How To Register Your Address In Vietnam

Thinking of making Vietnam your new home?

Well, you can’t play hide and seek with the local authorities! Registering your address is more than just a bureaucratic step, it’s your golden ticket to becoming a legit resident.

You can get this done without breaking a sweat.

Let’s dive in!

Why Is It Important To Register Your Address In Vietnam

Registering your address in Vietnam is significant for various reasons. Some of them are for obtaining employment, opening a bank account, getting a loan, renting property, and gaining access to government services.

It is also required by law to register your address within 90 days of moving to a new location. Failure to do this may result in legal consequences, including having to pay fines.

Additionally, registering your address ensures that you are able to obtain essential documents, such as voting registration, driving license, and electricity bills, among others.

Therefore, registering your address is a vital step to fully adjust into Vietnamese society.

Who Can Apply For Registration For Address In Vietnam

There are some cases where foreigners are considered for residence status in Vietnam, these include:

Foreigners who are temporarily or permanently residing in Vietnam for any reason, such as work, study, investment or family reunification, are eligible to register their address and obtain a residence card.
Overseas Vietnamese who hold Vietnamese citizenship are also eligible for registration.
Locals who have recently moved from one province to another, or from one address to another within the same province, must register their new address.
Foreigners who have contributed to the development and protection of Vietnam and are awarded medals or titles by Vietnam’s government
Scientists or experts temporarily residing in Vietnam
Any foreigner sponsored by his parent, spouse, or child who is a Vietnamese citizen and has a permanent residence in Vietnam
Any person without nationalities who has had a temporary residence in Vietnam from 2000 or earlier.

You must register your address before completion of your initial 24 hours of residence in Vietnam.

What Is The Difference Between Permanent Residence And Temporary Residence And Naturalization?

A residence permit is a temporary residence permit issued to a foreigner for a specified period of one to ten years in Vietnam. It needs to be renewed regularly.

You can get permanent residence only after a residence permit, if you have lived in the country for at least three years.

The requirement for naturalization is living in the country for 5 years based on a permanent residence permit.

How To Register Your Address In Vietnam

You must submit your application to the local public security authority within 12 hours to 24 hours.

Performing residence registration is a vital step for foreigners to prove their compliance with the applicable laws of Vietnam.

1. Online Residence Registration In Vietnam

This way of registering residence for foreigners in Vietnam can be carried out by either the foreigner if they know all required information about the accommodation and the landlord, or the landlord themselves.

You need to access the online portal of the immigration office of the province where the accommodation is located.

For example:

If you are registering temporary residence in Hanoi, access to https://hanoi.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/.
If you are registering temporary residence in Ho Chi Minh City, access to https://hochiminh.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/.

You then click the language icon to turn your forms to English.

You then need to make an account complete the sign-up form with full information of your accommodation and landlord, including:

Host’s full name
Host’s phone number
Host’s ID Card/passport No.
Accommodation address
Username and password.

After this, you will receive a notification of successful sign-up. Sign into your account and complete the registration. The form will require you to provide the following information:

Room Number
Passport number
Nationality
Full name
Gender
Date of birth
Date of moving it
Intended date of moving out.

After completing the form, you will receive a notification of success.

Residence registration in Vietnam to the local police

Documents for obtaining temporary residence

valid passport,proof of local address,proof of reason of relocation,proof of financial means of self-support

Instead of using the online form you can opt for going physically to the local police to register your address. You will need to provide certain documents including:

Your Passport: Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in Vietnam.
Your Visa: If you are staying in Vietnam on a tourist visa, you will need to provide proof of your visa. Also, if you are staying on a business visa, you will need to provide proof of your work permit.
Landlord’s ID: If you are staying in rented accommodation, you will need to provide a copy of your landlord’s ID or a copy of the lease agreement.
Proof Of Address: This could be in the form of a utility bill, rental contract, or another official document that shows your name and address in Vietnam.

Once you have gathered all of the required documents, you will need to visit the local police station in the area where you are staying.

When you arrive at the police station, you will need to submit all of the required documents and pay the necessary fees, if any.

After you have submitted all of the required documents, you will need to wait for your application to be approved. The approval process can take several days, so you may check with the local police station for the estimated date .

After your application has been approved, you will be given a police residence certificate referred to as the temporary residence registration certificate. This certificate is valid for the length of your stay in Vietnam, and it is best to keep it with you at all times.

It is important to note that in the case scenario where you move to a new location within Vietnam, you will need to update your residence registration with the local police. This can be done by visiting the local police station in your new area and submitting a new application.

What Is The Process For Registering A Company

You must provide:

A registered address for your company
A minimum of 73,117,500 Vietnamese dong as a startup capital
A resident director (does not have to be a Vietnamese official, simply must hold Vietnamese residency)
Completed and signed articles of association
Passport copies and details of the company founder

The Investment Registration Certificate needs to be filed for and obtained from the Department of Planning and Investment (DPI). This may take up to 25 business days to be issued.

In order to obtain the Business Registration Certificate, make sure to apply to the DPI. This will be issued in less than 7 business days.

After you receive your Business Registration Certificate, you may file for tax registration. Keep in mind that you are obliged to submit this application within 30 days or your license will be revoked.

The final step to having your company registered is to make the initial contribution of capital, this has to be done within 90 days or you will have your license revoked.

How Long Will The Process Of Registration Take?

For most company registrations, incorporation will be able to start within 30 business days.

On the other hand, for individuals, registering their address may even take up to 2 months, which you are advised to be prepared for.

Is It Legal To Live In Vietnam Without Registering Your Address

The place of residence of a person without permanent and temporary residences as they are ineligible for permanent and temporary residence registration shall be their current residence.

If they do not live at a certain address, their current residence shall be the commune-level administrative unit where they are living.

Additionally, those without permanent and temporary residences must declare information on their residence with the registration authority of the locality where their current residence is located.

What Is The Process Of Changing A Registered Business Address In Vietnam

There are certain compulsory steps that must be carried out by your company before the process of requesting the change of address:

Ensure the finalization of your company taxes when changing the company’s address to a different district or different province.
Carry out the procedure for reporting a change with regard to your social insurance.
Prepare documents to change the company address
Submit the documents to the Business Registration Office
Receive a business registration certificate stating the new address of the company
Carry out the process to change the company’s seal if there is information on the old legal business address on the seal
Prepare document requirements for legal address change
The types of documents for legal address change depends significantly on whether or not the company applying for the change has a foreign shareholder or a local shareholder.

The procedure is less complex if the company has a local shareholder, whereas, it will take more time if it involves a foreign shareholder.

A company with a foreign shareholder will have to provide documents such as:

Audited financial report
Residency permit of the company’s legal representative
Investment capital from any foreign investor/s

How To Deregister A Company In Vietnam

Reasons for company closure in Vietnam include the expiration of the operation period stated in the company charter, dissolution decisions by the owner or partners, failure to meet minimum membership requirements, or revocation of the business registration certificate.

Dissolving a company typically takes around four to six months.

To deregister a company, the owner must issue a dissolution statement that consists of information such as the company name, address, registration number, reasons for dissolution, liquidation procedures and deadlines, and obligations related to labor contracts.

This document is to be sent to relevant agencies, individuals, creditors, and employees.

Several tasks need to be completed during the deregistration process. These include finalizing and paying all tax and financial obligations to the government, settling personal income tax and insurance for employees, liquidating contracts and debts, and closing bank accounts.

The company should also take into note that the resolution on dissolution is sent to creditors and take necessary steps to discharge all debts and property obligations.

Tax and customs requirements play a crucial role in the deregistration process. Companies with import-export tax codes are obliged to close them and settle any pending taxes.

In addition to this, financial balance invoices should be destroyed, overdue taxes must be finalized, and relevant tax documents need to be submitted. The company’s tax code will be closed, and a notification will be issued.

Bank accounts should be closed following the policies of the respective banks, and a document certifying the closure should be obtained. The company stamp must be destroyed as well.

Lastly, the company needs to submit a dossier to the Department of Planning and Investment (MPI) to notify them of the dissolution.

The dossier is required to include various documents such as the investment certificate, financial report, list of creditors and paid debts, minutes of meetings, and certifications of tax, customs, and insurance obligations.

Upon submission and confirmation, the company’s name will be removed from the DPI’s list of enterprises.

What Is The Procedure Of Moving Locations In Vietnam

This must be done within 30 days of moving to the new address.

Banks should be notified of any change of address.

This can be done by visiting the local branch with the identification documents used when the account was first opened, in addition to proof of the new address.

Foreigners who arrange their own income tax should make payments to the local tax department in the area in which they live. If there is a change in address, they should inform the nearest tax office of the new address.

Foreign employees working for Vietnamese companies usually have private medical insurance provided by their employer.

When moving house, the Human Resource Department of the employer is responsible for informing the relevant insurance agencies of the new address.

You should also consider updating post offices and the school of your child about this change so that you can keep receiving your mail.

Is It Legal To Live Or Operate Business Without Registration

If you carry on a business without the proper registration, you may be subject to a fine of VND 3,000,000 to VND 15,000,000. You may also be compelled to register your business, or otherwise cease your operations.

Conclusion

So, you’ve navigated the twists and turns of Vietnamese bureaucracy, and you’re almost at the finish line.

Remember, registering your address is more than just a formality it’s a rite of passage for every expat. Welcome to Vietnam, where you’re now officially on the map!

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