5 common mistakes that cause foreigners to be denied temporary residence cards in Vietnam

Russian Aleksandra Sorokina wears Vietnamese ao dai and conical hat for a photoshoot in Hanoi in 2025. Photo courtesy of Sorokina

A small paperwork mistake can derail a foreigner's plans to stay in Vietnam long term, and there are five common errors that often cause applications to be rejected by immigration authorities, a lawyer advised.

Reader Linda sent some of these questions to VnExpress:

I came to Vietnam as a tourist and was truly impressed by the scenery, climate, and the people here. Because of that, I am planning to complete the necessary procedures to stay in Vietnam long term.

However, I am also quite concerned about the process of applying for a temporary residence card. In practice, what are the common mistakes foreigners make that lead to their applications being rejected? I would like to understand these issues in advance so I can prepare a complete application in accordance with the regulations and minimize unnecessary risks.

>>Lawyer's advice