Visa for a Foreign Baby Born in Vietnam 2026: TT Residence Card

A baby with foreign nationality born in Vietnam needs three steps: birth registration, a passport from the parents’ embassy or consulate, and then the procedure at Vietnam’s immigration authority. Whether you want a visa for the baby to attend school, to stay long-term or simply to leave Vietnam, the baby must have a passport first; the baby can then be granted a TT (family) visa or residence card following the parents, or a visa to exit. Info Travel advises on and handles visas and residence cards for newborns – message us on WhatsApp +84327828822.

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Why does a foreign baby born in Vietnam need a visa?

Every foreigner living in Vietnam, newborns included, must hold a valid basis of stay: a visa, a temporary residence card, a visa exemption certificate or an applicable exemption. Unlike adults, a baby never passes through a border gate, so the new passport carries no entry stamp and no visa. Left unresolved, this can cause problems with the residence declaration, domestic flights and, above all, leaving the country.

The usual route is:

Register the birth at the commune-level People’s Committee;
Get the baby’s passport from the embassy or consulate of their nationality;
Apply at the immigration office: a TT visa or TT residence card following the parents, or an exit visa if the baby is about to leave Vietnam;
Declare the baby’s temporary residence at the family’s address.

Step 1: Register the birth

Births with a foreign element are registered at the commune-level People’s Committee (following the 2025 two-tier local government reform). The basic file is the declaration form, the hospital birth certificate, the parents’ passports and residence cards, and the marriage certificate if any. Foreign-issued papers need consular legalisation and a notarised translation. For the full file, nationality choice and fees, see our guide to birth registration with a foreign parent.

The birth extract (trích lục khai sinh) is the key document for every later step, so order extra copies and check that names and dates match the parents’ passports.

Step 2: Get the baby’s passport

The passport is issued by the country whose nationality the baby holds, through its embassy or consulate in Vietnam. Requirements vary, but usually include the birth extract (sometimes translated), the parents’ passports, baby photos and an application form; some countries first require registering the birth of a citizen abroad. Allow from a few days to several weeks and check with the embassy early.

Step 3: TT visa or residence card for the baby

Under Article 8 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (as amended), the TT symbol covers children under 18 of foreigners holding LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1 or LĐ2 status, and children of Vietnamese citizens. The baby’s sponsor is normally whoever sponsors the parent:

Parent’s status	Baby’s sponsor	Baby’s document
Work (LĐ) with work permit	The parent’s employer	TT visa, then TT residence card
Investor (ĐT1–ĐT3)	The invested company	TT visa, TT residence card
Student (DH)	The school	TT visa, TT residence card
Vietnamese parent	The Vietnamese parent	TT visa, TT card or visa exemption if eligible
Parents on e-visa or tourist visa only	Not TT-eligible	Needs case-by-case advice

Validity: a TT visa lasts up to 1 year; a TT family residence card up to 3 years, never beyond the sponsor’s own status and at least 30 days shorter than the baby’s passport. Many countries issue short-validity child passports, which directly limits the card term. More on the TT family visa.

State fees under Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC:

Visa for a child under 14: USD 25, whatever the validity;
Residence card: USD 145 (up to 2 years), USD 155 (over 2 years).

No entry stamp: how immigration handles it

For a baby born in Vietnam, the birth extract issued by the People’s Committee is what shows the child has been lawfully present since birth. In practice the visa or card file usually contains:

The sponsor’s request (forms under Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA, in use from 1 July 2026);
The baby’s original passport and photos;
The birth extract (copy or certified copy);
The parents’ passports, visas or residence cards, and the marriage certificate where the relationship must be shown;
Proof of the baby’s temporary residence declaration.

The rule of thumb: immigration only processes the file once the baby has a passport. After that it depends on your plans – if the baby will stay in Vietnam for school or long-term residence, apply for a TT visa or residence card following the parents; if the family is about to leave, apply for a visa so the baby can exit. Info Travel handles this procedure with the immigration authority for you.

Residence declaration and leaving Vietnam

Temporary residence declaration for the baby

A baby must be declared like any other foreigner: the landlord, hotel or accommodation manager declares within 12 hours (24 hours in remote areas). Since 21 May 2026 this is done on the national system tbltkbtt.bocongan.gov.vn. Once the baby has a passport, update the declaration with the passport number. See the temporary residence declaration guide.

Leaving Vietnam with your baby

To leave, the baby needs a valid passport plus a valid visa or residence card. If the baby only needs to exit, get an exit visa from the immigration authority once the passport is issued and before going to the airport; avoid booking flights before this is in place. Carry the birth extract (with translation if needed). With a residence card, the baby can leave and re-enter with the parents as often as needed while the card is valid. See also exit procedures for foreigners.

Mixed Vietnamese–foreign parents

At birth registration the parents agree on the child’s nationality. A child with Vietnamese nationality uses Vietnamese documents and needs no visa.
If a foreign nationality is chosen, the Vietnamese parent can sponsor a TT visa or card, or the child may qualify for the 5-year visa exemption.
Whether the child can hold two nationalities depends on the other country’s law – ask its embassy before applying for a passport.

Info Travel’s service for newborns

A clear plan from birth registration to residence card, based on the parents’ status;
Translation and legalisation; help preparing the embassy passport file;
Handling the immigration procedure so the baby gets a TT visa or residence card following the parents, or an exit visa, working with the parent’s company or school;
Guidance on the residence declaration and travelling out of Vietnam with the baby.

Service fees depend on each case – message WhatsApp/Zalo +84327828822 for a quote.

FAQ

Does a newborn need a visa straight away?

The baby must have a passport before any visa can be issued. Register the birth and get the passport quickly, then apply for a visa or residence card following the parents, or an exit visa, depending on the family’s plans.

My residence card is LĐ – how long can my baby’s card be?

Up to 3 years for a TT card, but not longer than your card and at least 30 days shorter than the baby’s passport.

Can the baby be added to my passport?

Vietnamese law allows a visa for a child under 14 on a parent’s passport, but most countries now issue children their own passports. Check with your embassy.