Relationship documents not legalised
Certificates without apostille or translation.
The fix. Apostille through the MEA and translate at a Vietnamese notary; Vistolane arranges both.
Vietnam TT family visa and temporary residence card for Indian families
The spouse, children under 18 and parents of a foreigner holding an LD work visa, a DT investor visa or a temporary residence card, and the foreign spouse or child of a Vietnamese citizen, apply for a TT visa: USD 25 single or USD 50 multiple entry, sponsored by the family member or their employer through the Immigration Department, usually followed by a temporary residence card of one to two years (USD 145) or up to three years for relatives of Vietnamese citizens. Indian marriage and birth certificates must be apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs and translated. TT holders may study and may work only after obtaining their own work permit.
Vietnam Family visa (TT) and temporary residence card: quick answers
Who qualifies for a TT visa? The legal spouse, children under 18 and parents of a foreigner who holds an LD, DT, NN1, NN2 or DH visa or a temporary residence card; and foreign spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens. The relationship is proved with apostilled and translated marriage and birth certificates, and the sponsor must hold valid status for the period requested. Children over 18 and siblings do not qualify and use visitor or student routes.
What does it cost? USD 25 for a single-entry TT visa or USD 50 for multiple entry (state fees under Circular 25/2021), plus the sponsor's agent or law-firm charges for the approval letter (VND 1 to 3 million). The temporary residence card costs USD 145 for one to two years and USD 155 for two to five years; relatives of Vietnamese citizens may receive cards of up to three years. Apostille and translation of Indian certificates cost about INR 2,000 to 5,000 per document.
How long does it take from India? Five to seven working days for the Immigration Department's approval letter requested by the sponsor, then three working days for the e-Visa or two to three days at the New Delhi embassy or Mumbai consulate for a sticker; the residence card takes about five working days after arrival. Dependants can only be processed after the worker's permit and card exist.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | TT visa, single or multiple entry, then a temporary residence card |
| Government fee | USD 25 single; USD 50 multiple; TRC USD 145 (1 to 2 years), USD 155 (2 to 5 years) |
| Processing | Approval letter 5 to 7 working days; e-Visa 3 working days; TRC 5 working days |
| Sponsor | Holder of an LD, DT or similar visa or TRC, or a Vietnamese citizen |
| Work rights | None without an own work permit |
| Study | Children may attend Vietnamese or international schools |
| Duration | Follows the sponsor's permit or card; up to 3 years for relatives of Vietnamese citizens |
| Verified | 29 Oct 2026 against evisa.gov.vn and Circular 25/2021 |
Who qualifies, and what the sponsor provides
| Family member | Sponsor | Visa and card | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a foreign worker or investor | LD or DT holder's employer or company | TT visa; TRC up to the sponsor's card validity | No work without own permit |
| Children under 18 | Same | TT visa; TRC | School enrolment permitted |
| Parents of a foreign worker | Same | TT visa; TRC | Sponsor shows capacity to support |
| Foreign spouse of a Vietnamese citizen | The Vietnamese spouse | TT visa; TRC up to 3 years | Marriage registered with the Vietnamese authorities |
| Foreign child of a Vietnamese citizen | The Vietnamese parent | TT visa; TRC up to 3 years | Birth certificate showing the Vietnamese parent |
Indian certificates must carry the Ministry of External Affairs apostille (Vietnam accepts apostilled documents from India since both are convention members for most purposes, though some provincial offices still ask for consular legalisation by the Vietnamese embassy in New Delhi) and a notarised Vietnamese translation. A marriage between an Indian and a Vietnamese citizen must be registered with the Vietnamese People's Committee or recorded from the Indian registration before the TT application; religious ceremonies alone are not accepted.
Sponsors file a request for an entry approval letter with the Immigration Department (Hanoi, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City offices) listing the dependants, the visa type TT and the entry port; the dependant then applies on evisa.gov.vn quoting the approval or collects a sticker at the embassy. Once in Vietnam, the sponsor applies for the dependant's temporary residence card, which replaces visas for its validity and allows free travel in and out.
Fees and what they cover
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TT visa, single entry | USD 25 | Up to 90 days |
| TT visa, multiple entry | USD 50 | Up to 90 days |
| Temporary residence card, 1 to 2 years | USD 145 | Follows the sponsor's card |
| Temporary residence card, 2 to 5 years | USD 155 | Investors' families and relatives of citizens |
| Approval letter preparation | VND 1 to 3 million | Agent or law firm |
| Apostille and translation of certificates | INR 2,000 to 5,000 each | MEA apostille, notarised Vietnamese translation |
Fees are set nationally and are the same at every office. Vistolane arranges the apostilles in India, coordinates the sponsor's approval letter with its partner in Vietnam and charges the USD 25 or USD 50 visa fee at the official rate.
How the application runs, step by step
- Apostille and translate the certificates. Marriage and birth certificates apostilled by the MEA; notarised Vietnamese translation on arrival or via the partner.
- Sponsor requests the approval letter. Immigration Department, 5 to 7 working days; lists each dependant, TT visa type and entry port.
- Apply for the TT visa. e-Visa on evisa.gov.vn (3 working days) or sticker at the embassy in New Delhi; pay USD 25 or USD 50.
- Enter and register residence. Within 24 hours through the host or landlord.
- Temporary residence card. Sponsor applies with the certificates and the sponsor's card; USD 145; about 5 working days.
Timeline for an Indian family
| Stage | Typical time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille and translation | 1 to 2 weeks | MEA apostille in India |
| Approval letter | 5 to 7 working days | Sponsor's request to Immigration |
| Visa | 3 working days (e-Visa) | Or 2 to 3 days at the embassy |
| Entry | Within the letter's validity | Register residence within 24 hours |
| Residence card | About 5 working days | Through the sponsor |
Dependants of a new hire usually travel a few weeks after the worker, once the work permit and residence card are issued; a family that travels together can enter on tourist e-Visas and convert to TT inside Vietnam when the sponsor's card is ready.
After arrival: schooling, work and renewals
Children attend international schools in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (USD 10,000 to 30,000 a year) or Vietnamese schools on the TT card without a student visa. A spouse may not work on TT status; an employer can sponsor a separate work permit, after which the spouse's own LD card replaces the TT card. Residence must be re-registered after each move.
Cards are renewed with the sponsor's, and lapse when the sponsor's permit or card ends. Spouses of Vietnamese citizens renew three-year cards indefinitely and may apply for permanent residence after three years of temporary residence; dependants of expatriates do not have an independent route.
Document checklist: identity and relationship
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport valid 13 months | Longer than the card requested |
| Portrait photos, 4 by 6 cm | White background |
| Marriage certificate, apostilled and translated | Registered in Vietnam if the spouse is Vietnamese |
| Birth certificates, apostilled and translated | Children under 18 |
Sponsor
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Sponsor's work permit or investment registration | LD or DT basis |
| Sponsor's visa or temporary residence card | Valid for the period requested |
| Vietnamese citizen's ID and household registration | For spouses and children of citizens |
| Approval letter from the Immigration Department | Listing each dependant |
In Vietnam
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Residence registration | Within 24 hours of arrival |
| Form NA6/NA8 and sponsor's confirmation | For the residence card |
| School offer letter | Optional, for children |
Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix
Sponsor's status too short
Worker's permit or card expiring within months.
The fix. Renew the sponsor's documents first; the dependant's card cannot exceed them.
Marriage not registered in Vietnam
Indian-Vietnamese couple with only an Indian or religious certificate.
The fix. Record the marriage with the People's Committee before applying.
Residence unregistered
Family fined for living at an unregistered address.
The fix. Landlord or host registers with the ward police within 24 hours.
Working on TT status
Spouse found working without a permit.
The fix. Obtain an own work permit; the employer files it.
Official sources
Questions, answered
How much is the Vietnam dependant visa for Indians?
USD 25 for a single-entry TT visa or USD 50 multiple entry, plus USD 145 for a one- to two-year temporary residence card and the sponsor's agent charges for the approval letter.
Can my spouse work in Vietnam on a TT visa?
No. TT status does not include work rights; a Vietnamese employer must obtain a work permit for the spouse, after which they hold their own LD residence card.
Can my parents join me in Vietnam?
Yes. Parents of a foreigner with an LD or DT visa or a residence card qualify for TT visas and cards tied to the sponsor's status, provided the sponsor can support them.
I married a Vietnamese citizen in India. What do I need?
Register the marriage with the Vietnamese authorities (or record the Indian registration), apostille and translate the certificate, then your spouse sponsors a TT visa and a residence card of up to three years.
Does Vistolane handle Vietnam family visas?
Yes. Vistolane arranges the MEA apostilles and translations, coordinates the sponsor's approval letter with its Vietnamese partner, files the TT e-Visa and charges USD 25 or USD 50 at the official rate.