Retiring couples should note: Vietnam assesses residence status per individual — there is no joint “retiree couple visa.” Each spouse needs their own lawful basis of stay.
Option 1: one spouse sponsors the other
If one spouse holds a temporary residence card (TRC) — e.g. an investor TRC (DT), a converted former work TRC, or a family TRC — the other may apply for a **family visit visa/TRC (TT)** valid up to 3 years, under Articles 36–38 of the Entry Law 47/2014 (as amended by Law 118/2025/QH15). The file needs a marriage certificate that has been consular-legalized and translated with notarization.
Option 2: each spouse on their own basis
If both have separate investments, each applies for an investor TRC in their own right. Otherwise, each uses the 90-day multiple-entry e-visa, renewed by exiting and re-entering. Simple, but it means periodic border runs.
Foreign marriage certificates
A marriage certificate issued abroad must be **consular-legalized** (per Decree 111/2011/ND-CP) or carry an Apostille (if both countries are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention — effective for Vietnam since 2024), then translated and notarized into Vietnamese before submission to immigration authorities.
Practical notes
Register temporary residence for both spouses at the ward police; keep copies of the translated marriage certificate for repeated use. If one spouse passes away, the survivor must switch their basis of stay promptly — do not let a family TT card expire with no replacement plan.
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Frequently asked questions
1. Is there a joint retiree couple visa?
No. Vietnam assesses residence per individual; each spouse needs their own lawful basis.
2. What does the spouse of a TRC holder get?
A family visit visa/TRC (TT), valid up to 3 years.
3. How to use a foreign marriage certificate in Vietnam?
Consular legalization (Decree 111/2011) or Apostille, then notarized Vietnamese translation.
4. Can both spouses just use 90-day e-visas?
Yes, but it requires periodic border runs; less stable than a TRC.
5. What if one spouse passes away?
The survivor must switch their basis of stay promptly before the family TT expires.
This article has been quality-reviewed by the FLAW AI Legal Council
This article provides general legal information and does not substitute advice for specific cases.
