Vietnam Permanent Residence Guide Revealed

Vietnam’s immigration system does not grant permanent residence to the vast majority of expatriates, investors, or professionals living and working in the country. Unlike some neighboring nations, permanent residence is available only to foreign nationals who fall within one of four statutory categories, excluding those who rely on temporary visas or long-term work permits. The Permanent Residence Card (PRC) is issued indefinitely, though it must be renewed every ten years. For most foreign nationals, this means long-term stability requires periodic renewals of temporary status rather than a pathway to permanent residency.

Eligibility requirements for permanent residence

Vietnam’s Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners provides only four specific pathways for foreign nationals seeking permanent residence. These categories include individuals recognized for meritorious service to Vietnam, foreign scientists and experts residing in Vietnam on a temporary residence card, sponsored family members of Vietnamese citizens, and stateless persons who have continuously resided in Vietnam since 2000 or earlier. In practice, permanent residence is granted in limited circumstances, with family-sponsored applications accounting for a significant share of approvals. The meritorious service category is reserved for exceptional cases, while the scientist and expert pathway is narrowly interpreted and discretionary.

Applicants must satisfy several conditions to qualify. Vietnamese law requires a stable income and lawful accommodation within the country. Two categories carry specific further requirements: scientists and experts must be formally proposed by a relevant minister or the head of a ministerial-level agency, and family members sponsored by a Vietnamese citizen must have temporarily resided in Vietnam for at least three consecutive years before applying.

Given the strict criteria, applicants should carefully assess their eligibility and prepare supporting documents before submitting an application to the Vietnam Immigration Department, which is within the Ministry of Public Security. The application fee is US$100, and authorities have up to four months to decide, extendable by a further two months where additional verification is required. Documents issued in foreign countries must be translated into Vietnamese and legalized.

Related: Vietnam’s wood sector faces new challenges in 2026

Required documents for the application

• Application for permanent residence (Form NA12)
• Completed Form NA12 issued together with Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA dated January 5, 2015, of the Ministry of Public Security
• Criminal record certificate issued by the competent authority of the applicant’s country of nationality
• Diplomatic note from the diplomatic mission of the applicant’s country requesting the Vietnamese authorities to grant the applicant permanent residence
• Certified true copy of the applicant’s valid passport
• Documents proving eligibility for permanent residence under Article 40 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (Law No. 47/2014/QH13 dated June 16, 2014)
• Letter of guarantee (if applicable)

Renewal and alternatives

Permanent residence status in Vietnam is granted indefinitely and does not expire. However, the PRC must be renewed every ten years in accordance with Article 43 of the Law on Entry, Exit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam. Card renewal is an administrative procedure handled by the provincial-level public security authority where the permanent resident is registered and does not require the applicant to undergo a new eligibility assessment. The renewal dossier is relatively simple and generally includes an application for PRC renewal and the applicant’s valid passport.

For those who do not qualify for permanent residency, long-term stability in Vietnam is generally achieved through temporary residence cards and other visa-based immigration pathways. Temporary residence may be granted on the basis of investor (DT) visas and TRCs for eligible foreign investors or a five-year visa for highly skilled professionals introduced under Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP. These long-term residence options do not provide a direct route to permanent residence. However, foreign investors seeking stability might consider the corporate oversight setting. Vietnam strengthens corporate oversight rules to improve the business environment.

While permanent residence is not available to most foreign nationals, it remains an important milestone for those seeking Vietnamese nationality, as it is one of the conditions that may apply when applying for naturalization. For the small group of eligible applicants who meet these specific statutory criteria, permanent residence offers greater stability by removing the need for periodic visa or temporary residence renewals.