My husband works in Vietnam on an LĐ1 visa, and my child and I came along as accompanying family — how long can our TT visas let us stay, and can we get residence cards? The short answer: a TT visa is valid for no more than 01 year; a TT temporary residence card is valid for no more than 03 years. But these are two different documents — do not confuse a “TT visa” with a “3-year TT card”.
The quick answer: 01 year vs 03 years
- TT visa: validity not exceeding 01 year (Article 9.4, consolidated document 62/VBHN-VPQH — consolidating Laws 47/2014/QH13, 51/2019/QH14, 23/2023/QH15, 118/2025/QH15, 103/2025/QH15; in force from 01/7/2026). Quote the law’s exact wording: “not exceeding 01 year”;
- TT temporary residence card: validity not exceeding 03 years (Article 38.4), and at least 30 days shorter than the remaining validity of the passport (Article 38.1).
A TT visa is an entry and short-stay permit; a TT temporary residence card is a long-stay document issued to foreigners already residing in Vietnam who fall within the TT visa category.
Who qualifies for a TT visa? (Article 8.18)
The law lists two groups, with different age boundaries — do not treat them as identical:
Group 1 — relatives of foreigners: foreign spouses and children under 18 of foreigners holding LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1 or LĐ2 visas.
Group 2 — relatives of Vietnamese citizens: foreign fathers, mothers, spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens — this group has no age limit under Article 8.18.
Exclusions: relatives of holders of ĐT4, NN3, DN1, DN2, HN, VR, DL or PV2 visas are not eligible for TT. This matters particularly for families where the worker entered on a DN (business) visa: the family does not qualify for TT — consider a VR (family visit) visa or a change of visa purpose instead.
“Children under 18” — understand the boundary correctly
In Group 1, “children” is limited by statute to children under 18. If a child turns 18 while holding a TT visa or card — for example the 18th birthday falls mid-stay — the law does not clearly provide how to handle it. In that case, contact the immigration management authority for specific guidance rather than assuming the stay continues or a different category applies.
From a TT visa to a TT residence card
Foreigners temporarily residing in Vietnam who fall within the TT visa category may be considered for a temporary residence card of the corresponding symbol (Article 36.1(b) and 36.2(b)). Additionally, under Article 44.1(b): a temporary residence card holder may sponsor their spouse and children under 18 to live with them for the card’s duration, with the consent of the inviting/sponsoring agency or organisation. Practical note: the TT card’s validity is capped by the passport (at least 30 days shorter) — a nearly expired passport means a short card.
New from 01/7/2026 (Law 118/2025)
Two changes directly concern family members:
- Relatives of UĐ1 visa holders (high-quality digital technology human resources) are issued UĐ2 visas (Article 8.23) — and UĐ2 is not a TT visa category;
- Expanded family-visit sponsorship: Vietnamese citizens permanently residing in Vietnam may sponsor grandparents, parents-in-law, spouses, children and siblings who are foreigners to visit Vietnam; grandparents may sponsor their paternal and maternal grandchildren (Article 45.1(b)).
A note on sponsorship by Vietnamese citizens settled abroad (not permanently residing in Vietnam): Article 14.1(k) and 14.2 require the Vietnamese citizen to be “permanently residing in Vietnam” and to present documents proving the family relationship. If these are not met, contact the immigration authority for guidance — do not improvise.
When TT is not available: alternatives
If family members do not qualify for TT (e.g. the sponsor holds a DN visa), two options are commonly considered:
- VR visa (family visit, other purposes): validity not exceeding 180 days (Article 8.19, Article 9.3);
- Change of visa purpose under Article 7.4 — where statutory conditions are met.
And one principle to remember: when a visa expires, a new one is considered (Article 9.7) — there is no such thing as an “indefinite extension” of a TT visa.
FAQs
Can a TT visa allow a 3-year stay?
No. A TT visa lasts no more than 01 year. The 03-year figure belongs to the temporary residence card with the TT symbol — two different documents.
My husband holds a DN1 visa — can I get a TT visa?
No. DN1 is on the Article 8.18 exclusion list. Consider a VR visa (family visit, up to 180 days) or a change of visa purpose.
My child is 17 and a half — can we get a 3-year TT card?
Yes, if eligible for the TT category. But when the child turns 18 during the card’s validity, the law is silent — contact the immigration authority for guidance.
Need help with visa, residence or permanent residence procedures for foreigners in Vietnam? Reach us via the Contact page of FLAT Law Firm.
The information above is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice.
For reference only, not legal advice. Content quality-checked by the AI Legal Council; not yet reviewed by a human lawyer.