How to get Temporary residence certificate for foreigners in Vietnam 2026

A Temporary Residence Confirmation Letter (sometimes called a temporary residence certificate) is a local police-issued document confirming your registered address and period of stay in Vietnam. Foreigners usually need it when applying for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) or a Vietnam criminal record certificate.

You can request it after your temporary stay has been properly declared/registered by your landlord/hotel. Basic requirements are legal entry and an existing temporary residence record in the local system, then you submit the request to the ward/commune police where you live. Processing is often 1 working day, or up to 3 working days if verification is required.

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When do foreigners need a temporary residence confirmation in Vietnam?

You typically need a temporary residence confirmation for foreigners in Vietnam in these situations:

Applying for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) (work TRC, family TRC, etc.), where the immigration dossier often requires proof that you have registered your stay locally.

Applying for a Vietnam criminal record certificate (Judicial Record), where authorities may request confirmation of your residence history in Vietnam.

Explaining/confirming your local stay for certain administrative procedures requested by schools, employers, or other agencies (depending on the case and locality).

Before you can request this confirmation letter, your temporary stay must be properly registered. Under Vietnam’s regulations, accommodation providers must report a foreigner’s temporary residence within 12 hours of arrival (or 24 hours for remote areas), via the local police system.

>>> Read more: Do I need a visa if I have a temporary residence permit in Vietnam 2026?

Temporary residence declaration vs. temporary residence confirmation letter: What’s the difference?

It’s easy to confuse these two:

Temporary residence declaration (registration): The accommodation provider (hotel/landlord/host) reports your stay to local authorities via the official portal or local police system.

Temporary residence confirmation letter (giấy xác nhận tạm trú): A document you request later, asking the ward/commune police to confirm you have been staying at a given address during a certain period.

In short: Declaration happens first. Confirmation is what you request after your stay is registered.

>>> Read more: Differences between Temporary residence card and visa in Vietnam 2026

Conditions to apply for a temporary residence certificate for foreigners

In practice, you should meet these basic conditions:

You entered Vietnam legally (valid passport and lawful entry status).

Your temporary residence has already been declared/registered by the accommodation provider (landlord/hotel/host) through the official system.

Where to submit online temporary residence declaration

The official temporary residence declaration portal is available on the immigration e-portal. You can access it here (shown as code to avoid formatting issues): https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/khai-bao-tam-tru

Also note: Vietnam’s e-visa portal announced a move to new domains (including thithucdientu.gov.vn and evisa.gov.vn). If you cannot access the old interface, use the new domains and look for the temporary residence declaration section.

Important note on validity

The time you are permitted to stay (your “temporary residence period”) is tied to your immigration status/visa validity. Vietnam’s law defines temporary residence certification and related residence concepts under the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners.

(For TRC and other long-term status, your immigration outcome may differ from short-stay visa rules.)

Download Temporary residence confirmation letter template

After filling in the temporary residence confirmation form, you submit it to the commune/ward/township police where your temporary residence was registered.

Download here

>>> Read more: Failure to register temporary residence for foreigners in Vietnam 2026: Penalties, procedures, and legal compliance

How to fill the temporary residence confirmation letter (step-by-step)

When preparing a temporary residence certificate for foreigners, the key is: match exactly what’s already registered in the temporary residence database (name spelling, passport number, address format, residence period).

Use the structure below:

“To:” (Receiving authority)

Write: Commune/Ward/Township Police where you want the confirmation issued.

Your personal details

Full name: As shown in your passport.

Date of birth: Day/Month/Year.

Passport number: (Some Vietnamese templates mention ID/CCCD, but for foreigners you normally use passport details.)

Current address in Vietnam: The address where you are staying and already registered.

Request statement (residence period)

Request the local police to confirm you have temporarily resided at the address:

From: [start date]

To: present (or to [end date] if you already moved out and need confirmation for a past period).

Reason for request

Be specific. Common reasons:

“To complete my Temporary Residence Card (TRC) application.”

“To apply for a Vietnam criminal record certificate (Judicial Record).”

“For administrative procedures as required by [agency name].”

Signature

Sign and write your full name (passport name).

Then submit it to the local police office.

>>> Read more: Reissuing a Vietnam temporary residence card (TRC) 2026: Requirements, documents, fees

Procedure to obtain a temporary residence confirmation in Vietnam

Step 1: Complete the confirmation letter form

Fill in the form based on:

Passport

Registered address

Dates of stay (as recorded in the system)

Step 2: Submit the request to the competent local authority

In most localities, you submit directly at:

Ward/commune police, or

The commune-level People’s Committee (UBND cấp xã) reception point (depending on the locality’s handling practice).

Bring:

Your passport (original + copy)

Proof of address (lease/landlord confirmation if requested locally)

Your completed request letter

Step 3: Receive the result (processing timeline)

Processing often follows this logic:

If your temporary residence information is already available in the national database, the confirmation may be issued within 1 working day.

If additional verification is needed, it may take up to 3 working days.

If the request is refused, the authority should provide a written reply stating the reason.

Actual practice can vary slightly by locality, but the above timeline is widely referenced and consistent with published guidance.

Common mistakes that delay temporary residence confirmations

Name/address mismatch

Your address in the letter must match the registered address format (house number, ward, district, city).

Your name must match passport spelling, including middle names.

Temporary residence was never declared

If your landlord/hotel never completed the temporary residence declaration, the police office may not be able to confirm your stay quickly—or may reject the request until the declaration is properly filed.

Wrong authority

Submit to the police office responsible for the area where the accommodation is located (ward/commune/township).

Do you need help with TRC preparation after getting the confirmation letter?

For many foreigners, the temporary residence confirmation letter is only one part of a bigger file—especially for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) application. TRC dossiers often require multiple items (sponsor documents, work permit/work permit exemption evidence, business registration, and more).

If you want Tan Van Lang to:

Check your eligibility,

Prepare the TRC dossier properly,

Reduce back-and-forth with local authorities,

Please contact us via 08.666.000.63 (WhatsApp) for fast support.