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Labour and Employment

Renewing & Reissuing TRCs for Foreign Workers

3 min readFLAT LAW FIRM
Hộ chiếu gắn dấu visa đặt trên sổ ghi chú và bản đồ thế giới

Contents

1. What a TRC is and who gets one

A Temporary Residence Card (TRC) is issued by the immigration authority to foreigners permitted to reside in Vietnam for a defined term, and substitutes for a visa during its validity.

Foreigners working lawfully in Vietnam (holding a work permit or work-permit exemption certificate) may be granted a TRC with the LĐ (labour) symbol. The employing enterprise sponsors the worker throughout the process and residence.

2. When renewal or reissuance is needed

  • Renewal: the TRC is expiring while the worker continues employment (work permit renewed/reissued) — renew before the old card expires.
  • Reissuance: the card is lost or damaged, or information changed (new passport number…) — apply for reissuance.
  • First issuance: newly arrived workers or those switching to long-term work status.

Duration principle: TRC validity matches and never exceeds the work permit's validity. Renew the work permit first, then the TRC — never in reverse order.

3. Renewal conditions

  1. The worker's passport remains valid (longer than the requested TRC term).
  2. A valid work permit — renewed/reissued — (or valid exemption certificate).
  3. The sponsoring enterprise operates lawfully and still employs the worker.
  4. The worker is not entry-banned, serving a sentence, or under judgment enforcement.

4. Dossier and procedure

Basic dossier:

  • ☐ TRC application form (current template) certified by the sponsoring enterprise.
  • ☐ Worker's passport (original for verification).
  • ☐ Old TRC (for renewal).
  • ☐ Valid work permit / exemption certificate.
  • ☐ Employer's sponsorship letter.
  • ☐ Proof of ongoing employment (labour contract, appointment decision…).

Procedure:

  1. The enterprise prepares the dossier; the worker signs the form.
  2. File with the immigration authority (Department or provincial Office of Immigration where the enterprise is seated — per current delegation).
  3. Receive an appointment slip; pay fees per regulations.
  4. Collect the new TRC matching the work-permit term.

Practical tip: start 1–2 months before expiry — the work permit must be renewed first, which itself takes time.

5. Lost or damaged cards: reissuance

  1. Report immediately: the worker/enterprise files a loss report with the immigration authority (and local police if needed).
  2. Prepare the reissuance dossier: reissuance request, passport, work permit, employer sponsorship letter, loss report.
  3. File with the immigration authority and collect the new card.

While waiting, keep the filing receipt/appointment slip safe — it evidences a lawful pending procedure during inspections.

6. Risks of letting the card expire

  • Worker: overstaying may draw administrative sanctions in immigration; serious cases risk deportation and affect future entries and issuances.
  • Sponsoring enterprise: responsible for managing sponsored foreigners — unlawful residence of its workers may bring sanctions and hurt compliance standing.
  • Operational risk: a worker without valid residence documents cannot travel normally — disrupting assignments and projects.

7. Frequently asked questions

How long is a foreign worker's temporary residence card valid? It matches the work permit's validity and never exceeds it. Renew the TRC when the work permit is renewed.

What does the renewal dossier include? Valid passport; old TRC; valid work permit; employer's sponsorship letter; the application form.

What if the TRC is lost? Report the loss promptly, then file for reissuance (request, passport, work permit, sponsorship letter) at the immigration authority.

What if the TRC expires before renewal? Overstaying may draw administrative sanctions, and serious cases deportation; the sponsoring enterprise bears joint responsibility.

Managing TRCs for many foreign workers? Contact FLAT Law Firm for end-to-end support.

8. Language versions

9. References

  • 2014 Law on foreigners' entry, exit, transit and residence in Vietnam (amended 2019, 2023).
  • Decree 219/2025/ND-CP (effective 07/8/2025, replacing Decree 152/2020/ND-CP and Decree 70/2023/ND-CP) — work permits.
  • Content cross-checked at the time of writing (28/9/2026).