VISA FOR SPOUSE OF FOREIGN EXPERTS – WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE?

Which visa type should be chosen for the spouse of a foreign expert? This is a question of great concern for many businesses and foreign workers when bringing their relatives to live in Vietnam. According to current regulations, the husband or wife of a foreign expert can be granted a TT (family visit) visa if they meet the conditions regarding family relationship and sponsorship documents. 

The article below will analyze suitable visa types, conditions, documents, procedures, and important notes to choose the correct visa type in accordance with Vietnamese law. 

LEGAL BASIS 

• Labor Code 2019 (Law No. 45/2019/QH14 dated November 20, 2019); 
• Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (amended and supplemented in 2019); 
• Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP dated August 7, 2025 of the Government regulating foreign workers working in Vietnam (effective from August 7, 2025, replacing Decree 152/2020/ND-CP and Decree 70/2023/ND-CP). 

I. OVERVIEW OF SPOUSE VISAS FOR FOREIGN EXPERTS IN VIETNAM 

1.1. Who is a foreign expert according to legal regulations? 

According to Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, an expert is a foreign worker “who has a university degree or higher or equivalent and has at least 02 years of work experience in the trained specialty suitable for the job position that the foreign worker is expected to work in Vietnam”. 

Foreign experts are issued work permits, based on which they will be granted appropriate visas and temporary residence cards, usually bearing the symbol LĐ1 or LĐ2. Because foreign experts have a clearly defined legal status in the immigration management system, their accompanying spouses also enjoy corresponding residence policies. This serves as an important basis for answering the question about the appropriate spouse visa for foreign experts under Vietnamese law. 

1.2. Regulations on visa symbols for relatives of foreigners 

According to Article 8 of this Law, the visa bearing the symbol TT is: “Issued to foreigners who are wives, husbands, children under 18 years old of foreigners granted visas with symbols LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1, LĐ2 or foreigners who are parents, wives, husbands, children of Vietnamese citizens.” 

Thus, as the spouse of a foreign expert who has been granted a labor visa (LĐ1 or LĐ2), the person concerned is fully eligible to be issued a spouse visa for foreign experts bearing the symbol TT according to the above regulations. 

II. VISA OPTIONS FOR SPOUSES OF FOREIGN EXPERTS AND COMPARISON 

2.1. Visa bearing symbol TT – The most suitable choice 

Regarding the question of which visa to choose for the spouse of a foreign expert, the TT symbol (Family Visit) is the visa type specifically designed and most suitable for this category. Below are its main characteristics: 

1. a) Visa validity: According to Article 9 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (amended 2019), the TT visa has a temporary residence duration of no more than 12 months. After expiration, it will be considered for a new visa issuance. 
2. b) Entry value: The TT visa can be issued for single or multiple entries, depending on the request and approval of competent authorities. 
3. c) Upgrade to a temporary residence card: After being granted a TT visa, the spouse of a foreign expert can apply for a temporary residence card bearing the symbol TT with a duration of up to 03 years, creating long-term legal stability without having to reapply for a visa every year. 
4. d) Benefits: Holders of a TT visa or temporary residence card enjoy flexible entry and exit, temporary residence registration, and cohabitation with the foreign expert in Vietnam within the granted duration. 

2.2. Visa bearing symbol VR – Short-term alternative choice 

In addition to the TT visa, the spouse of a foreign expert can also use a visa bearing the symbol VR (Personal Affairs – issued to people entering to visit relatives or for other purposes). However, the VR visa only has a temporary residence duration of no more than 06 months and does not provide a sufficient legal basis to convert into a long-term temporary residence card under the family visit category. Therefore, the VR visa is only suitable for short-term or temporary stays while waiting to complete the TT visa application. 

This is an important point of distinction when deciding which visa type to choose: if the goal is stable, long-term residence with the expert, the TT visa is a more correct and sustainable choice than the VR visa. 

2.3. Comprehensive comparison of visa types for spouses of foreign experts 

The following table summarizes the differences between the two most popular types of visas: 

III. CONDITIONS AND DOSSIER FOR ISSUANCE OF SPOUSE VISA FOR FOREIGN EXPERTS 

3.1. Conditions for granting a TT visa to the spouse of a foreign expert 

According to the provisions of Article 10 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (amended and supplemented in 2019), to be issued a spouse visa bearing the symbol TT, the applicant needs to meet the following conditions: 

• Have a passport that is still within its validity period; 
• Have an inviting or sponsoring agency, organization, or individual in Vietnam (in this case, the foreign expert themselves or the employer using the labor stands as the sponsor); 
• Have documents proving a legal marital relationship with the foreign expert working in Vietnam (the Marriage Certificate must be consularly legalized if issued by a foreign authority); 
• Not fall into the cases where entry is suspended according to Article 21 of this Law. 

In addition, the foreign expert sponsoring the spouse must be residing legally in Vietnam, holding a valid work permit or a valid certificate of exemption from a work permit according to Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP. 

3.2. Dossier to apply for a TT visa for the spouse of a foreign expert 

The application dossier for a TT spouse visa typically includes: 

• Vietnam visa application form – Form NA1; 
• Visa application form for foreigners entering Vietnam to visit relatives according to Form NA2 (if the foreigner is currently abroad); 
• Application form for visa issuance or extension according to Form NA5 (if the foreigner is currently in Vietnam); 
• Passport of the sponsored person; 
• Passport and visa of the sponsor (Visa or temporary residence card); 
• Documents proving family relationship such as: birth certificate for children/parents, marriage certificate for spouses, household registration book, family certificate, etc. (These documents must be consularly legalized, translated, and notarized according to regulations); 
• Letter of introduction for the person processing the visa application procedures at the Immigration Department. 

3.3. Procedures for submitting visa applications at the Immigration Department 

• The family visit visa application dossier is submitted to the Immigration Department in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. 
• Time to receive results: 05 working days from the date the immigration agency receives a full and valid dossier as regulated. 

IV. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SPOUSE VISAS FOR FOREIGN EXPERTS 

Can the spouse of a foreign expert work in Vietnam? 

The TT visa does not allow the holder to work in Vietnam. According to Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, if the spouse of a foreign expert wants to work legally in Vietnam, that person needs to perform separate work permit application procedures and be granted a suitable visa in the capacity of a worker, not a TT family visit visa. 

Can the TT temporary residence card for the spouse of an expert be extended? 

Yes. The TT temporary residence card can be extended if the foreign expert continues to work legally in Vietnam and the extension dossier is submitted before the card expires, usually at least 15 days prior to the expiration date. 

What should be done if the passport expires during the stay? 

According to regulations, the duration of the visa or temporary residence card must be at least 30 days shorter than the passport’s expiration date. If the passport of the expert’s spouse is about to expire, it is necessary to carry out procedures to renew the passport and then re-issue the corresponding temporary residence card to ensure a continuous legal residence status. 

CONCLUSION 

In summary, when determining which visa type to choose for the spouse of a foreign expert, the clear answer is the visa bearing symbol TT (Family Visit) according to Article 8 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 (amended 2019). This is the correct visa for the target group, with a term of up to 12 months and the ability to be upgraded to a TT temporary residence card with a maximum term of 03 years, creating a stable legal foundation for the expert’s spouse to live together in Vietnam. 

To ensure a smooth application process, it is crucial to prepare a complete dossier—especially the marriage certificate that has been consularly legalized—and ensure that the foreign expert holds a valid work permit or certificate of work permit exemption under Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP. Businesses and individuals can refer to further information at the Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security) or Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad.