According to Joint Circular No. 04/2002/TTLT/BCA-BNG, foreigners entering Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese enterprises who apply for permanent residence in Vietnam shall file dossiers with the Immigration Department or the immigration offices of localities where such persons apply for permanent residence. Each dossier comprises:
- The application for permanent residence made in two copies according to the form set by the director of the Immigration Department and enclosed with four photos;
- Two copies of the applicant’s judicial record with certification of the competent authority of the country of which the applicant is a citizen or where he/she has a place of permanent residence;
- The diplomatic note of the competent body of the country of which the applicant is a citizen, requesting permission for such person’s permanent residence in Vietnam;
- Two copies of the passport;
- Other relevant papers and documents (if any).
The above papers (except for permanent residence application, diplomatic note and passport) must be translated into Vietnamese and notarized or legalized according to regulations.
Within 6 months after receiving the dossiers, the Immigration Department shall coordinate with the concerned agencies in conducting the examination and verification thereof and reporting the results to the Minister of Public Security for consideration and decision. When necessary to make an additional examination, the said time limit may be extended but for no more than three months.
The Immigration Department shall notify in writing the permanent residence applicants of decisions of the Public Security Minister. In case of approval by the Public Security Minister, it shall notify such to the Police Departments of the provinces or centrally run cities where those persons apply for permanent residence so that the latter direct the immigration offices to grant permanent residence cards.
Procedure for granting permanent residence cards
The Police Departments of provinces or centrally run cities (the immigration offices) shall grant permanent residence cards within five working days after receiving notices from the Immigration Department.
Permanent residence cards must be granted separately to applicants, including persons who are under 14 years old. The model permanent residence card shall be promulgated by the director of the Immigration Department.
Within two months after receiving notices from the Immigration Department, foreigners permitted to permanently reside in Vietnam shall come to the immigration offices of localities where they permanently reside to receive permanent residence cards. If, past the above time limit, the persons permitted for permanent residence still fail to get the cards without plausible reasons, such permanent residence cards will automatically be invalidated.
Once every three years, permanent residence card holders shall return their cards to the card-granting agencies for renewal. If they fail to present themselves as prescribed, their permanent residence cards can be withdrawn.
If they wish to change contents of their permanent residence cards, the permanent residents shall file their applications with the immigration offices of localities where they permanently reside.
Within five working days after receiving the applications, the Police Departments of provinces or centrally run cities (immigration offices) shall report them to the Immigration Department for consideration and decision. Within five working days after receiving the reports, the Immigration Department shall reply in writing. In case of approval of the change of contents of permanent residence cards, Police Departments of provinces or centrally run cities (immigration offices) shall grant new cards within five working days
Source: VIetnam Law& Legal Forum
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