Are foreigners required to register temporary residence in Vietnam?

1. Foreigners are subject to temporary residence registration

Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 33 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 Regulations on temporary residence registration for foreigners are as follows:

Foreigners temporarily residing in Vietnam must declare their temporary residence through the person directly managing and operating the accommodation establishment to the Police of the commune, ward, town or police station where the establishment is located. stay.

Foreigners who change their temporary residence or temporary residence other than the address stated in their permanent residence card must declare their temporary residence according to the regulations above.

Thus, foreigners who temporarily reside in Vietnam will have to register for temporary residence through the person directly managing the accommodation facility.

2. Temporary residence registration period for foreigners

In Clause 2, Article 33 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 Regulations on temporary residence registration time are as follows:

The person directly managing and operating the accommodation establishment is responsible for recording the full contents of the temporary residence declaration form for foreigners and forwarding it to the Commune, Ward, Town Police or Police Station. where there is an accommodation facility within 12 hours, for remote areas within 24 hours from the time the foreigner arrives at the accommodation facility.

3. Form of temporary residence registration for foreigners

Forms of temporary residence registration for foreigners are specified in Clause 3, Article 33 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 as follows:

Tourist accommodation establishments that are hotels must connect to the Internet or computer network with the immigration management agency of the province or centrally run city to transmit information about foreigners' temporary residence declaration. 

Other accommodation establishments with Internet access can directly send foreigners' temporary residence declaration information to the public email box of the immigration management agency of the Police of provinces and centrally run cities.

4. Temporary residence registration procedures for foreigners

Method 1: Make declaration of temporary residence of foreigners via the website

Step 1: Visit the website to receive an account 

- The person declaring temporary residence accesses the website of the Immigration Management Department of the Police of the province or centrally run city where the accommodation facility is located (Electronic information page) to receive the declaration account. 

When there is a change in information related to the declared account, that information must be immediately updated, modified, and supplemented on the website. Information provided includes:

+ Name of the accommodation facility;

+ Type of accommodation facility;

+ Address of the accommodation facility;

+ Phone number of the accommodation facility;

+ Email of the accommodation facility;

+ Full name;

+ Date of birth;

+ Phone number;

+ Number of ID card or Citizen Identification card or passport

- The person declaring temporary residence is responsible for managing and securing the declaration account and all information created by the declaration account. 

When discovering that the declared account has been stolen, information misused, or cannot be used, you must immediately notify the Immigration Management Department of the Police of the province or centrally run city.

Account validity period:

The declared account will self-destruct when there is no new declared information within 12 months or when it is discovered that false declaration or information about foreigners or accommodation facilities is inaccurate.

Step 2: Declare temporary residence information

- The person declaring temporary residence accesses the website and logs into the declaration account to declare temporary residence information. 

Declaring temporary residence for foreigners via the website must be done immediately when the foreigner arrives to register for temporary residence.

- Information on temporary residence declaration includes:

+ Full name;

+ Gender;

+ Date of birth;

+ Nationality;

+ Passport number or valid passport replacement document, expected duration of temporary residence of the foreigner.

You can enter each case into the data input boxes or transfer the input file attached to the sample file posted on the website.

Note:  The temporary residence declarant checks, amends and supplements the information before confirming to save the information; Check the temporary residence declaration information management section to determine if the system has received it. If the system has not received it, re-enter the information.

Step 3: Receive temporary residence information

The Immigration Management Department of the Police of provinces and centrally run cities receives temporary residence information of foreigners declared via the website 24 hours/7 days;

Notify the border guard station where the accommodation facility is located if foreigners temporarily stay at accommodation facilities in the border area.

(Articles 4, 5, 6 Circular 53/2016/TT-BCA)

Method 2: Declare temporary residence information of foreigners using the temporary residence declaration form

Step 1: Fill out and transfer the temporary residence declaration form

The person declaring temporary residence should contact the police station of the commune, ward, town or police station (commune-level police) to be provided with a temporary residence declaration form according to form NA17 issued with it. Circular 04/2015/TT-BCA.

Deadline for sending temporary residence declaration form

The person declaring temporary residence records information on the temporary residence declaration form and directly transfers the temporary residence declaration form to the commune-level police station where the accommodation establishment is located within 12 hours, for remote areas. away within 24 hours from the time the foreigner arrives to register for temporary residence.

How to send temporary residence declaration form

The temporary residence declaration form can be sent in advance by fax or informed by phone to the commune-level police station before transferring the temporary residence declaration form within the time limit specified above.

Step 2: Receive temporary residence declaration form

- On duty at the Commune Police Department to receive temporary residence information of foreigners declared by Temporary Residence Declaration Form 24 hours/7 days.

- On duty at the commune-level police station, check the temporary residence declaration form. If it is not fully declared, request additional declaration immediately, confirm, photocopy or record the received information in the duty book and return it. Immediately the temporary residence declaration form for the person declaring temporary residence;

Notify the border guard station where the accommodation facility is located if foreigners temporarily stay at accommodation facilities in the border area.

(Article 7, 8 Circular 53/2016/TT-BCA)