Within 12 hours of arriving at your accommodation, or 24 hours if you are in a remote area and the declaration is filed on paper, every foreign visitor in Vietnam must have their Vietnam temporary residence registration submitted to the local police. The declaring is done by your hotel, guesthouse or host. At check-in, all you do is hand over your passport and residence papers.
This is an independent travel resource rather than a government site, and no fees are charged by us. Before you fly, check the rules currently in force on the Immigration Department’s portal at evisa.gov.vn.
Who Must Complete Vietnam Temporary Residence Registration
Absolutely everyone, no matter their nationality, the type of visa they hold or how long the trip lasts. That takes in UK, German, French, Japanese, South Korean and Italian citizens, who may remain up to 45 days without a visa under Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP of 7 March 2025 (in force 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028), as well as e-visa holders from India, China, the US and Australia, whose visas are valid for up to 90 days.
Law 23/2023/QH15 provides the legal basis, having replaced Article 33 of Law 47/2014/QH13. It is the accommodation manager who reports your stay to the police in the locality where the establishment sits.
Take a look at our Vietnam arrival card page and our Vietnam visa requirements guide.
How the Registration Process Works
Since the establishment files on your behalf, a trip to a police station is never necessary.
Hand over documents
At check-in, hand over your passport or travel document, together with the papers covering your residence in Vietnam.
Document review
Before allowing you to stay, the manager reviews those documents.
Police report
Within the deadline, the manager reports your stay to the local police, either electronically or on paper.
Should you switch hotels, move to another city or stay with friends, the declaration has to be updated in the same manner.
Fines for Skipping Vietnam Temporary Residence Registration
Under Decree 282/2025/NĐ-CP, Article 21, both sides can be fined, and the penalties grow with the number of guests left unregistered.
- An establishment that fails to declare 1 to 3 foreigners: a fine of VND 3,000,000 to 5,000,000.
- For 4 to 8 foreigners left undeclared by the same establishment: VND 10,000,000 to 15,000,000.
- For 9 or more foreigners left undeclared: VND 15,000,000 to 20,000,000.
- An individual who breaches the rules or the notification duty: a warning, or VND 500,000 to 1,000,000.
Where the offender is an organization, the amount doubles compared with the individual penalty. Our pages on Vietnam overstay penalties and extending your stay may also be useful.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Believing the hotel always files. Confirm when you check in that the declaration was actually submitted, particularly at smaller guesthouses.
- Overlooking the second address. A fresh declaration is required whenever you move to another hotel or city.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do visa-free travelers need Vietnam temporary residence registration, or only e-visa holders?
The requirement covers everybody. Travellers without a visa and e-visa holders alike are declared by their accommodation in exactly the same way.
Within how many hours must I register after I arrive at my accommodation in Vietnam?
You have twelve hours from arrival, extended to 24 hours in remote areas. Those windows apply to declarations made on paper.
Who bears legal responsibility for filing the declaration, I or my hotel?
Your accommodation is. Your only task is presenting your passport and residence papers. Should the hotel fail to declare you, the fine falls on the establishment.
Which documents do I need to show to my accommodation for the registration?
Your passport or international travel document, along with the papers concerning your residence in Vietnam. Before you may stay, the manager has to inspect them.
What are the consequences if my hotel does not register my temporary residence with the police?
Under Decree 282/2025/NĐ-CP, Article 21, the establishment is fined between VND 3,000,000 and 20,000,000, depending on how many guests are involved.
If I move to another hotel or city in Vietnam, must I register again?
You do. The new hotel or host has to declare your stay, and it is worth confirming that they have done so.
Does temporary residence registration in Vietnam amount to the same thing as completing the arrival card?
It is not. Temporary residence registration is a distinct declaration, filed by your accommodation once you have arrived.
Is it possible for me to carry out the registration in person directly at the local police station?
You cannot. Foreigners declare temporary residence through the person managing the accommodation, which may include friends or family hosting them.
Sources and Verification
- Government of Viet Nam online newspaper (baochinhphu.vn) – Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP (verified 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam online newspaper (baochinhphu.vn) – Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP (verified 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam, Official Gazette – Decree 282/2025/NĐ-CP, Article 21 (verified 2026-10-13)
- Viet Nam Immigration Department – e-visa portal and temporary residence rules (verified 2026-10-13)
- Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam – visa exemption information (verified 2026-10-13)
- National Database of Legal Documents (vbpl.vn, Ministry of Justice) – Law 23/2023/QH15, new Article 33 (verified 2026-10-13)
- Government of Viet Nam e-newspaper – Resolution 127/NQ-CP, e-visas for all countries (verified 2026-10-13)
