NA17 Temporary Residence Declaration Form for Foreigners in Vietnam – Complete Guide [2025]

The NA17 form is a temporary residence declaration form for foreigners regulated under Circular 04/2015/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security, which must be submitted within 12 hours in major cities or 24 hours in remote areas from the time the foreigner arrives at the accommodation. Accommodation establishments (hotels, guesthouses, company housing, private rental houses) are responsible for completing all information and submitting it to the communal police where the accommodation is located, completely free of charge (0 VND).

There are currently 2 declaration methods:

• (1) Online through the Electronic Information Portal https://[provincename].xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn (mandatory for hotels, optional for other establishments) – processed 24/7 within 24 hours.
• (2) Direct submission of paper forms at commune-level police – receive confirmation immediately. The official form can be downloaded free at the National Public Service Portal (dichvucong.gov.vn) or the Immigration Department website, in .doc format. View and download the NA17 temporary residence declaration form template here.

Timely and accurate temporary residence declaration not only complies with legal regulations but is also a necessary condition for foreigners to complete subsequent procedures such as applying for temporary residence cards, work permits, or Vietnamese judicial records. Violations of deadlines or providing false information may result in administrative fines from 4-6 million VND for individuals and 8-12 million VND for organizations according to Decree 144/2021/ND-CP.

What Is the NA17 Temporary Residence Declaration Form for Foreigners and When Is It Required?

The NA17 form is the Temporary Residence Declaration Form for foreigners in Vietnam, officially regulated in Circular 04/2015/TT-BCA dated January 5, 2015, by the Ministry of Public Security. This is one of 25 document forms related to entry, exit, and residence of foreigners, belonging to the group of 18 forms for agencies, organizations, and individuals inviting or sponsoring foreigners in Vietnam.

This form is mandatory in the following cases:

• Foreigners temporarily staying at hotels, guesthouses, homestays, or tourist accommodation establishments
• Foreigners renting private houses or staying with relatives and Vietnamese friends
• Foreigners staying in company or enterprise housing (for foreign workers)
• Foreigners staying in school dormitories (international students, interns)
• Foreigners staying at medical examination and treatment facilities (foreign patients undergoing long-term treatment)

According to Clause 2, Article 33 of Law 47/2014/QH13 on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (amended by Law 23/2023), all foreigners temporarily residing on Vietnamese territory must have their temporary residence declared, regardless of short or long stay duration. This declaration helps authorities monitor the presence and movement of foreigners, ensuring security, order, and effective state management.

Who Is Responsible for Declaring Temporary Residence for Foreigners Using Form NA17?

The person responsible for declaring form NA17 is not the foreigner, but the person directly managing and operating the accommodation establishment. Specifically:

• Hotel, guesthouse, homestay owners: Reception staff or authorized persons
• Landlords: The person named on the rental contract with the foreigner
• Company representatives: The person assigned by the company to manage housing for foreign workers
• Schools: Student affairs office or administrative office managing dormitories
• Medical facilities: Administrative office or patient reception department

The declarant is responsible for collecting complete information from the foreigner’s documents (passport, visa, temporary residence card), accurately filling in form NA17, and submitting it to the police within the prescribed deadline of 12 hours (for centrally-governed cities and large cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Can Tho) or 24 hours (for districts and communes in remote, mountainous, and island areas).

If an accommodation establishment has multiple foreigners requiring temporary residence declaration simultaneously, the declarant only needs to add new rows in the table at the top of the same NA17 form and fill in complete information for each person in the corresponding columns, without needing to create separate forms for each person.

Where Can You Download the NA17 Temporary Residence Declaration Form for Foreigners?

The official NA17 form can be downloaded free of charge (0 VND) at the National Public Service Portal (https://dichvucong.gov.vn) or the website of the Immigration Department – Ministry of Public Security. The template file is available in .doc format (Microsoft Word – editable).

To download the NA17 form from the National Public Service Portal, follow these steps:

Step 1: Access https://dichvucong.gov.vn

Step 2: Search for “Khai báo tạm trú người nước ngoài” (Temporary residence declaration for foreigners) in the search bar

Step 3: Select the declaration method “Khai báo tạm trú cho người nước ngoài tại Việt Nam bằng Phiếu khai báo tạm trú” (Temporary residence declaration for foreigners in Vietnam using the Temporary Residence Declaration Form)

Step 4: Scroll down, find the content “101-Mau A17 tam tru cho nguoi nuoc ngoai.doc” and proceed to download, or simply view and download the NA17 form template directly here

In addition, some electronic information pages of the Immigration Management Offices of provincial and municipal police also provide the NA17 form for download. For example:

• Hanoi: https://hanoi.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
• Ho Chi Minh City: https://hochiminh.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
• Da Nang: https://danang.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
• Binh Duong: https://binhduong.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn

Download Links for NA17 Form in Word/PDF Format

Download official template:

• Download NA17 form in Word format (.doc)

Important note: Only use forms downloaded from the official sources mentioned above to ensure correct format and content according to legal regulations. Avoid using forms from unreliable websites that may lead to errors and rejection.

When downloading the form, check the following information on the form:

• Title: “TEMPORARY RESIDENCE DECLARATION FORM FOR FOREIGNERS”
• Note (1): “Tourist accommodation establishments, guesthouses, housing for foreigners working, laboring, studying, interning…”
• Columns in the table: No., Full name, Gender, Date of birth, Nationality, Passport number, Document type, Entry date and border gate, Purpose of entry, Temporary residence period

If the downloaded form is missing any information from the above list, it may not be an official form and should not be used.

How to Fill Out Form NA17 – Detailed Step-by-Step Instructions

Filling out form NA17 consists of 3 main parts: (1) Information about the accommodation establishment, (2) Information about the foreigner temporarily residing, and (3) Signature confirmation of the declarant. The entire form-filling process takes approximately 5-10 minutes if all necessary documents (foreigner’s passport, visa, or temporary residence card) are prepared.

Part 1: Fill in Accommodation Establishment Information

The first part of form NA17 requires declaration of information about the establishment where the foreigner is staying. Accurately fill in the following sections:

1. Name of accommodation establishment: Write the full official name of the accommodation establishment according to the business registration certificate (for enterprises) or owner’s name (for private houses).

Examples:

• Hotel: “ABC HOTEL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY” or “ABC Hotel”
• Private house: “House of Mr./Mrs. [Landlord’s name]”
• Company housing: “XYZ JOINT STOCK COMPANY – Housing complex No. [X]”

2. Address: Write the complete specific address in the format: House number, Street name, Ward/Commune, District/County, Province/City.

Example: “112/6 Pham Van Bach, Ward 15, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City”

3. Telephone: Write the contact telephone number of the accommodation establishment (landline or mobile number of the manager). Ensure this number is always contactable in case the police need to verify information.

4. To: Write the name of the police agency where the declaration form is submitted, usually “Police of Ward/Commune [Ward/Commune name]” where the accommodation establishment is located.

Example: “To: Police of Ward 15, Tan Binh District”

Part 2: Fill in Foreigner Information

This is the most important part of form NA17, requiring detailed declaration of personal information and entry-exit documents of the foreigner. Form NA17 has a table format with the following information columns:

Column 1 – No. (Serial number): Number each foreigner sequentially if multiple foreigners are staying at one establishment.

Column 2 – Full name (1): Write the foreigner’s full name in CAPITAL LETTERS, exactly as recorded on the passport (under “Full Name” or “Surname and Given Names” section).

Example: SMITH JOHN DAVID

Column 3 – Gender: Write “Male” or “Female” according to the foreigner’s gender.

Column 4 – Date of birth: Write in day/month/year format (DD/MM/YYYY), exactly as on the passport.

Example: 15/03/1985

Column 5 – Nationality: Write the foreigner’s nationality in Vietnamese or English.

Example: United States (or Hoa Kỳ), South Korea (or Hàn Quốc), Japan (or Nhật Bản)

Column 6 – Passport number (2): Write the passport number and passport type in parentheses. Common passport types:

• Ordinary Passport – used for tourists, regular workers
• Official Passport – used for state officials and civil servants
• Diplomatic Passport – used for ambassadors, consuls

Example: A12345678 (ordinary passport)

Column 7 – Document type, number, validity period, issue date, issuing authority (3): This is the most complex column, requiring complete information about the document allowing the foreigner to enter and reside in Vietnam. Write in the following order:

(a) Document type:

• If entering visa-exempt: Write “Visa exemption”
• If having a visa: Write “Visa” + type (tourist/business/labor…)
• If having a temporary residence card: Write “Temporary residence card”
• If having a visa exemption certificate: Write “Visa exemption certificate”
• If having ABTC card (Asia-Pacific Business Travel Card): Write “ABTC card”

(b) Number: Write the number of that document (visa number, temporary residence card number…)

(c) Validity period: Write the validity period of the document (number of days allowed to stay)

(d) Issue date: Write the document issue date

(e) Issuing authority: Write the name of the authority that issued the document (Vietnamese Embassy in country X, Immigration Department…)

Example: “Work visa, number DL123456, validity 12 months, issue date 01/01/2025, issuing authority: Immigration Department – Ministry of Public Security”

Or simpler if visa-exempt: “Visa exemption, 30 days, according to Resolution 127/NQ-CP”

Column 8 – Date, month, year, entry border gate (4): Write the most recent entry date into Vietnam and the name of the border gate (airport, land border gate, seaport).

Example: “10/01/2025, Tan Son Nhat International Airport”

Column 9 – Purpose of entry: Clearly write the foreigner’s purpose of entry: Tourism, Business, Labor, Study, Family visit, Medical treatment, Investment…

Column 10 – Temporary residence period (from date… to date…): Write the expected period the foreigner will stay at this establishment.

Example: “From 10/01/2025 to 20/01/2025” (staying 10 days)

Important notes when filling out:

• If the accommodation has multiple foreigners to declare, just add rows in the table (no need to create separate forms for each person)
• All information must be 100% accurate compared to original documents to avoid being asked to revise
• Do not leave any column blank; if there is no information, write “None”

Part 3: Sign and Complete

After completely filling in information in parts 1 and 2, the declarant performs the final steps:

1. Write the form date: At the bottom line of the form, write “Date … month … year …” as the actual date of form preparation (must be within 12 or 24 hours from when the foreigner arrives at the accommodation).

2. Signature and name of declarant: The person directly managing the accommodation establishment (or authorized person) signs and clearly writes their name at the end of the form.

3. Stamp (if available): If the accommodation establishment is an enterprise with a seal, the seal must be stamped on the form. If it is an individual landlord without a seal, it is not mandatory.

4. Recheck all information: Before submission, carefully check once more:

• Are the name and passport number accurate?
• Are the entry date and border gate correct?
• Is the temporary residence period reasonable?
• Are the signature and form date complete?

If errors are discovered after submission, contact the commune police immediately to make amendments before the form is officially confirmed.

Submission Process for Form NA17 – Online and Offline

After completely filling in information on form NA17, the declarant needs to submit the form to the competent police authority for confirmation. There are currently 2 submission methods: (1) Online declaration through the Electronic Immigration Portal (24/7, automatic, free) or (2) Direct submission of paper forms at commune police during office hours (receive confirmation immediately).

Comparison of 2 Declaration Methods

Criteria	Online	Offline
Mandatory subjects	Hotels (according to Law 47/2014/QH13)	Private houses, non-hotel establishments
Processing time	24/7, automatic within 24 hours	Office hours, immediate confirmation (5-10 minutes)
Implementation location	https://[province].xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn	Commune/ward police where accommodation is located
Documents needed	None (enter information online)	Completed NA17 form + Copy of foreigner’s passport
Confirmation	Automatically saved in system, no paper form received	Receive paper form with stamped confirmation
Cost	0 VND	0 VND
Advantages	Fast, convenient, no travel time	Direct guidance, receive confirmation immediately
Disadvantages	Requires computer skills, no physical confirmation received	Must come during office hours, time-consuming

Method 1: Online Temporary Residence Declaration via Electronic Portal

The online declaration method is mandatory for tourist accommodation establishments that are hotels (according to Clause 3, Article 33 of Law 47/2014/QH13). Other establishments can choose to declare online or offline. The online declaration process consists of 6 detailed steps:

Step 1: Access the Electronic Information Portal

Each province/city has a separate electronic information page with the format: https://[vietnamesenamewithoutdiacritics].xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn

Examples:

• Hanoi: https://hanoi.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
• Ho Chi Minh City: https://hochiminh.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
• Da Nang: https://danang.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
• Binh Duong: https://binhduong.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
• Hai Phong: https://haiphong.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn

If you don’t know the exact address for your province, you can access the National Public Service Portal (dichvucong.gov.vn) or the Ministry of Public Security Public Service Portal (dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn) to find links for each locality.

Step 2: Register an account (first time)

If you don’t have an account yet, click the “Register account” button on the homepage and fill in the information:

• Name of accommodation establishment (according to business registration certificate)
• Address of accommodation establishment (complete: house number, street, ward/commune, district/county)
• Contact telephone number
• Email (to receive notifications and password recovery)
• Username and password (self-created)

After completion, the system will send a confirmation email. Click the link in the email to activate the account.

Note: Each accommodation establishment is only allowed to register 1 main management account. If multiple staff need to use it, the management account can create additional sub-accounts from the “Account management” section after logging in.

Step 3: Log in to the system

Use the username and password created in Step 2 to log in to the system. The screen after logging in will display a function menu with the following items:

• Dashboard
• Manage staying
• Statistics
• Account management

Step 4: Declare foreigner information

Select the “Manage staying” menu and click the “Add new” button to start declaring.

The system will display an input form with information fields similar to the paper NA17 form:

• Full name
• Gender
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Passport number
• Visa type / Entry document
• Entry date
• Port of entry
• Purpose of stay
• Stay period

Tip: The system has a “Search by passport number” function – if the foreigner has previously declared temporary residence, the system will automatically fill in some basic information, only needing to update the new stay period.

After completing, click “Save information” (Save).

Step 5: Check and confirm

The system will redisplay all the information just entered for checking. If accurate, click “Confirm declaration” (Confirm). If there are errors, click “Edit” to adjust.

Step 6: Complete and receive results

After confirmation, information will be automatically sent to the Immigration Management Department of provincial/municipal police. The system receives and processes 24/7 within 24 hours.

The declarant can monitor processing status in the “Manage staying” section:

• Processing: Not yet confirmed
• Approved: Successfully confirmed
• Need more info: Requires additional/amended information

When declaring online, you do not receive physical confirmation, but the information has been stored in the national system. If you need written confirmation for other purposes (applying for temporary residence card, work permit…), you can go directly to the commune police to request a certified copy from the system data.

Additional features on the online system:

• Import Excel: If there are many foreigners (10+), you can download the Excel template from the system, fill in information in bulk, then upload instead of entering individually
• Declaration history: View all foreigners previously declared at the establishment
• Statistics: Report the number of foreigners by month/year
• Notifications: Receive email/SMS when information is confirmed or needs supplementation

Method 2: Direct Submission of Temporary Residence Declaration Form at Commune Police

The direct paper form submission method is suitable for non-hotel accommodation establishments (private rental houses, company housing, dormitories…) or cases wanting to receive physical written confirmation immediately. The direct submission process consists of 3 simple steps:

Step 1: Prepare documents

Documents to bring:

• Completed NA17 form (original, handwritten or typed)
• Photocopy of foreigner’s passport (page with photo + page with entry stamp)
• Photocopy of visa/temporary residence card (if available)

Note: The declaration form can be sent in advance by fax or notified by phone to the commune police before bringing the original form for submission. This saves time because the police can prepare in advance and only need to confirm when receiving the original form.

Step 2: Submit at commune/ward police

Bring documents to the Duty Office of commune/ward/town police where the accommodation establishment is located within the deadline:

• 12 hours from when the foreigner arrives at the accommodation (for large cities: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Can Tho, Bac Ninh, Binh Duong, Dong Nai…)
• 24 hours from when the foreigner arrives at the accommodation (for remote, mountainous, and island areas)

Commune police office hours are usually:

• Morning: 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM
• Afternoon: 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
• Saturday: 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM (some places)
• Sunday & holidays: Closed (except emergencies)

Important note: If the foreigner arrives in the evening or weekend (outside office hours), the 12-24 hour deadline still counts from the time of arrival. Therefore, you should notify by phone or fax immediately, then submit the original form on the next working morning.

Step 3: Receive confirmed form

The commune police duty officer will check the declaration form:

• If complete and accurate: Accept immediately, stamp confirmation, and return the form to the declarant within 5-10 minutes
• If missing or incorrect information: Request amendments or additions on the spot, or take it back to correct and resubmit

The form after police confirmation needs to be carefully kept by the accommodation establishment to serve inspection purposes when necessary. Recommended retention period: minimum 12 months from the date the foreigner leaves the accommodation establishment.

Special case: If the accommodation establishment is located in a border area, after the commune police confirms, the officer will immediately notify the nearest Border Guard Post for coordination in management.

Deadlines and Fees for Temporary Residence Declaration

Temporary Residence Declaration Deadlines by Area

The deadline for submitting the temporary residence declaration form is clearly defined in Clause 2, Article 33 of Law 47/2014/QH13 and Article 6 of Circular 53/2016/TT-BCA, depending on the geographical location of the accommodation establishment:

Area Type	Declaration Deadline	Example Provinces/Cities
Large cities, urban areas	12 hours	Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Can Tho, Bac Ninh, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Vung Tau, Nha Trang, Hue, Quy Nhon
Remote areas, mountainous, islands	24 hours	Mountainous districts, islands: Son La, Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Truong Sa Archipelago, Co To, Phu Quoc (remote areas)…

How to calculate the deadline: The deadline is calculated from the time the foreigner actually arrives at the accommodation establishment (check-in), not from the time of signing the rental contract or room booking.

Example:

• Foreigner checks in to hotel A at 8:00 PM on 10/01/2025 in Ho Chi Minh City
• Declaration deadline: 8:00 AM on 11/01/2025 (after 12 hours)
• The accommodation establishment can declare online immediately overnight (system operates 24/7) or notify the commune police by phone, then submit the form the next morning

Case of foreigner arriving outside office hours: If the foreigner arrives on Friday evening or weekend (when commune police are not working), the accommodation establishment should:

1. Notify the commune police by phone (duty phone number usually publicly posted)
2. Send fax or take photo of NA17 form and send via Zalo/Viber to the duty officer
3. Submit the original form on Monday morning

Early notification helps avoid deadline violations and demonstrates the accommodation establishment’s willingness to cooperate with authorities.

Temporary Residence Declaration Fee

Completely FREE (0 VND)

Temporary residence declaration for foreigners does not incur any costs, regardless of online or offline declaration. This is a free administrative procedure according to Circular 25/2021/TT-BTC on fees and charges in the immigration field.

Important note: Do not confuse temporary residence declaration (free) with temporary residence card issuance (with fee). These are two completely different procedures:

Criteria	Temporary Residence Declaration (Form NA17)	Temporary Residence Card Issuance (Forms NA6, NA7, NA8)
Purpose	Notify police about temporarily residing foreigner	Issue official residence card for foreigner
Deadline	12-24 hours after arrival	5-7 working days (depending on case)
Fee	0 VND (free)	145-190 USD depending on card validity
Documents	Form NA17 + Copy of passport	Dossier of 8-10 different documents
Processing authority	Commune/ward police	Provincial Immigration Department

Thus, accommodation establishments and foreigners do not have to pay any fees when performing temporary residence declaration procedures using form NA17. If any officer requests fee collection, this is against regulations and can be reported to higher levels or through the Ministry of Public Security hotline.

Special cases:

• Online declaration: Completely free, no internet or service fees
• Offline declaration: Free, no travel costs (accommodation establishment self-pays)
• Printing photocopies: Costs for printing and photocopying documents are paid by the accommodation establishment (usually only a few thousand VND)
• Re-confirmation: If the confirmed form is lost and needs reissuance, still free

For foreigners declaring long-term temporary residence, you can refer to procedures related to Personal Income Tax Finalization for Foreigners Leaving Vietnam to continue legally residing in Vietnam.

Common Mistakes When Filling Out Form NA17 and How to Fix Them

During the process of filling out and submitting form NA17, many accommodation establishments make common errors leading to form rejection or requests for revision, wasting time and potentially incurring fines if exceeding the prescribed deadline. Below are the 7 most common errors and how to fix them:

Error 1: Incorrect Passport Number or Illegible Writing

Symptoms:

• Passport number written with 1-2 character errors (confusion between letter O and number 0, letter I and number 1…)
• Handwriting difficult to read, police officers cannot distinguish characters
• Forgot to write passport type (ordinary/official/diplomatic)

Consequences:

• Form requested for immediate revision
• If not discovered in time, incorrect information will be saved in the national system, causing difficulties for foreigners in subsequent procedures

How to fix:

• Photocopy the passport page with the number and attach directly to the form (some commune police accept this)
• Write in clear CAPITAL LETTERS, avoid messy handwriting
• Compare 2-3 times with the original passport before submission
• If declaring online, use the “Search by passport number” function for automatic filling (if previously declared)

Error 2: Missing or Incorrect Entry Date Information

Symptoms:

• Not writing the entry date into Vietnam
• Confusion between visa issue date and actual entry date
• Wrong entry border gate (e.g., writing “Noi Bai Airport” but actually entered through Tan Son Nhat Airport)

Consequences:

• Information doesn’t match national entry-exit data
• May be suspected of illegal entry by foreigner

How to fix:

• Check the entry stamp on passport (usually stamped on first or last page)
• Entry stamp clearly shows: Date, port, visa type
• Write exactly according to stamp information, don’t guess

Error 3: Exceeding the 12-24 Hour Deadline When Submitting Form

Symptoms:

• Foreigner arrives at accommodation at 10:00 AM, but form submitted at 11:00 AM the next day (after 25 hours)
• Forgetting to count weekend time (Friday evening arrival, Monday morning submission is over 48 hours)

Consequences:

• Administrative fine from 4-6 million VND for individuals (accommodation establishment owner)
• Fine from 8-12 million VND for organizations (companies, hotels)
• According to Article 4 of Decree 144/2021/ND-CP on administrative violations in security and order

How to fix:

• Establish internal procedures at accommodation: Reception staff must declare immediately when guests check in, no delay
• Declare online immediately overnight (24/7 system) instead of waiting until morning
• If arriving on weekend, call or text commune police to notify in advance, then submit form on Monday morning
• Use reminder app on phone: Set alarm after 10-11 hours from guest arrival to not forget

Error 4: Incomplete Accommodation Establishment Information

Symptoms:

• Only writing hotel name, not specific address
• Writing address missing ward/commune, district/county
• Not writing contact telephone number

Consequences:

• Police officers cannot accurately determine accommodation establishment location
• Form returned for information supplementation

How to fix:

• Prepare address stickers or establishment seal in advance to attach/stamp on form, ensuring complete information
• If declaring online, system has already saved establishment information from account registration, no need to refill

Error 5: Confusion Between Visa Type and Temporary Residence Card

Symptoms:

• Foreigner has temporary residence card but writes “tourist visa”
• Person entering visa-exempt but writes “30-day visa”

Consequences:

• Inaccurate information, may affect subsequent work permit or temporary residence card application procedures

How to fix:

• Clearly understand the difference:
  • Visa exemption: Foreigner allowed to enter Vietnam without applying for visa in advance (usually 15-90 days depending on nationality)
  • Visa: Affixed or stamped in passport, clearly stating type (DL-tourist, DN-business, LD-labor, DT-investment…)
  • Temporary Residence Card (TRC): Separate plastic card, usually issued for foreigners living long-term in Vietnam
• Carefully check documents before filling out

Error 6: Not Keeping Copy of Confirmed Form

Symptoms:

• Submitting form to commune police without keeping a copy
• When authorities inspect, no documents proving declaration was made

Consequences:

• Considered as not declared, may be fined
• Must request reissuance of confirmation, wasting time

How to fix:

• Photocopy or take photo of confirmed form before filing
• If declaring online, download and save PDF confirmation file from system
• Keep form for minimum 12 months from when foreigner leaves

Error 7: Filling Vietnamese Name with Diacritics in Foreigner Name Section

Symptoms:

• Writing Korean “Park Min Young” as “Pác Min Dương” (Vietnamized)
• Writing Japanese “Tanaka Hiroshi” as “Ta-na-ka Hi-rô-si”

Consequences:

• Information doesn’t match passport
• Foreigner faces difficulties in other procedures (opening bank account, buying SIM, applying for work permit…)

How to fix:

• Write exactly in Latin characters (English) according to passport, don’t Vietnamize
• Write in CAPITAL LETTERS for easy reading
• If name has special diacritics (ê, ô, ă, ñ…), keep diacritics according to passport

If foreigners work in Vietnam, they also need to comply with social insurance regulations. Refer to the article What Is the Social Insurance Contribution Rate for Foreigners in 2025? to better understand this legal obligation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Form NA17 Temporary Residence Declaration for Foreigners

Does Form NA17 Have a Submission Fee?

No, temporary residence declaration using form NA17 is completely free (0 VND), regardless of online or offline declaration. This is an administrative procedure exempted according to Circular 25/2021/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance.

Note not to confuse with the procedure for applying for a temporary residence card (Temporary Residence Card) – this is a different procedure with fees from 145-190 USD depending on card validity. Temporary residence declaration (form NA17) is only notification to the police about the foreigner staying at the establishment, not applying for official residence documents.

How Many Ways Are There to Declare Temporary Residence for Foreigners?

There are 2 temporary residence declaration methods:

(1) Online:

• Through the Electronic Information Portal of Provincial/Municipal Immigration Management Department
• Address: https://[vietnamesenamewithoutdiacritics].xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
• Operates 24/7, processes within 24 hours
• Mandatory for hotels (according to Clause 3, Article 33 of Law 47/2014/QH13)
• Optional for other accommodation establishments

(2) Direct Submission (Offline):

• Submit paper form NA17 at commune/ward police where accommodation is located
• Receive confirmation immediately within 5-10 minutes (if information is complete)
• Suitable for private rental houses, company housing, dormitories…

Are There Fines for Exceeding the 12-24 Hour Declaration Deadline?

Yes, violating the temporary residence declaration deadline will result in administrative penalties according to Article 4 of Decree 144/2021/ND-CP:

• Individuals (landlords, establishment managers): Fine 4-6 million VND
• Organizations (companies, hotels, enterprises): Fine 8-12 million VND (double the individual fine)

In addition, in some serious cases (foreigner staying many months without declaration, deliberately providing false information…), the foreigner may be deported from Vietnam and the accommodation establishment temporarily suspended from operation.

Therefore, it is necessary to seriously comply with the 12-hour (large cities) or 24-hour (remote areas) deadline from when the foreigner arrives at the accommodation.

Can Foreigners Fill Out and Submit Form NA17 Themselves?

No, according to Clause 2, Article 33 of Law 47/2014/QH13, foreigners temporarily residing in Vietnam cannot declare themselves, but must go through the person directly managing and operating the accommodation establishment to declare temporary residence with commune/ward police.

Person responsible for declaration:

• Hotel, guesthouse owner → reception staff or manager
• Landlord → person named on rental contract
• Company representative → person assigned to manage foreign worker housing
• School → administrative office/student affairs office

However, foreigners are responsible for providing complete documents (passport, visa, temporary residence card…) to the accommodation establishment manager for them to perform declaration procedures.

Is Online or Offline Temporary Residence Declaration Faster?

Depending on the situation:

Online is faster if:

• You already have an account in the system (only takes 2-3 minutes to declare)
• You need to declare outside office hours (evening, weekend) – system operates 24/7
• You have many foreigners simultaneously (can declare in bulk using Excel file)

Offline is faster if:

• You don’t have an online account yet (account registration takes 10-15 minutes)
• You need to receive physical written confirmation immediately (online confirmation only saved in system, no paper)
• You’re not comfortable using computers, want direct guidance
• Commune police is nearby (travel only takes 5-10 minutes)

Recommendation: If you’re a hotel or accommodation with many regular foreigners, register an online account once and use long-term. If you’re a private rental house occasionally having 1-2 people, direct offline submission is simpler.

Must Temporary Residence Be Declared Again if Foreigner Changes Accommodation?

Yes, each time a foreigner changes temporary residence location, the new accommodation establishment must declare again within 12-24 hours from when the person arrives.

Example:

• January 1: Foreigner stays at hotel A in District 1 → Hotel A declares
• January 10: Person moves to rent private house in District 7 → Landlord in District 7 must declare again
• January 20: Person moves to company housing in Binh Duong → Company must declare again

Re-declaration helps authorities update the foreigner’s latest location, serving immigration management and security work.

How Long Is Form NA17 Valid?

Form NA17 does not have a fixed validity period, but validity is calculated according to the actual time the foreigner stays at the declared establishment.

Example:

• Declare foreigner staying from January 10 to January 20 → Form NA17 valid for 10 days
• If person extends stay until January 30 → Need to declare supplementation (if online) or submit new NA17 form (if offline)

When the foreigner leaves the accommodation, the establishment should:

• Notify commune police (if declaring offline) or
• Update “Departed” status on system (if declaring online)

What to Do If the Confirmed NA17 Form Is Lost – Where to Request Reissuance?

If the confirmed NA17 form is lost, do the following:

Step 1: Contact the commune/ward police where the original form was submitted

Step 2: Write a request for reissuance of confirmation (handwritten or typed), content:

• Name of person requesting reissuance
• Name of accommodation establishment
• Name of declared foreigner
• Reason for lost form (misplaced, fire, flood…)
• Request for certified copy

Step 3: Commune police will search information in duty log or electronic system, if found will issue certified copy within 1-2 working days

Cost: Free (0 VND)

Note: Should take photo or photocopy confirmed form immediately after receiving to avoid loss.

Do Foreigners in Vietnam Under Visa Exemption Need Temporary Residence Declaration?

Yes, all foreigners staying on Vietnamese territory must have temporary residence declared, regardless of entry method: visa, visa exemption, temporary residence card, ABTC card…

This regulation ensures authorities fully grasp information about the number, location, and purpose of stay of all foreigners on the territory, serving security and order management work and supporting foreign citizens when necessary (accidents, disasters, epidemics…).

Can Temporary Residence Declaration for Foreigners Be Done by Phone?

Not officially, but preliminary notification can be made by phone to commune police in emergency cases (foreigner arrives outside office hours, weekend…), then must still submit official form (online or offline) to receive confirmation.

Phone notification process:

1. Call commune police duty phone number (usually publicly posted at ward/commune People’s Committee)
2. Notify: Full name, nationality, passport number, stay period of foreigner
3. Duty officer records information in duty log
4. Within 12-24 hours, must still submit official NA17 form (declare online or bring paper form to police)

Phone notification is only preliminary reporting, cannot replace official declaration procedure.

Form NA17 – Temporary Residence Declaration Form for foreigners is a mandatory, free, and simple administrative procedure that helps authorities effectively manage the residence of foreigners in Vietnam. Timely declaration within the 12-24 hour deadline not only helps accommodation establishments comply with law and avoid fines of 4-6 million VND, but also creates favorable conditions for foreigners to complete subsequent procedures such as applying for temporary residence cards, work permits, and Vietnamese judicial records.

With 2 declaration methods (online 24/7 via https://[province].xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn or offline at commune police), accommodation establishments can choose the method appropriate to their conditions and needs. Hotels should prioritize online declaration to save time, while private rental houses occasionally can submit directly for specific guidance.

To avoid errors, note the 7 common mistakes: incorrect passport number, missing entry date, exceeding deadline, incomplete accommodation information, document type confusion, not keeping copies, and Vietnamizing foreigner names. Fill carefully, compare with original documents, and check thoroughly before submission is the best way to ensure the form is accepted the first time.

If you need additional support on related procedures such as visa extension, temporary residence card issuance, work permits for foreigners, EIV Education is always ready to provide detailed consultation and update the latest changes in legal policies [2025].

Download official form NA17 at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hntpwTzDqZkpYuBMdPZymrpFQvlWTXnIV6bcJjwFpF8/edit?tab=t.0