“Converting” from a labor visa to a residence card is in substance a one-time residence status upgrade: from repeated short stay extensions to a stable term matched exactly to the work permit cycle. It is the procedure an FDI employer should complete within the expert’s first quarter of work.
Conditions and card symbols
Article 36 of the Entry-Exit Law lists the cases eligible for residence cards; card symbols mirror visa symbols. For the labor category:
- LD2 card: the employee holds a valid work permit — card validity no more than 2 years and not beyond the permit’s remaining term;
- LD1 card: the employee holds a valid exemption confirmation — corresponding validity, no more than 2 years;
- The employing company is the sponsoring organization for the card application.
The procedure (Article 37) — 5 working days
- The company issues the written residence card request (Form NA6) for the employee;
- The employee completes the card application form (Form NA8) with two 2×3 cm photos and the original passport;
- Attach the valid work permit/confirmation as the document proving the card category;
- File at the immigration authority under the decentralization rules (the Immigration Department or the Immigration Division of the provincial/municipal police where the company is based);
- Collect the card after 5 working days from a complete, valid dossier; the card fee is paid under the current fee schedule.
The card’s practical value versus a visa
- Visa replacement: during the card term, the employee exits and enters Vietnam on passport + card, with no per-trip visa applications — saving the entire cost and risk of extensions/visa runs abroad;
- Residence stability: one 2-year card cycle matched to the work permit, instead of short stay-extension rounds;
- A foundation for other procedures: the residence card underpins long-term bank accounts, long-term leases, dependent visas/cards for accompanying spouses and children (TT category), and driving licenses under the corresponding rules.
Conversion notes
File for the card while the current visa is still valid and the permit has a long remaining term — applying when the permit has only weeks left yields a very short card. At the same time, the employer must remember the card is tied to its sponsorship: when the employee’s contract ends, the paper chain (permit recall, end of card sponsorship) must be handled in sync, so the card does not “live” longer than the real labor relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the conditions for converting from an LD visa to a residence card?
Under Article 36 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, a foreigner qualifies for a temporary residence card in the statutory cases — for the labor category: working in Vietnam with a valid work permit (card symbol LD2) or an exemption confirmation (card symbol LD1), and having a Vietnamese agency/organization inviting and sponsoring them (the employing company). The passport must have enough validity left because the card is issued to end at least 30 days before the passport expires.
What does the conversion dossier contain and where is it filed?
The dossier under Article 37 of the Entry-Exit Law: the sponsoring organization’s written request for a residence card (Form NA6); the residence card application form (Form NA8) with 2×3 cm photos; the employee’s passport; and documents proving the card category — the valid work permit or exemption confirmation. File at the Immigration Department or the Immigration Division of the provincial/municipal police where the sponsoring company is based (or where the employee resides under the decentralization rules); processing takes 5 working days from a complete, valid dossier.
After the residence card is issued, is the old LD visa still needed?
Not for exit/entry purposes: a holder of a valid residence card may exit and enter Vietnam using the card plus passport without applying for a visa throughout the card’s validity — the core benefit of conversion for those who travel abroad frequently. The old visa in the passport retains only historical value; subsequent residence extensions run on the residence card cycle (on expiry, a new card is considered) tied to the work permit cycle.
Contact us
FLAT Law Firm advises FDI companies and foreign employees on work permits, visas and temporary residence cards in Vietnam. Contact us for advice on your specific case.
This content is general information only and is not a substitute for legal advice on a specific case.
This article has been quality-reviewed by the FLAW AI Legal Council
