What to Do When a Temporary Residence Card Is Lost or Damaged?

What Should Foreigners Do When Their Temporary Residence Card Is Lost or Damaged?

During the process of living, working, studying or investing in Vietnam, a foreign national may lose, damage or no longer be able to use their temporary residence card due to torn, blurred or unreadable information. In such cases, the foreign national and sponsor should check the card status, current residence status and prepare the dossier for temporary residence card reissuance as prescribed.

A temporary residence card is valid in lieu of a visa during its validity. Therefore, when the card is lost or damaged, the foreign national should handle the matter promptly to reduce risks during entry and exit, residence inspection, employment, investment, banking or other administrative procedures in Vietnam.

Depending on the case, the reissuance dossier may vary according to employment, investment, family, study or other categories. The foreign national should review eligibility carefully before submission to avoid repeated supplementation or correction.

When Is Temporary Residence Card Reissuance Required?

Foreign nationals should consider temporary residence card reissuance in cases such as:

• The temporary residence card is lost;
• The card is damaged, torn, broken, peeled or no longer usable;
• Information on the card is blurred, difficult to read or cannot be verified;
• The card is misplaced during travel, residence or work;
• The card is still valid but cannot be presented for administrative or immigration procedures.

If the temporary residence card is lost, the foreign national should notify the sponsor and check the suitable handling direction. In some cases, an explanation letter regarding the loss or supporting confirmation may be required by the competent authority.

Requirements for Temporary Residence Card Reissuance

To be considered for temporary residence card reissuance, the foreign national generally needs to meet the following basic requirements:

• Holding a valid passport or international travel document;
• Passport validity being at least 30 days longer than the intended temporary residence card validity;
• Having previously been issued a temporary residence card that is now lost, damaged or unusable;
• Having completed temporary residence declaration at the current place of stay;
• Having a suitable agency, organization or individual in Vietnam continuing to invite or sponsor the foreign national;
• Having documents proving continued eligibility for temporary residence card issuance;
• The actual residence purpose is consistent with the requested card symbol;
• Not falling under cases where issuance is restricted or unresolved as prescribed;
• Submitting complete documents in the correct forms with consistent information.

Depending on the application category, the foreign national should prepare a work permit, work permit exemption confirmation, investment documents, family relationship documents, study documents or other corresponding supporting materials.

Documents for Reissuing a Temporary Residence Card for Foreign Workers

Basic Requirements

• Passport remains valid for a suitable period;
• Temporary residence declaration has been completed as prescribed;
• Valid work permit or work permit exemption confirmation is available;
• An enterprise or organization in Vietnam continues to sponsor the foreign worker;
• Residence purpose is consistent with LĐ1 or LĐ2 card symbol.

Common Documents

• Request letter for temporary residence card reissuance from the sponsoring enterprise or organization;
• Temporary residence card application form using the suitable template with photo attached;
• Original valid passport;
• Previous temporary residence card if damaged or unusable;
• Explanation letter regarding the lost card if the card is lost and if required;
• Valid work permit or work permit exemption confirmation;
• Legal documents of the sponsoring enterprise;
• Seal and signature introduction form if not previously registered or if there are changes;
• Temporary residence declaration information;
• Portrait photos in required format;
• Additional documents requested by the competent authority if any.

Documents for Reissuing a Temporary Residence Card for Foreign Investors

Basic Requirements

• Passport remains valid for a suitable period;
• Temporary residence declaration has been completed as prescribed;
• Documents proving investor status or representative status of a foreign organization investing in Vietnam are available;
• The applicant falls under ĐT1, ĐT2 or ĐT3 if applying for a temporary residence card under investor category;
• Documents proving capital contribution, investment value or representative status are available;
• Vietnamese enterprise documents remain suitable and consistent.

Common Documents

• Request letter for temporary residence card reissuance from the sponsoring agency or organization;
• Temporary residence card application form using the suitable template with photo attached;
• Original valid passport;
• Previous temporary residence card if damaged or unusable;
• Explanation letter regarding the lost card if the card is lost and if required;
• Enterprise registration certificate;
• Investment registration certificate if available;
• Documents proving capital contribution, investment value or investor status;
• Seal and signature introduction form if not previously registered or if there are changes;
• Temporary residence declaration information;
• Portrait photos in required format;
• Additional documents requested by the competent authority if any.

Documents for Reissuing a Temporary Residence Card for Foreigners With Family Members in Vietnam

Basic Requirements

• Passport remains valid for a suitable period;
• Temporary residence declaration has been completed as prescribed;
• A suitable sponsor in Vietnam is available;
• Valid documents proving family relationship are available;
• Residence purpose is consistent with TT card symbol;
• If documents are issued overseas, consular legalization, translation and notarization/certification may be required as prescribed.

Common Documents

• Request letter or sponsorship application from the individual sponsor using the suitable form;
• Temporary residence card application form using the suitable template with photo attached;
• Original valid passport;
• Previous temporary residence card if damaged or unusable;
• Explanation letter regarding the lost card if the card is lost and if required;
• Documents proving family relationship, such as marriage certificate, birth certificate or equivalent civil status documents;
• Identity documents of the sponsor;
• Temporary residence declaration information;
• Portrait photos in required format;
• Additional documents requested by the competent authority if any.

Where to Submit a Temporary Residence Card Reissuance Application?

Depending on the case, a temporary residence card reissuance application may be submitted through one of the following methods:

• Direct submission to the competent immigration authority;
• Online submission through the National Public Service Portal or Ministry of Public Security Public Service Portal if eligible;
• Submission by postal service if permitted by the procedure and receiving authority.

Regarding submission location, the applicant should check based on application type, where the sponsoring enterprise/organization is headquartered or where the individual sponsor resides. Some applications may fall under the authority of the Vietnam Immigration Department or provincial immigration authority.

Because receiving locations and submission methods may vary by case, the foreign national and sponsor should check current guidance before submitting the dossier.

Processing Time for Temporary Residence Card Reissuance

Under current administrative procedures, the processing time for temporary residence card issuance is 05 working days from the date the competent authority receives a complete and valid dossier.

It should be noted that this is the competent authority’s processing time after the dossier is complete and valid. It is not the entire actual timeline when clients use Nhị Gia’s dossier support service.

In practice, the total timeline may include:

• Consultation and card status check;
• Review of the sponsor’s legal documents;
• Checking passport, previous temporary residence card and temporary residence declaration;
• Checking work permit, investment documents, family documents or related materials;
• Form preparation;
• Preparing an explanation letter for card loss or damage if needed;
• Translation, notarization/certification or consular legalization if applicable;
• Dossier submission;
• Result tracking;
• Supplementation or correction if requested;
• Result collection and delivery.

Nhị Gia will advise the estimated timeline after reviewing the client’s specific dossier.

Fees for Temporary Residence Card Reissuance

Temporary residence card issuance fees depend on the validity of the issued card. Under the current fee levels, temporary residence card fees are recorded as follows:

This is the state fee paid to the competent authority. In addition, clients may incur translation, notarization/certification, consular legalization, courier, travel, dossier support service fees or costs for additional requests if any.

Important Notes When a Temporary Residence Card Is Lost or Damaged

When a temporary residence card is lost or damaged, foreign nationals should note:

• Check passport validity and the validity of the issued temporary residence card immediately;
• Notify the sponsoring enterprise, organization or individual for coordination;
• Prepare an explanation letter regarding the loss or damage if requested;
• Do not continue using a damaged card if the information is no longer clear;
• Recheck temporary residence declaration status at the place of stay;
• Review work permit, investment documents, family relationship documents or documents proving residence category;
• Do not wait until close to an intended entry or exit date to handle the application;
• Carefully check all information on the new card after receiving the result.

Early handling helps foreign nationals reduce risks during residence and related procedures in Vietnam.

Temporary Residence Card Reissuance Service for Foreigners by Nhị Gia

Temporary residence card reissuance when the card is lost or damaged must be handled carefully because it directly relates to the foreign national’s lawful residence status in Vietnam. The dossier must correctly identify the residence category, sponsor, supporting documents and reason for reissuance.

With more than 20 years of experience in Vietnam visas, entry approval letters, work permits, temporary residence cards and legal dossiers for foreigners in Vietnam, Nhị Gia supports clients in preparing temporary residence card reissuance applications based on each specific case.

Nhị Gia supports clients with:

• Checking the status of the lost, damaged or unusable temporary residence card;
• Advising on reissuance conditions case by case;
• Identifying the suitable temporary residence card type based on current residence purpose;
• Reviewing passport, visa, previous temporary residence card and temporary residence declaration information;
• Checking work permit, work permit exemption confirmation, investment documents, family relationship documents or related materials;
• Checking legal documents of the sponsor;
• Guiding preparation of explanation letter if the card is lost or damaged;
• Supporting form completion and dossier standardization;
• Supporting translation, notarization/certification or consular legalization if needed;
• Supporting submission through the suitable method;
• Tracking application status;
• Supporting additional document requests if any;
• Receiving and delivering results according to the service agreement;
• Advising on related procedures such as visa extension, new temporary residence card issuance, work permit, entry approval, police record or consular legalization if needed;
• Maintaining confidentiality of personal information, enterprise dossiers and client documents.

Nhị Gia does not guarantee outcomes for every application, as the final decision belongs to the competent authority. However, checking eligibility, preparing a complete dossier and reviewing information consistency from the beginning can help reduce errors and support a more proactive handling process.

Nhị Gia Support Process for Temporary Residence Card Reissuance

The support process at Nhị Gia focuses on checking the card status first, reviewing dossier conditions and advising on a suitable solution case by case.

• Step 1: Information Collection. Nhị Gia collects information about the foreign national, sponsor, card loss or damage status, passport, residence purpose, temporary residence declaration and relevant supporting documents.
  
• Step 2: Reissuance Eligibility Review. Nhị Gia reviews reissuance eligibility, suitable card symbol, sponsor documents and documents proving residence category. After review, Nhị Gia advises on the suitable application direction.
• Step 3: Document Preparation Guidance and Dossier Completion. Nhị Gia guides clients in preparing required documents, supports form completion, reviews information, prepares explanation letter if needed and standardizes the dossier before submission.
• Step 4: Submission and Result Tracking. Nhị Gia supports submission through the suitable method and tracks processing status. If additional documents are requested, Nhị Gia coordinates with the client to prepare the required revisions.
• Step 5: Result Delivery. After the result is available, Nhị Gia delivers the reissued temporary residence card and guides the client in checking card information, including full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, card symbol and validity.

If you are a foreign national or sponsor needing to handle a lost, damaged or unusable temporary residence card, eligibility and dossier conditions should be reviewed before proceeding with reissuance.

Please contact Hotline 1900 6654 or email info@nhigia.vn for case-specific consultation from Nhị Gia’s specialists.