The Vietnamese authorities have changed the procedure for applying for Temporary Residence Cards (TRCs): from February 2026, it will only be possible to submit documents directly within the country if you have an LD2 (work) or TT (family member) visa. Holders of other visas, including business visas, must now first go through the mandatory stage of converting their visa to the appropriate category before applying for a TRC.
According to estimates by the international consulting company Fragomen, the introduction of this additional step will increase the processing time for TRCs by approximately two weeks. Experts recommend first obtaining a work permit and then applying for the appropriate type of entry visa to avoid delays in legalizing your status.
The change effectively establishes a stricter “chain” of migration control: work permit – work visa – residence card, which increases the risks for those who enter on an e-visa or a “start-up” business visa and only then apply for work documents.
According to the World Bank (UN estimate on international migration), in mid-2024, there were about 326,400 international migrants (born outside the country) living in Vietnam, which corresponds to approximately 0.3% of the population.
At the same time, Vietnam received a record 21.2 million foreign visitors in 2025, with the largest markets being China (5.28 million), South Korea (4.33 million), Taiwan (1.23 million), the United States (849,000), Japan (814,000), India (746,500), Russia (689,700), Cambodia (687,100), Malaysia (573,700), and Australia (548,500). Ukraine is not included in the top 10 markets in the summary.
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