What are procedures for temporary residence registration for foreigners in Vietnam in 2025?

What are procedures for temporary residence registration for foreigners in Vietnam in 2025?

Based on Article 7 of Circular 53/2016/TT-BCA on the declaration and submission of the Temporary Residence Declaration Form:

Article 7. Declaration and Submission of the Temporary Residence Declaration Form

1. The declarant of temporary residence contacts the on-duty team of the commune, ward, commune-level town police, or station police (hereinafter collectively referred to as commune-level police) to obtain a Temporary Residence Declaration Form according to Form NA17 issued together with Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA dated January 5, 2015, by the Ministry of Public Security.

2. The declarant fills in the Temporary Residence Declaration Form and directly submits it to the on-duty team of the commune-level police where the lodging facility is located within 12 hours, or 24 hours for remote or isolated areas, from the time the foreigner registers for temporary residence.

3. The Temporary Residence Declaration Form can be sent in advance by fax or information notified by phone to the on-duty team of the commune-level police before the form is submitted within the time limit specified in clause 2 of this Article.

Based on Article 8 of Circular 53/2016/TT-BCA on the reception of the Temporary Residence Declaration Form:

Article 8. Reception of the Temporary Residence Declaration Form

1. The on-duty team of the commune-level police receives information about the temporary residence of foreigners declared by the Temporary Residence Declaration Form 24 hours/7 days.

2. The on-duty team of the commune-level police checks the Temporary Residence Declaration Form, if it is not fully declared, they request an immediate supplement, perform verification, copy or note down the received information in the duty book and immediately return the Temporary Residence Declaration Form to the declarant; notify the border post where there is a lodging facility if the foreigner temporarily resides at lodging facilities in border areas.

According to the above regulations, the procedures for temporary residence registration for foreigners in 2025 are as follows:

Step 1: Submission of Documents

The declarant fills in the information of the foreign temporary resident in Vietnam into the Temporary Residence Declaration Form.

Directly submit the Temporary Residence Declaration Form to the on-duty team of the commune-level police where the lodging facility is located.

Additionally, the Temporary Residence Declaration Form can be sent in advance by fax or information notified by phone to the on-duty team of the commune-level police before the form is submitted.

Step 2: The on-duty team of the commune-level police receives the temporary residence information of the foreigner declared by the Temporary Residence Declaration Form 24 hours/7 days.

Step 3: Check the Form

The on-duty team of the commune-level police checks the Temporary Residence Declaration Form.

If the form is incomplete, they require an immediate supplement.

Perform verification, copy or note down the received information in the duty book and immediately return the Temporary Residence Declaration Form to the declarant;

Step 4: Notify the border post where there is a lodging facility if the foreigner temporarily resides at lodging facilities in border areas.

What are procedures for temporary residence registration for foreigners in Vietnam in 2025?​ (Image from the Internet)

When are foreigners allowed to enter Vietnam?

Based on Article 20 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (amended by clause 11 of Article 1 of the Law on Amendments to the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2019) on the conditions for entry:

Article 20. Conditions for Entry

1. Foreigners are allowed to enter when they meet all the following conditions:

a) Have a passport or international travel document and visa, except for cases of visa exemption as prescribed by this Law.

Foreigners who enter under a unilateral visa exemption must have a passport with a minimum remaining validity of 6 months;

b) Do not fall under any of the cases not allowed to enter specified in Article 21 of this Law.

2. Foreigners using electronic visas to enter must meet the conditions specified in section 1 of this Article and enter via international border gates decided by the Government of Vietnam.

Thus, foreigners are allowed to enter Vietnam in the following cases:

[1] Have a passport or international travel document and visa, except for cases of visa exemption as prescribed

Foreigners entering under a unilateral visa exemption must have a passport with a minimum remaining validity of 6 months

[2] Do not fall under the following cases not allowed to enter:

- Do not meet the requirements for a passport or international travel document and visa, except for cases of visa exemption as prescribed

- Children under 14 years of age without being accompanied by a parent, guardian, or authorized person

- Forging documents, misrepresenting facts to obtain entry, exit, or residence documents

- People with mental illness or contagious diseases that pose a threat to public health

- Expelled from Vietnam for less than 3 years from the effective date of the expulsion decision

- Forced to leave Vietnam for less than 6 months from the effective date of the exit enforcement decision

- For reasons of disease prevention, control

- For reasons of natural disaster

- For reasons of national defense, security, social order, and safety

In which cases does the Minister of Health decide not to allow foreigners to enter Vietnam?

Based on Article 22 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014on the authority to decide not to allow entry:

Article 22. Authority to Decide Not to Allow Entry

1. The head of the immigration control unit decides not to allow entry in the cases specified in clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of Article 21 of this Law.

2. The Minister of Health decides not to allow entry in the cases specified in clause 7 of Article 21 of this Law.

3. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development decides not to allow entry in the cases specified in clause 8 of Article 21 of this Law.

4. The Minister of Public Security and the Minister of National Defense decide not to allow entry in the cases specified in clause 9 of Article 21 of this Law.

5. Individuals authorized to decide not to allow entry are also authorized to lift the decision not to allow entry and bear legal responsibility for their decision.

According to the above regulation, the Minister of Health decides not to allow foreigners to enter Vietnam in cases related to preventing and controlling epidemics.