Procedures and required documents for sponsoring a TT temporary residence card for family members of foreign workers

Vietnam is increasingly attracting foreign experts, managers, and workers for long-term employment. Along with employment needs, the demand to bring spouses and children to live in Vietnam is also becoming more common. One of the options that allows family members of foreign workers to reside stably in Vietnam is to apply for a family-visit Temporary Residence Card (TRC), symbol TT.

However, not every family member of a foreign worker is eligible for a TT Temporary Residence Card. The sponsor, the type of residence document held by the foreign worker, the family relationship, and documents proving that relationship are factors that must be carefully reviewed before proceeding with the application.

Under current regulations, foreigners who enter Vietnam with a TT visa are among those who may be considered for a temporary residence card, and the temporary residence card issued will bear the corresponding visa symbol.

What is a TT temporary residence card?

A TT Temporary Residence Card is a type of temporary residence card issued to foreigners who qualify for family visits under Vietnam’s laws on the entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners.

For families of foreign workers, the TT category is particularly important because the law provides that a TT visa may be issued to the spouse and children under 18 years of age of foreigners who have been granted certain types of visas, including LĐ1 and LĐ2. LĐ1 applies to foreigners working in Vietnam who have certification that they are exempt from a work permit, while LĐ2 applies to foreigners working in Vietnam who are required to obtain a work permit.

Therefore, in a typical case, a foreign worker who is legally working in Vietnam and holds appropriate residence documents may carry out procedures for their spouse and children under 18 to reside with them in Vietnam under the family-visit category.

Which family members of a foreign worker may be granted a TT temporary residence card?

For foreigners working in Vietnam under the LĐ1 or LĐ2 category, family members who generally qualify for the TT category include:

• The foreign worker’s spouse
• Children under 18 years of age.

In addition to LĐ1 and LĐ2, regulations on TT visas also apply to the spouses and children under 18 of foreigners who have been granted visas with the symbols LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, and PV1.

An important point to note is that where the sponsor is a foreign national, the foreign worker’s parents are not included in the group eligible for a TT visa based on this dependent relationship. The rules concerning parents are broader where the foreigner is a family member of a Vietnamese citizen. Therefore, companies and foreign workers should correctly determine the family relationship before preparing the application.

Conditions for family members of foreign workers to apply for a TT temporary residence card

To be considered for a TT Temporary Residence Card, the family member must first fall within a category permitted by law to receive this type of card. Under current regulations, foreigners who enter Vietnam with a TT visa may be considered for a temporary residence card, which will bear the TT symbol.

In practice, several important matters should be checked when preparing the application:

• First, the foreign worker must have a lawful basis for residence in Vietnam. A common case is where the worker holds a work permit or a certificate confirming exemption from a work permit, together with entry and residence documents corresponding to the purpose of employment.
• Second, the applicant for the TT Temporary Residence Card must be able to prove the family relationship. A spouse generally uses a marriage certificate, while a child uses a birth certificate or equivalent document.
• Third, the applicant’s passport must have sufficient remaining validity. The law stipulates that the validity of the temporary residence card issued must be at least 30 days shorter than the remaining validity of the passport.
• Fourth, the invitation and sponsorship must be carried out by the appropriate sponsor and in accordance with the required procedures. A temporary residence card holder may sponsor their spouse and children under 18 to reside with them for the duration of the card, provided that the agency or organization that invited or sponsored the card holder gives its consent.

For this reason, in many cases where a foreign worker is employed by a company, the company needs to coordinate in completing family sponsorship procedures for the worker’s spouse and children.

What documents are required for a TT temporary residence card?

According to administrative procedures published by the Ministry of Public Security, an application for a temporary residence card for a foreigner includes a written request from the sponsoring agency, organization, or individual; Form NA8; the applicant’s passport; photographs; and documents proving that the foreigner is eligible to be considered for a temporary residence card.

For a TT Temporary Residence Card application for a foreign worker’s family member, the application dossier generally includes:

1. Written request for issuance of a temporary residence card

If an agency or organization carries out the sponsorship procedure, Form NA6 is used.
If an individual carries out the sponsorship procedure, Form NA7 is used, depending on the applicable case.

2. Application form for a temporary residence Card – Form NA8

This form provides information about the foreign applicant and must be completed using the current prescribed form.

3. Passport of the TT temporary residence card applicant

The passport must remain valid, and its remaining validity must be sufficient for the immigration authority to determine the validity period of the temporary residence card.

4. Photographs of the applicant

According to the currently published administrative procedure, the application requires two 2x3 cm photographs, with one photograph attached to the application form and one submitted separately.

5. Documents proving the family relationship

Depending on the specific case, these may include:

• Marriage certificate for a spouse
• Birth certificate for a child
• Other lawful documents proving the family relationship.

For documents issued by foreign authorities, it is necessary to check the requirements for consular legalization, translation, and certification, as well as whether an exemption applies under an international treaty or the principle of reciprocity.

6. Documents of the foreign worker who is the sponsor or related family member

Depending on the specific application, required documents may include the foreign worker’s passport, temporary residence card or other residence documents, work permit or certificate confirming exemption from a work permit, and other relevant documents proving the sponsor’s lawful basis for residence in Vietnam.

7. Legal documents of the sponsoring company

For a company carrying out procedures with the immigration authority for the first time, the organization’s legal documents must be registered in accordance with regulations. The Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal lists documents including a certified copy of the license or decision issued by a competent authority regarding the establishment of the organization, as well as a document introducing the seal and signature of the authorized representative.

In principle, these documents only need to be submitted once. If there are any changes, the company must notify the authority and provide updated information.

How should foreign marriage and birth certificates be processed?

This is one of the parts of the application that most commonly causes difficulties.

If a marriage certificate or birth certificate was issued abroad, the company and foreign worker should first determine whether the document must undergo consular legalization or is exempt from consular legalization under an international treaty, agreement, or other applicable regulation.

Afterward, documents in a foreign language generally need to be translated into Vietnamese and certified in accordance with the requirements applicable to administrative procedures.

Information on family relationship documents should also be consistent with the passport, particularly the full name, date of birth, nationality, and information concerning parents or spouses. Differences in name spelling, name order, or dates of birth may result in the receiving authority requesting additional documents or explanations.

Procedure for applying for a TT temporary residence card

Step 1: Check the foreign worker’s eligibility

First, check the type of visa/temporary residence card, passport validity, work permit or work permit exemption certificate, and the foreign worker’s authorized period of residence.

At the same time, determine whether the family member falls within the eligible category of spouse or child under 18 who may be sponsored under the TT category.

Step 2: Prepare documents proving the family relationship

Prepare the marriage certificate, birth certificate, and other relevant documents.
For documents issued abroad, consular legalization, translation, and certification requirements should be addressed before submission to minimize the risk of being asked to supplement the application.

Step 3: Prepare application forms and sponsorship documents

The sponsoring agency or organization prepares Form NA6. If an individual is the sponsor, Form NA7 is used. The applicant prepares Form NA8, their passport, photographs, and documents proving eligibility.

Step 4: Submit the application

According to the procedure currently published by the Ministry of Public Security, the inviting or sponsoring agency, organization, or individual submits the application to the immigration authority where the agency or organization is headquartered or where the inviting or sponsoring individual resides. Applications may currently be submitted either in person or online, depending on the methods provided by the competent authority.

For procedures handled by the Vietnam Immigration Department, the Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal also provides for in-person and online submission, as well as submission of supplementary documents via public postal services when requested.

Step 5: Receive the result

After receiving the application, the immigration authority reviews whether the requirements for issuing the card have been satisfied. If the application is valid and all requirements are met, the foreign applicant will be granted a TT Temporary Residence Card.

The processing time published by the Ministry of Public Security is no more than five working days from the date a complete application is received.

How long is a TT temporary residence card valid?

Under the regulations on temporary residence card validity, a TT Temporary Residence Card is valid for no more than three years. At the same time, the validity of the card issued must be at least 30 days shorter than the remaining validity of the applicant’s passport.

However, this does not mean that every TT application will automatically result in a three-year card.

Where a family member’s residence depends on the foreign worker’s authorized residence period, the actual validity of the card must also be determined based on the validity of the sponsor’s documents, the applicant’s passport, and the specific circumstances of the application.

Therefore, if the foreign worker’s temporary residence card or employment documents are approaching expiration, the company should consider renewing or reissuing the worker’s documents first, or coordinate these procedures with the application plan for the dependent family member.

TT temporary residence card fees

According to the fees currently published on the Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal for the issuance of temporary residence cards:

• Cards valid for no more than 2 years: USD 145/card
• Cards valid for more than 2 years and up to 5 years: USD 155/card
• Cards valid for more than 5 years and up to 10 years: USD 165/card.

Because a TT Temporary Residence Card has a maximum validity of three years, TT applications will in practice fall within one of the first two fee levels, depending on the validity period of the card issued.

Common mistakes when applying for a TT temporary residence card

• A common mistake is assuming that if a foreign worker has a work permit, every member of their family can apply for a TT Temporary Residence Card. In fact, the categories of family members eligible for sponsorship under the TT category for foreign workers are specifically defined and must be checked against the applicable regulations.
• Another common mistake is submitting a foreign-issued marriage certificate or birth certificate that has not completed the procedures required for lawful use in Vietnam.
• A third mistake is inconsistency between information on birth certificates, marriage certificates, and passports. Even a difference in a name or date of birth may result in a request for clarification or additional documents.
• A fourth mistake is insufficient remaining passport validity for the dependent. Because the temporary residence card must expire at least 30 days before the passport, a passport that is close to expiration can directly affect the validity period of the TT Temporary Residence Card.

Companies should also check their legal documents and registered seal and signature information with the immigration authority, particularly when carrying out the procedure for the first time or after changes to the company’s legal information.

Can a TT temporary residence card holder work in Vietnam?

A TT Temporary Residence Card is issued on the basis of a family visit and is not a work permit.

Therefore, if a TT Temporary Residence Card holder wishes to work in Vietnam, their situation must be separately considered under Vietnam’s labor laws governing foreign workers. Depending on the circumstances, they may be required to obtain a work permit or fall within a category eligible for certification/exemption from the work permit requirement.

Companies should not assume that holding a TT Temporary Residence Card automatically authorizes a foreigner to work in Vietnam.

Temporary residence declaration after the family member resides in Vietnam

After a foreigner arrives and resides at an address in Vietnam, the temporary residence declaration must still be completed in accordance with applicable regulations.

Notably, from May 21, 2026, the Ministry of Public Security has implemented a unified system for temporary residence declarations for foreigners and stay notifications for Vietnamese citizens. Accommodation establishments must submit declarations through the unified system instead of the previous foreigner temporary residence declaration website.

Therefore, obtaining a TT Temporary Residence Card does not exempt the foreigner from the obligation to declare temporary residence at the place where they actually reside.

A TT family-visit Temporary Residence Card is an important solution that allows the spouse and children under 18 of a foreign worker to reside with the worker in Vietnam for a relatively long period. A TT card may be valid for up to three years, but its actual validity depends on the applicant’s passport, the sponsor’s lawful basis for residence, and the specific circumstances of each application.

To facilitate the application process, companies and foreign workers should review three key areas from the outset: the foreign worker’s eligibility and documentation, the relationship between the sponsor and the dependent, and the validity of civil status documents issued abroad.

Proper preparation of Forms NA6/NA7 and NA8, passports, photographs, documents proving family relationships, and supporting documents demonstrating eligibility for the card can help minimize requests for supplementary documents and shorten the processing time at the immigration authority.

See also: Vietnam has a retirement visa for foreigners?