Visas & staying legally

Check what you need for your nationality

Start on Vietnam’s official e-visa portal. You can apply for an e-visa there, check application status, and follow the government’s current entry rules. Some nationalities also qualify for short visa-exempt stays — that list and the allowed length change over time, so verify on official sites rather than forums.

Open the official Vietnam e-visa portal →

Official resources worth bookmarking

• Vietnam e-visa portal (apply & check status)

  Immigration Department — use this, not lookalike commercial sites

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• Alternate official e-visa system URL

  Also used by immigration / border systems

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• Vietnamese Embassy (USA) — e-visa & exemption notes

  Useful overview of e-visa expansion and unilateral exemptions — still confirm current rules for your passport

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Temporary residence registration (almost every stay)

Foreigners in Vietnam are generally expected to be registered at their place of stay (temporary residence declaration / khai báo tạm trú). Hotels and many short-stay hosts do this automatically. When you rent an apartment, your landlord or building manager usually registers you with the local ward police — often within about 24 hours of move-in. You’ll typically provide a passport copy, visa/entry proof, and the apartment address. Ask your agent or landlord who handles registration before you arrive with bags.

What to expect when you rent long-term

• Registration is usually a landlord / agent / building task — confirm it in writing if you can.
• Keep soft copies of your passport bio page, visa/e-visa, and entry stamp or arrival record.
• If you change apartments, registration usually needs updating at the new address.
• Police checks are uncommon in daily life for most expats, but proper registration is still the normal compliance path.
• “Registered at an address” is not the same as holding a Temporary Residence Card (TRC).

Longer stays & Temporary Residence Cards

Staying beyond tourist / e-visa style visits usually means a different legal basis — for example work, investment, or family sponsorship — often paired with a Temporary Residence Card (TRC). Pathways, documents, and processing times vary a lot by case. For anything beyond a straightforward tourist entry, talk to a reputable immigration specialist early; don’t assume a series of short entries equals a stable long-lease setup.

Why this matters for housing

Your legal stay length affects how long you can sensibly commit to a lease, what deposit structure landlords expect, and how early you should lock a place before arrival. Build flexibility into move-in dates when your paperwork is still in motion.

Common situations people plan around

• Short stay (weeks to a few months): prioritize flexible or shorter leases; verify what’s actually available for your dates.
• Multi-month remote work stay: combine housing search with a clear exit or extension plan, and confirm registration with the landlord.
• Longer residency ambitions: speak with a specialist early about work/TRC pathways before signing a long lease.
• Border runs / extensions: rules and enforcement change — don’t treat forum anecdotes as policy.

When you’re ready on dates and budget, we can match you with verified apartments that fit how long you want to stay — whether that’s a few months or longer.