Once the Vietnamese company is up and running, the residence card is what lets an investor live in the country and travel in and out long-term without applying for a visa each trip. This article goes straight to procedure: who files, which documents are needed, how long it takes and what the state fee is under current rules.
The foundation: investor status and the sponsoring company
Investor residence cards are open only to tiers DT1, DT2 and DT3 — contributions of VND 3 billion or more, or projects under investment incentives or encouragement as ranked by Law 51/2019/QH14. The file is not lodged as a purely personal application: the company in which the investor contributes capital acts as the inviting, sponsoring organisation and submits the dossier to the Immigration Department or the provincial Immigration Division where the company is based or the investor resides.
Investor status is evidenced by the investment registration certificate (where one is required), the enterprise registration certificate showing the capital stake, and documents on actual capital payment progress. The investor must be residing lawfully in Vietnam on a valid visa when filing — the chain from entry visa to card must be continuous, with no overstay gap in between.
Dossier, processing time and official fees
A standard file contains: the sponsor’s written request on form NA6; the application declaration on form NA8 with a photo; a passport with sufficient remaining validity (the card ends at least 30 days before the passport, so a nearly expired passport shortens the card); the investor-status documents above; and confirmation of temporary residence at the home address. The statutory processing time is five working days from receipt of a complete, valid dossier by the immigration authority.
State fees under Circular 25/2021/TT-BTC are collected in US dollars or converted equivalent: a card of up to two years costs USD 145, over two to five years USD 155, and over five to ten years USD 165. Beyond this fee, a company may pay service charges if it engages an adviser — that part is not a state levy and should be agreed separately in writing.
At expiry: a new card, not an extension
Contrary to common assumption, there is no procedure to “extend” the same card: at expiry the investor repeats the issuance procedure from the start, and the tier is assessed on the capital position at the time of the new filing. The refiling should therefore be scheduled comfortably before expiry to avoid a residence gap; letting the card lapse first exposes the overstay period to fines on the Decree 282/2025/ND-CP ladder.
While valid, the card together with the passport allows multiple entries without a visa. If the passport, residential address or investment position changes (capital increase, reduction or transfer), the sponsoring company must update the immigration authority accordingly — re-issuance for changed particulars likewise runs through the sponsor-filed dossier mechanism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the procedure for an investor TRC?
The company in which the investor contributes capital, acting as sponsor, files at the Immigration Department or the provincial Immigration Division. The dossier comprises the NA6 sponsor request, the NA8 declaration with photo, a valid passport, investor-status documents (investment registration, enterprise registration, capital payment progress) and temporary residence confirmation. Processing takes five working days from a complete valid filing.
Can it be expedited?
The statutory timeline is five working days and there is no official fast-track channel. The realistic way to save time is a correct, complete dossier from the outset — especially the capital contribution evidence — filed well before the current visa expires, so no overstay complication arises.
How long does each DT tier last?
Maximum investor card terms by tier: DT1 up to ten years, DT2 up to five years, DT3 up to three years; DT4 investors (capital under VND 3 billion) are not card-eligible. The term actually granted is also capped by passport validity, because the card must end at least 30 days before the passport.
Can the card be extended?
An expired card is replaced through a fresh issuance procedure identical to the first application; there is no extension stamped onto the same card. The tier for the new card is assessed on contributions at filing time. File before expiry to avoid a residence gap and overstay-fine exposure.
This article has been quality-reviewed by the FLAW AI Legal Council