Losing a temporary residence card (TRC) in Vietnam is not uncommon — a lost wallet, lost luggage, or simply leaving it somewhere. The first thing to know: the law has no standalone procedure called “re-issuing a temporary residence card.” When a card is lost, the foreigner follows the TRC issuance procedure under Article 37 of the consolidated version VBHN 62/VBHN-VPQH dated 23 March 2026. Here is the step-by-step process and the statutory timeline.
Step 1 — Report the loss and get a loss confirmation
The first step is to report to the commune/ward Police where the card was lost to obtain a loss confirmation certificate. This is a practical administrative step many people skip, leading to rejected files. Also prepare a written explanation of the loss certified by your sponsor (the agency, organization, or individual that invited/sponsored you).
Why it matters: under Article 44(2)(c), when travelling you must carry your passport and residence documents and present them on request — a lost card with no replacement document exposes you to administrative handling during checks.
Step 2 — Prepare the dossier under Article 37
The TRC dossier is set out in Article 37(1) of VBHN 62, applied by reference when a card is lost:
- A written request from the inviting/sponsoring agency, organization, or individual — form NA6 (organization) or form NA7 (individual);
- A TRC application declaration with photo — form NA8;
- A valid passport;
- Documents proving eligibility for a TRC (Article 36(1)) — e.g., a valid work permit or work-permit-exemption confirmation if you are a worker;
- The local police loss confirmation + written explanation (in practice); a photocopy of the lost card (if available).
Note on forms: forms NA6/NA7/NA8 issued under Circular 04/2015/TT-BCA were amended by Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA (effective 1 July 2026). From 1 July 2026, the new forms must be used; old forms may be refused.
If your passport was also lost: under Article 37(1)(c), the dossier must include a passport — so you must replace the passport first (a TRC is valid for at least 30 days less than the passport’s remaining validity, Article 38(1)).
Step 3 — File and wait for the result
File at the immigration authority where the sponsoring agency/organization is headquartered (or where the sponsoring individual resides) under Article 37(2). Processing time: 05 working days from receipt of a complete valid dossier (Article 37(2)(c); Article 4(3), Circular 31/2015/TT-BCA). The “5–7 days” quoted by some service providers reflects local practice in some provinces, not the statutory rule.
Urgent exit while waiting for the new card
Under Article 27(1)(b), exit requires a valid temporary residence certificate/TRC/permanent residence card. If you lose your card but must exit urgently before the new one is issued, the practical route is to apply for an exit visa at the Immigration Department.
Distinguish from permanent residence card re-issuance
Article 43 provides for renewal and re-issuance of permanent residence cards — within 20 days — but this does not apply to temporary residence cards. Do not mix up the two procedures when checking timelines.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is there a fine for losing a TRC?
A: The fine framework for residence-document-related violations is set by Decree 282/2025/ND-CP (replacing Decree 144/2021/ND-CP, effective 15/12/2025). The exact points and clauses for each violation should only be applied after checking the original text — have your adviser verify precisely before filing.
Q: Does the new card keep the remaining validity of the lost one?
A: There is no legal concept of “re-issuance with the old card’s remaining validity.” The new card is issued on a new dossier with validity under Article 38.
Q: What is the fee?
A: Fees follow the Ministry of Finance’s tariff at the time of filing — check the current tariff rather than relying on figures from commercial sources.
Q: Can I file online?
A: It depends on the locality and timing; the safest approach is to ask the immigration authority where you will file about accepted submission channels.
Legal references
- Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam — VBHN 62/VBHN-VPQH dated 23/3/2026 (Article 27(1), Articles 36–38, Article 43, Article 44(2))
- Circular 31/2015/TT-BCA (Article 4(3)) — in force
- Circular 04/2015/TT-BCA (forms NA6, NA7, NA8) — amended by Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA, effective 1/7/2026
- Decree 282/2025/ND-CP (effective 15/12/2025) — replaced Decree 144/2021/ND-CP
Lost your TRC and need fast, correct handling? Contact FLAT Law Firm for assistance.
Content prepared by the editorial team and quality-reviewed by the AI Legal Council before submission; it does not replace a review by a licensed lawyer for your specific case.
This information is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice.