Dependent Visa in Vietnam: A Guide for Expat Spouses and Children

Once your job and residence are sorted, the next question is bringing the family. For most expat employees that means the TT dependent route — but agency pages often blur who actually qualifies, whether a spouse can work, and which documents you need. This guide sets it out clearly for 2026: who’s in (and who isn’t), TT visa vs TT temporary residence card, the work-rights answer, the paperwork and legalisation, current fees, and the children’s school and residence steps. (For the worker’s own work permit and LĐ visa, see work permit in Vietnam — this article only covers the family side that hangs off that sponsor.)

Who qualifies for the TT dependent route?

For an expat holding an eligible work-based status (an LĐ1/LĐ2 visa or TRC), the TT family category (under Vietnam’s consolidated Immigration Law) covers:

• Spouse — eligible, with documented relationship.
• Children under 18 — expressly named in the TT category.

Where people get it wrong:

Two more distinctions: a child aged 18 or over is not automatically covered by the worker’s TT wording (plan their study/work/other status before they turn 18), and the spouse/parent/child of a Vietnamese citizen follows a separate TT route with its own checklist — don’t mix the two.

TT visa vs TT temporary residence card (TRC)

These are two different documents, and the difference matters for how long the family is settled:

One practical catch: although a TT TRC’s own cap is 3 years, a dependent’s card usually tracks the sponsor — and a typical LĐ1/LĐ2 worker’s TRC maxes out around 2 years, so don’t expect a guaranteed 3-year dependent card. And whichever document the family holds, it doesn’t replace the separate temporary-residence declaration at your rental address.

Can a dependent spouse work in Vietnam?

Not on TT status alone. A TT visa or TRC lets an eligible spouse reside here as a family member, but it is a residence category — not employment authorisation. A spouse who wants a job needs their own employer-led route: a work permit (unless they fall within a statutory exemption) and then the appropriate work-based immigration status. The accurate way to put it is: dependent status itself does not create a right to work — it doesn’t mean “every spouse always needs a work permit” (exemptions exist), but it does mean you can’t just start working on a TT card.

Don’t treat freelancing, remote work for a local client, or signing a local contract as a workaround — verify the correct route first via the work permit guide.

Documents for a dependent visa / TT TRC

At a high level, the residence-card file includes a sponsor’s written request, an application form with photo, the dependent’s passport, and documents proving eligibility — which for a family means proving the sponsor’s qualifying status and the relationship. In practice, expect to prepare:

• The dependent’s passport (check validity before planning a multi-year card).
• The sponsor’s passport + current visa/TRC, and current employer/LĐ documentation (the co-residence route can require the sponsoring organisation’s agreement).
• Marriage certificate (spouse) and child’s birth certificate (parent–child) — foreign documents may need legalisation and translation (below).
• The child’s passport (a newborn needs the birth certificate → passport sequence first — see having a baby in HCMC).
• Application forms, photos and the sponsor request (forms/specs change — get the current ones from Immigration).

The law sets the high-level file but not one universal English checklist for every nationality and relationship — so confirm the exact current list with Vietnam Immigration or a licensed adviser, and don’t assume one agency’s checklist fits your case.

Legalising and translating foreign family documents

This is where families lose time, so plan it early. Under Decree 111/2011 (as amended by Decree 196/2025), a foreign document generally needs consular legalisation to be used in Vietnam unless an exemption applies (e.g. an applicable treaty, reciprocity, or where the receiving authority doesn’t require it). Note what legalisation does: it certifies the signature/seal/title on the document — not its content.

1. Check for an exemption first. Ask whether your country’s marriage/birth certificate is exempt from legalisation before paying for the full chain.
2. Legalise if needed via the chain required for Vietnam.
3. Confirm the translation format the receiving authority accepts (certified/notarised Vietnamese) before commissioning a translation — don’t assume an apostille, a plain English document, or a translation done for another agency will be accepted.
4. Keep originals, legalisation pages, translations and copies together.

Avoid the blanket claim that “every foreign certificate always needs legalisation and a notarised translation” — it depends on exemptions and the receiving office. Because the legalisation framework itself changed in 2025, double-check the current procedure rather than copying a pre-2025 blog.

Application process and timing

For a family member outside Vietnam: confirm the sponsor’s status and the family member’s TT eligibility, resolve legalisation/translation early, then use the sponsor’s confirmed invitation/filing route — and don’t book non-refundable flights around a presumed approval date. After arrival, complete the separate temporary-residence declaration (#73).

For a TT TRC: submit the sponsor request, form/photo, passport and proof of eligibility to the Immigration authority where the sponsor (or sponsoring organisation) is based. The statutory processing time is 5 working days from a complete dossier — though document or legalisation gaps can delay submission. The card’s actual term depends on the legal caps, passport validity and the sponsor’s situation, so don’t promise a specific expiry until it’s issued.

Fees in 2026

Current immigration-document fees are set by Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC (effective 1 April 2026). The ones relevant to families (official USD; legalisation, translation, photos, courier and any agent fee are separate):

Many older guides quote outdated fee tables — this is the current schedule. (We’ve kept it in USD as published; payment and exchange practice vary.)

Children: school and temporary residence

A child under 18 of an eligible sponsor sits in the TT category, but the card is separate from three other things:

• Temporary-residence declaration at your rental address — the child must be included; a TT card doesn’t replace it (see temporary residence registration).
• School enrolment — a TT visa/TRC doesn’t guarantee a place, bus route or curriculum. Schools set their own requirements (passport, visa/TRC, birth certificate, prior records, translation, fees). See international schools and preschools.
• The newborn sequence — a baby born here needs birth certificate → passport before the dependent route; see having a baby in HCMC.

And budget the family’s tax picture early too — the worker’s liability is covered in income tax for expats.

Where families tend to rent

Your TT eligibility is national law — a neighbourhood doesn’t change it. The housing relevance is practical: a stable address makes the temporary-residence declaration and school paperwork easier, and a cooperative landlord helps. Just get the visa status right before treating a long lease as settled. The areas families usually shortlist:

• Thao Dien — the established international-family enclave near international schools.
• District 2 / An Phu — family stock like Estella Heights.
• Phu My Hung — planned, walkable and school-dense.

Common mistakes

• Calling the parent route a “TT dependent visa” — parents get visit sponsorship, not dependent residence.
• Believing a TT card lets a spouse work.
• Legalising documents late, after booking travel.
• Assuming a foreign certificate is accepted without checking the translation/certification format.
• Using a short e-visa as a permanent family solution.
• Forgetting the child’s temporary-residence declaration, or assuming a TT card guarantees a school place.
• Letting the sponsor’s LĐ status lapse before the family’s documents are renewed — or quoting an old fee table.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sponsor my spouse on a dependent (TT) visa?

Yes, if you hold an eligible work-based status (LĐ1/LĐ2) and can document the marriage. Your spouse can reside as a TT family member — but the TT card doesn’t let them work.

Can I sponsor my parents as dependents?

Not as TT dependents of a foreign worker. As a TRC holder you can sponsor parents or grandparents to visit Vietnam, but that visit sponsorship isn’t the same as the live-together dependent residence the TT route gives a spouse and under-18 children. Get Immigration guidance for a parent’s longer stay.

Can my spouse work with a TT card?

No — TT is residence status, not work authorisation. To work, a spouse needs their own work permit (unless exempt) and the appropriate work-based status. Dependent status by itself never creates a right to work.

How long does a dependent TRC last?

Up to 3 years by statute, but in practice it usually tracks the sponsor — and an LĐ1/LĐ2 worker’s TRC typically caps around 2 years, so expect the dependent card to follow that rather than a guaranteed 3 years. The passport must stay valid at least 30 days beyond the card.

How much does a dependent visa or TRC cost in 2026?

Per Circular 28/2026 (from 1 April 2026): visas range from USD 25 (single-entry, or any child under 14) up to USD 135 (multiple-entry, 180 days–1 year); a TRC up to 2 years is USD 145 and a 2–5 year TRC is USD 155. Legalisation, translation and any agent fees are extra.

Does my child need a separate temporary-residence declaration?

Yes. A child’s TT visa/TRC is separate from the foreigner temporary-residence declaration at your rented home — the child must be included in that declaration, which a TT card does not replace.

Can I just use an e-visa for my spouse instead?

An e-visa (up to 90 days) is visitor/entry context, not a family-residence route. For a spouse joining you to live here, use the TT route rather than relying on repeated short e-visas.

What happens when my child turns 18?

The TT category covers children “under 18,” so turning 18 is a transition point — plan a study, work or other lawful stay category before the birthday rather than waiting until the card expires.

Key takeaways

Bringing the family over? We’ll sort the home

Once the visas are in motion, we’ll help you find a family apartment with the address stability, landlord cooperation and school commute you need — and as tenant-side agents we charge you no fee. Browse Thao Dien, District 2 / An Phu and Phu My Hung apartments, or tell us your family’s needs.

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Related guides:

• Work Permit in Vietnam for Foreigners
• Temporary Residence Registration in Vietnam
• Having a Baby in HCMC