A Vietnam family visa for an Indian spouse, child or parent is the TT visa: USD 25 for a single entry or USD 50 for multiple entries, sponsored by the family member or their employer through the Immigration Department, and usually followed by a temporary residence card of 1 to 2 years for USD 145, or up to 3 years for relatives of Vietnamese citizens. Eligible dependants are the spouse, children under 18 and parents of a foreigner holding an LD work visa, a DT investor visa or a temporary residence card, and the foreign spouse or child of a Vietnamese citizen. Indian marriage and birth certificates need the Ministry of External Affairs apostille and a notarised Vietnamese translation; the approval letter takes five to seven working days and the e-Visa three. TT holders may study but may work only after obtaining their own work permit.
The compact version with the price card and checklist is on the Vietnam family visa route page. This article explains which relatives qualify, how the sponsor's approval letter works, what the residence card changes and where Indian files fall down.
Who qualifies for a Vietnam TT visa and residence card?
| Family member | Sponsor | Visa and card | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a foreign worker or investor | LD or DT holder's employer or company | TT visa; TRC up to the sponsor's card validity | No work without own permit |
| Children under 18 | Same | TT visa; TRC | School enrolment permitted |
| Parents of a foreign worker | Same | TT visa; TRC | Sponsor shows capacity to support |
| Foreign spouse of a Vietnamese citizen | The Vietnamese spouse | TT visa; TRC up to 3 years | Marriage registered with the Vietnamese authorities |
| Foreign child of a Vietnamese citizen | The Vietnamese parent | TT visa; TRC up to 3 years | Birth certificate showing the Vietnamese parent |
The sponsor must hold valid status for the period requested: dependants cannot be processed until the worker's permit and card exist, and a card expiring in six months yields a six-month dependant card. Children over 18 and siblings do not qualify and use visitor, student (DH) or their own work routes. Parents are included, which sets Vietnam apart from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, provided the sponsor's contract shows enough income, typically USD 1,500 a month plus a margin per dependant.
Which documents must be legalised, and how is a marriage recognised?
Indian certificates must carry the Ministry of External Affairs apostille obtained through an authorised agency (INR 50 per document plus agency fees) and a notarised Vietnamese translation made in Vietnam or by the embassy; Vietnam accepts apostilled Indian documents for most purposes, though some provincial offices still ask for consular legalisation by the Vietnamese embassy in New Delhi, so the partner checks the province's practice before filing. A marriage between an Indian and a Vietnamese citizen must be registered with the Vietnamese People's Committee, or the Indian registration recorded there, before the TT application; religious ceremonies alone are not accepted. Sponsors then file a request for an entry approval letter with the Immigration Department in Hanoi, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City listing the dependants, the visa type TT and the entry port.
How much does it cost?
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TT visa, single entry | USD 25 | Up to 90 days |
| TT visa, multiple entry | USD 50 | Up to 90 days |
| Temporary residence card, 1 to 2 years | USD 145 | Follows the sponsor's card |
| Temporary residence card, 2 to 5 years | USD 155 | Investors' families and relatives of citizens |
| Approval letter preparation | VND 1 to 3 million | Agent or law firm |
| Apostille and translation of certificates | INR 2,000 to 5,000 each | MEA apostille, notarised Vietnamese translation |
Fees are set nationally under Circular 25/2021 and are the same at every office. Vistolane arranges the apostilles in India, coordinates the sponsor's approval letter with its partner in Vietnam and charges the USD 25 or USD 50 visa fee at the official rate on the Vietnam destination page.
How does the application run?
- Apostille and translate the certificates: marriage and birth certificates apostilled by the MEA, with a notarised Vietnamese translation on arrival or via the partner.
- The sponsor requests the approval letter from the Immigration Department (five to seven working days), listing each dependant, the TT visa type and the entry port.
- Apply for the TT visa: an e-Visa on evisa.gov.vn quoting the approval (three working days) or a sticker at the embassy in New Delhi or the consulate in Mumbai; pay USD 25 or USD 50.
- Enter through the named port and register residence within 24 hours through the host or landlord.
- The sponsor applies for the temporary residence card with the certificates and the sponsor's own card (USD 145, about five working days); the card replaces visas for its validity and allows free travel in and out.
How long does it take from India?
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Apostille and translation | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Approval letter | 5 to 7 working days |
| Visa | 3 working days (e-Visa) or 2 to 3 days at the embassy |
| Residence card | About 5 working days after arrival |
Dependants of a new hire usually travel a few weeks after the worker, once the work permit and residence card are issued; a family that travels together can enter on tourist e-Visas, covered in the Vietnam e-Visa guide, and convert to TT inside Vietnam when the sponsor's card is ready.
After arrival: schooling, work and renewals
Children attend international schools in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (USD 10,000 to 30,000 a year) or Vietnamese schools on the TT card without a student visa. A spouse may not work on TT status; an employer can sponsor a separate work permit under Decree 219/2025, as the Vietnam work visa guide explains, after which the spouse's own LD card replaces the TT card. Residence must be re-registered after each move, and cards are renewed with the sponsor's and lapse when the sponsor's permit or card ends.
Spouses of Vietnamese citizens renew three-year cards indefinitely and may apply for permanent residence after three years of temporary residence; dependants of expatriates have no independent route. Families weighing other hubs can compare the Thailand family visa guide, the Malaysia Dependant Pass guide and the Singapore Dependant's Pass guide.
Why are Vietnam family visas refused, and what fixes each reason?
Relationship documents not legalised. Certificates without apostille or translation. Apostille through the MEA and translate at a Vietnamese notary; Vistolane arranges both.
Sponsor's status too short. The worker's permit or card expiring within months. Renew the sponsor's documents first; the dependant's card cannot exceed them.
Marriage not registered in Vietnam. An Indian-Vietnamese couple with only an Indian or religious certificate. Record the marriage with the People's Committee before applying.
Residence unregistered. A family fined for living at an unregistered address. Have the landlord or host register with the ward police within 24 hours.
Working on TT status. A spouse found working without a permit. Obtain an own work permit through the employer.
How Vistolane handles it
Vistolane arranges the MEA apostilles and translations, coordinates the sponsor's approval letter with its Vietnamese partner, files the TT e-Visa and charges USD 25 or USD 50 at the official rate. Start with the free eligibility check or the Vietnam family visa route page. Sponsors on business visas should read the Vietnam business visa guide for the conversion to LD status that unlocks family sponsorship.
