TRC renewal in Vietnam costs $10 in government fees — versus $145–$165 for first-time issuance. The document package is considerably shorter, you skip the criminal background check in most categories, and official processing takes five working days. If you already hold a TRC, keeping it is straightforward once you know the timing and forms. If you want someone to handle the paperwork rather than manage it yourself, that option exists.
I’ve been helping expats and long-stay residents in central Vietnam with visa and residency matters since 2023. TRC renewal questions come up most often when holders realize their card expires in three weeks and start panicking. Thirty days is the comfortable window — here’s the full picture for 2026, after Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA updated the forms from July 1.
How Much Does TRC Renewal Cost in Vietnam?
The government fee for TRC renewal is $10 (approximately 250,000 VND at current interbank rates), fixed by Circular 25/2021/TT-BTC and unchanged in 2026. The same rate applies to every TRC category and renewal duration — whether you hold a labor LĐ2 card renewing for two years or a ĐT1 investor card renewing for five. Category does not affect the fee.
First-time issuance, under the same circular, runs $145 for a card valid up to two years, $155 for two to five years, and $165 for five to ten years. Renewal is 93% cheaper on government fees alone. Service agent fees, if you hire an immigration company, are separate: typically 2–5 million VND ($80–$200) on top of the government fee. Those are optional.
When to Apply: The 30-Day Rule
Apply at least 30 calendar days before your TRC expires. Vietnamese law does not set a fixed mandatory submission deadline — the practical floor cited by immigration offices is five calendar days before expiry — but 30 days is the buffer that prevents problems.
Processing officially takes five working days, though seven to ten working days is realistic at busy provincial offices. For labor TRC, your sponsoring company needs time to prepare the introduction letter. If the office returns your documents as incomplete, you need time to resubmit before crossing into overstay. Relying on the five-day minimum leaves no margin for any of these.
One passport rule matters separately: per Article 38, Law 47/2014/QH13, your TRC must expire at least 30 days before your passport expires. If your passport runs out sooner than your TRC, immigration cannot renew the TRC — renew your passport first.
Documents for TRC Renewal: What’s Different from First-Time
The renewal document set is shorter because immigration already holds your file from first-time issuance. The most significant difference is the form itself: renewal uses Form NA5 (extension request), while first-time applications use the NA6/NA7 and NA8/NA9 package. Criminal background checks and medical certificates are not universally required for renewal — they were part of your original application.
For a complete breakdown of first-time TRC requirements, see the Vietnam temporary residence card guide.
Core documents for all TRC holders:
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Form NA5 (renewal request) | Updated by Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA effective July 1, 2026 — download fresh copy from dichvucong.gov.vn |
| Valid passport (original) | Must have ≥12 months validity remaining beyond the planned TRC end date |
| Current TRC (original) | The card being renewed |
| Temporary residence registration certificate | From your local ward or commune police (phường/xã) |
Additional documents by TRC category:
- Labor (LĐ1/LĐ2): Notarized work permit copy or exemption certificate, valid LD/DN visa, employer introduction letter. Your work permit must still be valid — an expired work permit blocks TRC renewal.
- Investor (ĐT): Notarized Business Registration Certificate showing capital contribution, seal sample registration, valid DT visa.
- Family (TT): Consular-legalized marriage or birth certificate, copies of sponsor’s notarized work permit, TRC and passport, valid TT visa.
A note on criminal checks: some TRC categories or local immigration offices still request a new police clearance at renewal, even though it is not universally required. Confirm with your provincial immigration office before your appointment.
This is the step where I typically get involved: verifying that every category-specific document is present and that the employer introduction letter matches the format the local office expects. For labor TRC, a misformatted letter gets the entire package returned and resets your timeline. With documents correct, submission is a one-visit process.
How to Submit Your TRC Renewal: Step by Step
- Identify your TRC category (LĐ, ĐT, TT, NN, etc.) and collect the corresponding documents listed above.
- Download the current Form NA5 from dichvucong.gov.vn — the form was updated July 1, 2026 under Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA. Discard any older saved version.
- Choose your submission method: in person at your provincial Immigration Department, or online via dichvucong.gov.vn. Companies must submit using a digital signature; individuals register with a verified Vietnamese mobile number.
- Submit at least 30 days before your TRC expiry. Pay the $10 government fee in USD cash or VND at the interbank rate on the day of submission.
- Collect your receipt with a tracking reference number for status checks.
- Pick up your renewed TRC after five working days — budget seven to ten in practice.
Major immigration offices:
- Hanoi: 44–46 Tran Phu, Ba Dinh District
- Ho Chi Minh City: 254 Nguyen Trai, District 1
- Da Nang: 7 Tran Quy Cap
For labor TRC, your sponsoring company submits on your behalf — not you. An employee of the sponsoring company who is enrolled in Vietnam’s compulsory social insurance must attend in person. Pass documents to your HR team with enough lead time.
What Changed in Vietnam TRC Procedures in 2026?
Three regulatory changes affect TRC holders entering 2026.
Form NA5 updated (Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA, effective July 1, 2026). Forms for entry, exit and residence of foreigners were revised. Any NA5 downloaded before July 1 is the previous version — download fresh from dichvucong.gov.vn before submitting.
Overstay fines doubled (Decree 282/2025/ND-CP, effective December 15, 2025). An expired TRC carries the same penalty schedule as visa overstay. The previous maximum was VND 20 million; Decree 282 doubled it to VND 40 million. Deportation becomes possible from the 16-day overstay mark.
| Duration past TRC expiry | Fine (VND) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 days | 500,000–2,000,000 | $19–$76 |
| 16–30 days | 7,000,000–10,000,000 | $265–$380 |
| 30–60 days | 10,000,000–15,000,000 | $380–$570 |
| 60–90 days | 15,000,000–20,000,000 | $570–$760 |
| 6 months–1 year | up to 30,000,000 | up to $1,140 |
| Over 1 year | up to 40,000,000 | up to $1,520 |
VNeID registration now mandatory for TRC holders (from July 2025). After your TRC renews, update your VNeID at the immigration department — the update does not happen automatically.
What If Your TRC Has Already Expired?
If your TRC has lapsed, four options remain.
Filing late is generally accepted — immigration offices can still process renewal applications with an overstay, though you will pay the fine for each overdue day (see table above) and the application may receive additional scrutiny.
Exiting Vietnam and re-entering on an e-visa ($25, 90-day single entry via evisa.gov.vn) resets your legal stay period. It does not restore TRC status. Getting TRC status back afterward requires a full first-time application at $145–$165 and the complete original document set.
Applying for an in-country visa extension is possible for certain TRC categories and circumstances.
Starting fresh with a new sponsoring company and full TRC application is the fourth path — full fees, full document set, several weeks processing. For a comparison of long-stay options including work permit, investor TRC, and family TRC, see the Vietnam long-stay visa and TRC guide.
TRC advantages over e-visa that disappear without it: unlimited entries, no mandatory exit requirements, apartment purchase rights in Vietnam.
Should You Renew or Start Fresh?
For most TRC holders, renewal is the straightforward answer: $10 versus $145–$165, a shorter document package, and same-week processing. The reasons to start a full fresh application are narrow — your sponsoring company closed or changed, your TRC category needs to change, or the card expired past the point where late renewal is accepted.
If you’re working through the category-specific documents or dealing with a sponsor letter complication in Da Nang, I handle TRC renewals for expats and can take the process off your hands. Message me on Telegram with your TRC category and expiry date — I’ll tell you exactly what documents you need.
Frequently asked questions
Does the renewal government fee change if I’m extending to a longer validity period? No. The government renewal fee is a flat $10 for all TRC categories and all renewal durations, under Circular 25/2021/TT-BTC. The tiered $145–$165 fee structure applies only to first-time issuance, not renewal.
Can I apply for TRC renewal while I am outside Vietnam? No. TRC renewal requires physical presence in Vietnam — either your own attendance or your sponsoring company’s attendance for labor TRC. Submission via a Vietnamese embassy abroad or fully remote online submission is not available.
What happens if my passport expires before my TRC does? Per Article 38, Law 47/2014/QH13, your TRC must expire at least 30 days before your passport. If the passport runs out sooner, your TRC may become invalid — renew the passport first, then renew the TRC.
Can I check my TRC renewal status online after submitting? Yes. The tracking reference number on your receipt allows status checks through the National Public Service Portal at dichvucong.gov.vn.
Will my renewed TRC automatically be valid for the maximum duration allowed for my category? Not necessarily. The renewed card typically matches the validity period on your previous TRC, also bounded by your remaining work permit validity, passport validity, and immigration office discretion — not automatically the category maximum.