🔄 Last updated: 11 July 2026
You rent an apartment in Nha Trang online. The landlord hands over the keys, you move in, and nobody mentions your passport. Convenient.
Six months later you apply for a temporary residence card — and it's rejected, because your address was never registered for temporary residence.
Or worse: there's an inspection. And it turns out the landlord isn't the only one being fined.
1. What the law says — Article 33, and the 12-hour clock
Under Article 33 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (Law 47/2014/QH13, as amended in 2023):
A foreigner in temporary residence in Vietnam must declare that residence through the person directly managing and operating the accommodation establishment, to the commune-level police where the accommodation is located.
And a clock starts the moment you arrive at your accommodation:
| Area | Declaration deadline |
|---|---|
| Normal areas | 12 hours from the foreigner's arrival at the accommodation |
| Remote and isolated areas | 24 hours |
Not 12 hours from when you remember. 12 hours from when you arrive.
2. What counts as "accommodation"? — Broader than you think
This is where people get it wrong. It's not only hotels. It covers:
- Hotels, guesthouses, hostels
- Homestays, rented apartments, Airbnb
- Private homes — including when you're staying with friends or relatives
Crashing at a friend's place for a week? That friend still has to declare your temporary residence. There is no "it's only a few days" exemption.
3. 📋 The responsibility matrix — who does what
This is the table to forward to your landlord.
| THE FOREIGNER (you) | THE ACCOMMODATION (landlord / hotel) | |
|---|---|---|
| Before check-in | Present your passport or valid international travel document + residence-related documents | Require the foreigner to present documents before agreeing to accommodate them |
| Within 12 hours | — | File the declaration with commune-level police (online or by form) |
| When you move | Tell your new landlord | Re-declare at the new address |
| If not done | You get fined (see section 5) | Fined by number of guests (see section 5) |
The key point: you cannot file it yourself. The law requires the declaration to be made through the accommodation. Your job is to hand over your passport and ask them to do it — and make sure they actually did.
4. How the declaration is filed
The accommodation has two options:
Option 1 — Online (the common route today) Through the web portal of the Immigration Management Division of the provincial/city police where the accommodation is located. The landlord registers a declaration account, logs in and enters the details. The system accepts submissions 24/7.
Note for landlords: a declaration account is deactivated if no new declaration is made for 12 months, or if false or inaccurate declarations are detected.
Option 2 — Declaration form Complete the temporary residence declaration form (NA17) and submit it to the commune-level police where the accommodation is located. The police check, certify and return it.
Information required: accommodation name, address, phone number · your full name, sex, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and expected length of stay.
🔔 Don't just take "don't worry, I did it" at face value
Ask for proof: a screenshot of the system confirmation, or the declaration form stamped by the commune-level police.
Because when your TRC application is rejected months later, the person losing time and money is you, not your landlord.
And while you're at it, make sure you're not also overstaying — turn on free reminders with Visa Tracker, which works for both visas and residence cards. No account needed.
5. What are the fines? — And why YOU are on the list
Under Article 21 of Decree 282/2025/NĐ-CP (in force 15 Dec 2025):
Accommodation failing to declare
| Undeclared foreign guests | Fine |
|---|---|
| 1 – 3 people | VND 3 – 5 million |
| 4 – 8 people | VND 10 – 15 million |
| 9 or more | VND 15 – 20 million |
The old Decree 144/2021 had a single flat band for this. Now a homestay that forgets to declare ten guests can lose VND 20 million.
And here's the part nobody tells you
The same provision also imposes a fine of VND 3 – 5 million on: a foreigner who fails to present their passport or valid international travel document and residence-related documents to the accommodation so the temporary residence declaration can be made.
In other words: if you decline to hand over your passport because it feels awkward, or the landlord doesn't ask and you don't offer — you can be fined too. This is not just the landlord's problem.
(The amounts above apply to individuals; organizations are fined double.)
6. ⚠️ Common misconceptions
❌ "The declaration is the landlord's job — nothing to do with me." → FALSE. You have an obligation to present your documents to the accommodation. Failing to do so can cost you VND 3–5 million.
❌ "I'm only at a friend's place for a few days, no declaration needed." → FALSE. A private home is still an accommodation establishment. Your host must still declare you within 12 hours.
❌ "I'll just go online and declare myself." → FALSE. The law requires the declaration to be made through the person managing the accommodation. You cannot file it in their place.
❌ "Temporary residence declaration = temporary residence card." → FALSE. Two completely different things. The declaration tells the police where you're living. The Temporary Residence Card (TRC) is a long-term residence document with the value of a visa — and one of the conditions for a TRC is having a valid temporary residence declaration.
❌ "I moved, but the old declaration still stands." → FALSE. Change of residence → you must be re-declared at the new address. This is a very common reason TRC applications get sent back.
❌ "The hotel handles everything, I don't need to check." → RISKY. Large hotels usually do it properly. Rented apartments, small homestays and informal landlords are less reliable. Ask for confirmation.
7. ✅ What you should do — 4 steps
- Day one: hand over your passport. Don't wait to be asked. Give your passport + e-visa / entry stamp, and say clearly that you need to be declared for temporary residence.
- Ask for proof. A screenshot of the system confirmation, or the form stamped by commune police. Save it to your phone.
- Move house → start again. Your new landlord must re-declare you. Don't assume it carries over.
- Keep the exact address. The declared address must match the address you use in later applications (TRC, VNeID, banking).
8. Why this matters more than you think
Declaring your temporary residence isn't only about avoiding fines. It is one of the mandatory conditions for:
- A Temporary Residence Card (TRC) — long-term residence with the value of a visa
- Registering for VNeID — electronic identification
If your address was never declared, both doors close — even if you've been in Vietnam for years.
And if you're here on an E-Visa or visa exemption and aren't thinking long-term yet, the thing to watch is still your stay expiry date. ViEntry supports E-Visa applications and Visa Run trips when you need to extend your time here.
Not sure which way to go? The free Advisor suggests a route based on your nationality and dates.
Sources
- Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (Law 47/2014/QH13, as amended 2023) — Article 33 on temporary residence declaration
- Decree 282/2025/NĐ-CP — Article 21, penalties for accommodation failing to declare and for foreigners failing to present documents
- Ministry of Public Security — guidance on the temporary residence declaration procedure
- Son La Provincial Police · Long An Provincial Police — declaration procedure guidance
- Vietnam Immigration Department — Ministry of Public Security
Note: This article is informational and compiled at the time of the last update. Rules and penalties can change — check official channels before starting any procedure. The exact penalty in any case is decided by the competent authorities. ViEntry is a technology platform connecting users with independent service operators; ViEntry does not file temporary residence declarations on your or your landlord's behalf, is not an immigration authority, and does not provide legal advice.
Need help with E-Visa or Visa Run? Telegram @vientry_support · WhatsApp +84 963 091 001 · Hotline 0963 091 001
