Do hotel owners have to register temporary residence for foreigners staying at their hotel in Vietnam?

Do hotel owners have to register temporary residence for foreigners staying at their hotel in Vietnam?

In Article 33 of the Law on Entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014, declaration of temporary residence is as follows:

1. Any foreigner that temporary resides in Vietnam must, via the manager of the lodging establishment, declare his/her temporary residence at the local police authority.

2. The manager of the lodging establishment shall complete the declaration form and submit it to the local police authority within 12 hours (or within 24 hours if the administrative division is in a remote area) since the foreigner arrives at the lodging establishment.

3. Lodging establishments that are hotels must have Internet access or connect to the computer network of the immigration authority affiliated to the provincial police authority to transmit foreigners’ declarations of temporary residence. Other lodging establishments that have Internet access may directly send the foreigners’ declarations of temporary residence to the email address of the immigration authority affiliated to the provincial police authority.

4. Any foreigner that changes his temporary residence or resides at a place other than that written in the temporary residence card must submit a declaration of temporary residence as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article.

Thus, according to the above regulations in Vietnam, when staying at your hotel, Peter will register for temporary residence through you. You will be responsible for filling out the full content of the temporary residence declaration form for Peter and transferring it to the local police authority where your hotel operates. 

Your hotel must have Internet access of the immigration authority affiliated to the provincial police authority to transmit Peter’s declarations of temporary residence in Vietnam.

What is duration for registration of temporary residence for foreigners in Vietnam?

According to Clause 2, Article 33 of the Law on Entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014, declaration of temporary residence is as follows:

2. The manager of the lodging establishment shall complete the declaration form and submit it to the local police authority within 12 hours (or within 24 hours if the administrative division is in a remote area) since the foreigner arrives at the lodging establishment.

Therefore, according to the above regulations in Vietnam, time limit for temporary registration for Peter is 12 hours, if your hotel is located in a remote area, the time limit is 24 hours. This period is calculated from the time Peter arrives at your hotel.

Is it possible to extend a foreigner's temporary residence status in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 35 of the Law on Entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014 provides for extension of temporary residence status as follows:

1. Any foreigner who is temporarily residing in Vietnam and wish to have the temporary residence status extended must request the inviting entity to follow the procedures at an immigration authority or a competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

2. The inviting entity mentioned in Clause 1 of this Article shall directly send the written request for extension of the temporary residence status enclosed with a passport or laissez-passer of the foreigner to the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the cases mentioned in Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 Article 8 of this Law, or at the immigration authority in the cases mentioned in Clause 1 Article 16 of this Law.

3. Within 05 working days from the receipt of sufficient documents, the immigration authority or the competent authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall consider extending temporary residence status.

Thus, according to the above regulations in Vietnam, foreigners who are temporarily residing in Vietnam can extend their temporary residence status.

Best Regards!