa and length of stay. A sponsor is only needed when applying for a stay extension, a new visa or a temporary residence card: then the sponsoring company, organisation or relative submits the application (form NA5 or the relevant form) with supporting documents.
What is a stay extension for foreigners?
It is the procedure to extend the permitted stay in Vietnam, carried out by the inviting or sponsoring agency, organisation or individual at the immigration authority. The extension stamp fee is 10 USD per time. See visa extension service for foreigners.
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