TRC: 2 or 3 year SPOUSAL Temporary Resident Card?

OceanBeach92107 · 2025-08-21T10:47:36+02:00

Explore insights on spousal Temporary Resident Cards in Vietnam, including 2 vs. 3-year options, visa tips, and personal experiences for expats.

OceanBeach92107 VIP Member

Member since 31 January 2018

OceanBeach92107VIP Member21 August 2025 08:47:36

7379

SPOUSAL TRC: FYI

I recently attempted to renew my 3 year spousal TRC in New 膼脿 N岷祅g City, but the immigration officer told us that only 2 year cards were being approved for spouses of Vietnamese citizens.

So I contacted my long-time visa agent friend in Hanoi (where my previous 3 year TRC was approved) and she was able to get my new TRC issued, good until September, 2028.

It was cheaper for me to have her do it than it would have been to travel there and back with my wife (technically it is the Vietnamese citizen who must apply to sponsor the foreign spouse).

Not sure if 3 year TRCs are routinely issued in HCMC

Safepeter Contributor

Member since 08 April 2018

SafepeterContributor21 August 2025 13:39:16

110

Hey mate,

Things are changing fast here. I really think that at the moment it's who you know that sorts things out. Given time things will settle down to a norm.

Or am I being optimistic? 馃ぃ

Hoping get up your way in the not too distant future.

Cheers

Peter

ajairon Contributor

Member since 01 June 2022

ajaironContributorYesterday 08:47:47

162

@OceanBeach92107

Hello, you asked for it in 膼脿 N岷祅g but finally you got it with your friend in Hanoi, isn't it? So, now it can be issued in any city?

OceanBeach92107 VIP Member

Member since 31 January 2018

OceanBeach92107VIP MemberYesterday 10:27:50

7379

@OceanBeach92107
Hello, you asked for it in 膼脿 N岷祅g but finally you got it with your friend in Hanoi, isn't it? So, now it can be issued in any city? - @ajairon

Remember, 膼脿 N岷祅g is not a simple "city"; nor is H脿 N峄檌.

膼脿 N岷祅g is a "first class city" (th脿nh ph峄� lo岷 I) functioning as a "centrally governed city" or "municipality with provincial status" (best translations) so applying to the central authority in this city is the same as applying to a provincial authority elsewhere.

Hu岷�, H岷 Ph貌ng and C岷 Th啤 are also "first class cities".

H脿 N峄檌 and HCMC have a higher tier rating of "special class cities" (th脿nh ph峄� 膽岷穋 bi峄噒) and--as was discovered when attempting to apply for a TRC during and in the aftermath of COVID--they each have a type of ownership over a certain amount of the provinces.

So previously (9/2022) we couldn't apply for my TRC in Qu岷g Ng茫i but had to do so in H脿 N峄檌 because "H脿 N峄檌 has 'ownership' of Qu岷g Ng茫i"; the exact words spoken by immigration to me on the telephone.

Now that the restrictions have been lifted, it's possible to apply for a TRC in any PROVINCE (not any city) but it's not certain how many years you will get on the TRC in the different provinces when applying there directly.

I'm waiting to hear back from an expat friend in Quy Nh啤n whose wife used the online application system and then took her documents into Binh Dinh province for authentication.

His TRC has been approved and he should have his TRC in the mail by Monday, and we will be able to see if they gave him a 2-year or a 3 year TRC.

If he was able to get a 3-year TRC then I would recommend that everyone use the online system instead and avoid the trip to one of the "special class cities".

I will update in this thread next week.