Chinese investors are pouring capital into Vietnam — and after the investment registration certificate, the temporary residence card (TRC) is the next key legal document for long-term stay and convenient travel without repeated visa applications. But not every investor qualifies for a TRC, and the card’s validity depends directly on the actually contributed capital. This is a practical guide to first-time issuance of investor TRCs (DT category) for Chinese investors: the four card groups, eligibility conditions, the dossier, and the most common filing mistakes.
1. Four investor TRC groups: a lookup table by capital
Under Articles 36 and 38 of Law 47/2014/QH13 on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam (as amended by Law 51/2019/QH14 and Law 23/2023/QH15, currently in force), investor TRCs fall into four groups based on capital contributed to Vietnamese enterprises/organizations:
This legal framework is updated by Law 118/2025/QH15 — the law amending several provisions of ten security-and-order-related laws (including Law 47/2014/QH13), effective 1 July 2026 — the current legal basis for the DT1 TRC maximum 10-year validity and for the new NA6–NA8–NA16 templates applied from the same date.
| Group | Capital condition | Maximum validity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DT1 | Contributed capital of VND 100 billion or more | 10 years | Largest-capital group |
| DT2 | From VND 50 billion to under 100 billion | 5 years | |
| DT3 | From VND 3 billion to under 50 billion | 3 years | Most common for small/mid-size investors |
| DT4 | Under VND 3 billion | No TRC issued | Only a DT4 visa of up to 12 months |
The key point: the capital counted is actually contributed capital — money truly paid into the enterprise — not the charter capital printed on the license. Many files stumble here: the investment certificate shows VND 50 billion but only 20 billion has actually been contributed — the immigration authority classifies the card group on actual contribution.
2. Eligibility for first-time investor TRC issuance
A Chinese investor applying for a first-time TRC must simultaneously satisfy:
- Valid passport: remaining validity of at least 13 months — the most common “trap.” A passport with 12 months left will be refused a 3-year card;
- Correct-purpose visa: currently residing in Vietnam on a valid DT (investment) visa matching the investment purpose;
- Investor standing: holding an investment registration certificate (under the Investment Law 143/2025/QH15, effective 1 March 2026, replacing Law 61/2020) or papers proving representation of the contributed capital;
- Temporary-residence declaration: completed at the current place of residence;
- “Clean” enterprise: the sponsoring enterprise’s tax code is not locked and it faces no enforcement action.
3. The dossier: forms NA6–NA8–NA16 under the new templates from 1 July 2026
From 1 July 2026, immigration forms follow Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA. A first-time investor TRC file comprises:
- Form NA6 — sponsorship letter from the guaranteeing agency/organization (the invested enterprise);
- Form NA8 — TRC application declaration for the foreigner (completed and signed by the investor);
- Form NA16 — seal-specimen and signature registration of the sponsoring enterprise (filed once, reused for many applications);
- The investor’s original passport;
- Investment-standing papers: investment registration certificate, capital-contribution certificate;
- Proof of temporary-residence declaration.
Where to file: the Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security) or the provincial/municipal Immigration Office where the enterprise is headquartered. The statutory processing time is 5 working days from receipt of a complete valid dossier — in practice longer if supplementation or verification is needed.
4. The five most common reasons files are returned
1. Confusing charter capital with actual contribution: as above — the authority counts actual contribution. Prepare bank statements, contribution minutes, and financial reports evidencing paid-in capital.
2. Passport under 13 months: check passport validity before filing; if expiring soon, renew in China or through diplomatic channels first.
3. Enterprise’s tax code locked: enterprises owing tax or absent from their registered address may have locked tax codes — the sponsorship is then worthless. Check tax-code status before filing.
4. Forgetting to re-declare after moving: changing homes or provinces without re-declaring — residence information mismatches trigger explanations.
5. Using old forms: from 1 July 2026 the new Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA templates are mandatory. Files on old NA6/NA8 forms are returned at intake.
5. Notes after issuance
- The TRC replaces the visa for its validity period — multiple entries/exits without new visa applications;
- On passport change, residence change, or sponsor change, apply for adjustment/re-issuance;
- An expired card means a new issuance procedure (not an administrative “extension” — each issuance is a full new file);
- Accompanying family (spouse, children) fall under the family-visit (TT) category, not DT — separate files.
6. Special notes for Chinese investors
Chinese applicants face a few practical particularities worth preparing for. Document language: investment certificates and corporate papers issued in Chinese must be translated into Vietnamese by a certified translation unit and, where required, consular-legalized — start this process early, as legalization through diplomatic channels can take weeks. Name consistency: the investor’s name must match character-for-character across the passport, the investment certificate, and all NA forms; discrepancies between the Chinese-character name and its transliteration are a frequent cause of “verification” delays. Enterprise seals and signatures: if the sponsoring enterprise’s legal representative is also Chinese and frequently travels, arrange the NA16 seal/signature specimen filing and a standing authorization so filings are not blocked by an absent signatory. Finally, many Chinese investors enter Vietnam first on a DN business visa and convert to DT status after capital contribution — plan the visa conversion together with the TRC application to avoid gaps in lawful residence.
Frequently asked questions
Can the investor apply in person without the enterprise? No — the file requires the sponsoring enterprise’s NA6 letter and NA16 specimen. The enterprise is a co-applicant in substance.
What happens if the investment is withdrawn? The TRC’s basis disappears. The card must be returned/cancelled and the investor converts to another appropriate status or exits. Holding an investor TRC without an underlying investment is a violation.
Is the 5-day processing time reliable? It is the statutory clock for a complete, valid file. In practice, first-time investor files are often checked more carefully; allow 2–4 weeks end-to-end and avoid booking non-refundable travel on the assumption of a 5-day turnaround.
Practical tip — keep a TRC calendar: many investors lose lawful status not because they are ineligible but because they miss dates. Maintain a simple compliance calendar for each investor: passport expiry minus 13 months (renewal trigger), current TRC/visa expiry minus 60 days (new-application trigger), and the enterprise’s tax-code and business-registration status checked quarterly. Assign one person in the company — or external counsel — as the owner of this calendar. The cost of a missed deadline (exit, re-entry, re-application, business disruption) dwarfs the cost of a reminder system.
Conclusion
The quick formula for Chinese investors: actual contributed capital determines the card group (100/50/3 billion VND → DT1/DT2/DT3, up to 10/5/3 years); under 3 billion means only a 12-month visa. Prepare the file on the new NA6–NA8–NA16 templates (Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA, from 1 July 2026), keep the passport above 13 months, and check the sponsoring enterprise’s standing before filing — these three steps eliminate over 80% of return risk.
This article provides general legal information as of 14 October 2026. Card issuance fees follow the Ministry of Finance’s current fee schedule — readers should cross-check before filing; this article states no absolute figures.
One more check — the sponsor’s business registration: confirm the sponsoring enterprise’s enterprise registration certificate is current and its registered address matches where it actually operates. Authorities cross-check the sponsor’s standing automatically; an enterprise that moved offices without updating its registration is a surprisingly common cause of first-time TRC files being returned.
This article has been reviewed by the QA Council — FLAW AI Legal Council.
