TRC or Visa: Which Should You Choose?

Updated 2026-06-30

If you (or your foreign staff) live in Vietnam long term, renewing a visa over and over is both costly and time-consuming. A temporary residence card (TRC) lets you stay for several years without reapplying for a visa. This guide helps you choose the right option — and InTimeVisa handles the whole file for you.

The Basic Difference

A visa allows entry and a short stay (an eVisa lasts up to 90 days; some other visa types run up to 1 year). A temporary residence card is a long-term residence permit that replaces the visa for its entire validity and lets you exit and re-enter Vietnam multiple times without reapplying.

A TRC's validity depends on the category: usually 2 years for the employment category, up to 3 years for family members, and up to 5 years (ĐT2 investors) or 10 years (major ĐT1 investors). An employment-category card cannot exceed the validity of the work permit.

Who Is Eligible for a TRC?

• Holders of a work permit (or those exempt from one) currently working in Vietnam
• Investors and representatives of foreign organizations in Vietnam
• Spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens or of foreigners who already hold a TRC
• Certain other categories as provided by law

When Should You Switch to a TRC?

If you plan to stay in Vietnam for more than a year, a TRC is usually more economical: instead of paying fees and going through a visa extension every 1–3 months, a single 2-year TRC bundles the cost into one go and cuts repeat paperwork — while giving you a stable residence status.

The application is filed with the Immigration Department (Cục Quản lý xuất nhập cảnh), under the Ministry of Public Security. This authority did not change after the 1 July 2025 merger — unlike the work permit (now with the Department of Home Affairs / Sở Nội vụ) and business/investment registration (now with the Department of Finance / Sở Tài chính). An employment-category card is usually processed alongside the work permit.