How do you get permanent residence in Vietnam in 2026?

Article 39 of the foreigners' residence law lists the case groups Immigration publishes for permanent residence cards: foreigners with meritorious contributions recognised by the Vietnamese State; scientists or experts who already hold temporary residence and obtain a recommendation from the competent minister or ministerial-level head; foreigners guaranteed by a Vietnamese citizen parent, spouse, or child who holds permanent residence in Vietnam; and defined stateless persons with continuous residence since before 2000.

Article 40 adds general conditions such as lawful place of residence and stable income. Family-sponsored applicants under the parent/spouse/child route commonly need at least three continuous years of temporary residence in Vietnam before the dossier is ripe. Exact evidence changes by case, so treat agent promises as planning notes and confirm the live Immigration checklist.

Immigration Department guidance expects an application form (often discussed as NA12), a home-country judicial record, a note from your country's representative mission requesting Vietnam to approve permanent residence, a certified passport copy, proof of eligibility under Article 40, and guarantee papers for the meritorious or expert cases. Legalise and translate foreign documents as required: Apostille documents.

Clauses 1–2 of Article 39 generally file at the central Immigration Department; clauses 3–4 file at the provincial or city immigration office where you seek permanent residence. The Minister of Public Security decides within about four months of a complete file, extendable by up to two months for verification. After approval notice, you typically collect the card at the local immigration office within three months.

Keep temporary residence renewals clean while you wait: Renew residence permit and register temporary residence. Banking and daily ID still rely on current cards until PR issues: Open a bank account.