Decree 286/2026/ND-CP mechanism for coordination in managing foreigners’ entry, exit, transit and residence in Vietnam

DECREE

Providing the mechanism for coordination among ministries, ministerial-level agencies and People’s Committees of provinces and cities in managing foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam[1]

Pursuant to Law No. 63/2025/QH15 on Organisation of the Government;

Pursuant to Law No. 72/2025/QH15 on Organisation of Local Administration;

Pursuant to Law No. 47/2014/QH13 on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Viet Nam, which is amended and supplemented by Law No. 51/2019/QH14, Law No. 23/2023/QH15, Law No. 103/2025/QH15 and Law No. 118/2025/QH15;

At the proposal of the Minister of Public Security;

The Government promulgates the Decree providing the mechanism for coordination among ministries, ministerial-level agencies and People’s Committees of provinces and cities in managing foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Decree provides principles, contents and forms of coordination, and responsibilities of ministries, ministerial-level agencies and People’s Committees of provinces and cities (below referred to as provincial-level People’s Committees), in the management of foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam.

Article 2. Subjects of application

This Decree applies to ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees.

Article 3. Principles of coordination

1. Complying with the Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Viet Nam and relevant legal documents.

2. Ensuring proactive, regular, close and timely coordination, while creating favourable conditions for foreigners to enter, exit, transit through and reside in Viet Nam in accordance with law.

3. Ensuring centralised and unified direction and management, without overlap, adhering to the principle that the Ministry of Public Security assumes the prime responsibility for performing the state management of foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam; ministries and ministerial-level agencies shall, within the ambit of their functions, tasks, powers and organisational structures, coordinate with one another; and provincial-level People’s Committees shall organise the unified implementation in their localities in accordance with the Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Viet Nam and the guidance of the Ministry of Public Security.

4. Not affecting functions, tasks and professional activities of related agencies.

Article 4. Forms of coordination

1. Through the exchange of opinions and provision of information in writing or in the electronic environment upon request of in-charge agencies or coordinating agencies.

2. Through regular and extraordinary interdisciplinary meetings.

3. Through preliminary review and final review conferences.

4. Through inspection and examination by interdisciplinary working delegations led by the Ministry of Public Security.

5. Based on regulations on coordination among ministries and sectors under the Government’s regulations.

6. Other forms.

Chapter II

COORDINATION CONTENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Article 5. Coordination in the formulation and promulgation of legal documents

1. The Ministry of Public Security shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees in, formulating and submitting to competent agencies for promulgation, or promulgate according to its competence, legal documents on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam.

2. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees shall exchange opinions with the Ministry of Public Security before submitting to competent agencies for promulgation, or promulgating according to their competence, legal documents containing provisions on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam.

Article 6. Coordination in the enforcement of the law on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam

1. The Ministry of Public Security shall:

a/ Exchange opinions with and notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defence, related ministries, and provincial-level People’s Committees on/of policies and measures on the management of foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam;

b/ Direct the immigration agency to coordinate with functional bodies of ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees in organising professional training courses on the management of foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam for organisations and individuals involved in the settlement of procedures for foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam.

2. The Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defence shall, within the ambit of their functions and tasks, guide their attached agencies and units in implementing regulations on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam.

3. Within the ambit of their functions and tasks, ministries and ministerial-level agencies shall:

a/ Direct functional bodies to coordinate with the immigration agency in guiding their attached agencies and units in implementing regulations on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam;

b/ In case of necessity, promulgate regulations or other appropriate forms of documents containing provisions on the management of foreigners entering into Viet Nam to work with their attached agencies and units.

4. The Ministry of Public Security shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Education and Training, and related agencies in, organising the popularisation and dissemination of the law on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam at home and abroad.

5. Provincial-level People’s Committees shall:

a/ Promulgate regulations on coordination among departments, boards, sectors, and People’s Committees of communes, wards and special zones under provincial-level authorities in managing foreigners residing and operating in their localities;

b/ Direct functional bodies to coordinate with the immigration agency in disseminating and educating the law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners among related agencies, organisations and individuals in their localities.

Article 7. Coordination in the issuance of papers for foreigners’ entry, exit and residence

1. The Ministry of Public Security shall direct the immigration agency to exchange opinions with and provide the immigration units under the Ministry of National Defence with data on foreigners who are issued visas at international border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defence prior to their arrival at such border gates.

2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall direct functional bodies to:

a/ Update data on foreigners who are issued visas or temporary residence cards by competent agencies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in accordance with the Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Viet Nam to the National Immigration Database immediately after the issuance; in case the conditions on infrastructure for data updating are not yet satisfied, transfer the list of foreigners who are issued visas or temporary residence cards to the immigration agency within 5 working days from the date of issuance;

b/ Coordinate with other units in verifying information on foreigners at the request of the immigration agency to serve the handling of violations and the issuance of residence papers in order to request or compel exit of, or deport, foreigners.

3. Upon detecting complicated issues related to security and national defence or upon detecting signs of document forgery in the course of settlement of procedures for visa issuance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall direct competent Vietnamese visa-issuing agencies abroad, while the Ministry of National Defence shall direct its attached immigration units to postpone the issuance of visas and promptly exchange opinions and reach agreement with the immigration agency on visa issuance.

4. The Ministry of Public Security shall direct the immigration agency to promptly notify competent Vietnamese visa-issuing agencies abroad and immigration units for the latter to refuse visa issuance or revoke and cancel issued visas upon detecting cases of document forgery to obtain visa issuance approval, or when detecting complicated issues relating to security and national defence after visa issuance is approved.

5. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees shall direct functional bodies to share and interconnect data on the settlement of administrative procedures according to their functions and tasks related to foreigners in order to serve the immigration agency’s issuance of entry, exit or residence papers for foreigners.

Article 8. Coordination in the control of foreigners’ entry, exit and transit

1. The Ministry of Public Security shall exchange opinions with, and provide, the Ministry of National Defence with:

a/ Information and documents serving immigration control at border gates;

b/ The situation of and data on foreigners on entry or exit through border gates managed by the Ministry of Public Security; and data on foreigners subject to entry suspension or exit postponement;

c/ The situation and figures on cases of foreigners’ violations of law or cases in which foreigners show signs of carrying out activities infringing upon national security or social order and safety at border gates managed by the Ministry of Public Security;

d/ Entry/exit stamp and temporary residence certificate specimens issued to controllers at the immigration units under the Ministry of Public Security;

e/ Lists of and data on passports or international travel documents; entry, exit and residence papers of foreigners in Viet Nam that are lost or invalidated.

2. The Ministry of National Defence shall exchange opinions with, and provide, the Ministry of Public Security with:

a/ The situation of and data on foreigners on entry or exit or in transit, and foreigners who are issued visas at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defence;

b/ The situation of and figures on cases of foreigners’ violations of law or cases in which foreigners show signs of carrying out activities infringing upon national security or social order and safety at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defence;

c/ Entry/exit stamp and temporary residence certificate specimens issued to controllers at the immigration units under the Ministry of National Defence.

3. The Ministry of National Defence shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security in, organising training courses for controllers at the immigration units under the Ministry of National Defence upon the issuance of new legal documents or guidance concerning immigration management and control.

4. The Minister of Health, the Minister of Agriculture and Environment, the Minister of Public Security and the Minister of National Defence shall direct functional bodies to promptly notify their decision to suspend entry, lift entry suspension, or compel exit of foreigners under Clauses 1 thru 4, Article 22, and Point b, Clause 2, Article 30, of the Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Viet Nam, to the immigration agency for coordinated implementation.

5. The exchange of opinions and provision of information, documents, situations, figures and data under Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article shall be carried out in a regular, continuous and prompt manner and based on real time, meeting requirements on the control of foreigners’ entry, exit and transit.

Article 9. Coordination in the management of foreigners’ residence in Viet Nam

1. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees shall direct related agencies and units to coordinate with the immigration agency in exchanging information on issuance of visas, investment registration certificates, enterprise registration certificates, work permits, practice licences, foreigners’ training and cooperation programmes, and agendas of conferences or seminars of foreigners who enter Viet Nam with electronic visas or under the visa exemption regime; direct hosting agencies and organisations to coordinate with accommodation establishments in making temporary residence declaration for foreigners under Articles 33 and 34 of the Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Viet Nam; coordinate with functional bodies in addressing arising issues; and, within 12 hours after detecting a foreigner suffering an accident or being dead, exchange information with functional bodies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to notify the diplomatic mission of the country of which that person is a citizen.

2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall direct functional bodies to:

a/ Forward information on temporary residence declaration of foreigners subject to registration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the immigration agencies of provincial-level Departments of Public Security within 12 hours after a foreigner makes temporary residence registration;

b/ Guide foreigners entitled to privileges and immunities to provide information to accommodation establishments when staying outside the locations registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to make temporary residence declaration under regulations.

3. Provincial-level People’s Committees shall direct functional bodies to closely coordinate with the immigration agencies of provincial-level Departments of Public Security in managing the residence of foreigners in their localities.

4. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees shall direct functional bodies to coordinate with the immigration agency in managing cases of foreigners subject to exit postponement without any hosting agencies, organisations or individuals to carry out procedures for issuance of residence papers for them under regulations.

5. The Ministry of Public Security shall exchange opinions with, and provide, the Ministry of National Defence with temporary residence declaration data of foreigners at accommodation establishments in border areas or communes, wards, special zones, tourism and service areas, special administrative-economic units, and other economic zones related to border areas under Clause 2, Article 34 of the Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Viet Nam.

6. The Ministry of National Defence shall exchange opinions with, and provide, the Ministry of Public Security with temporary residence declaration data of foreigners received by border-guard posts or stations under Clause 1, Article 33 of the Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Viet Nam; in case the conditions on infrastructure for data updating are not yet satisfied, it shall exchange and provide the list of foreigners immediately after its receipt.

Article 10. Coordination in inspection, examination, and settlement of complaints and denunciations in the management of foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam

1. Competent agencies under the Government Inspectorate, provincial-level Inspectorates, and other inspection agencies as specified by the law on inspection shall coordinate with the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Public Security in inspecting the implementation of and compliance with the law on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam by agencies, units and individuals managed by ministries, ministerial-level agencies or provincial-level People’s Committees.

2. The immigration agency shall coordinate with functional bodies of ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees in inspecting the compliance with regulations on the management of foreign workers employed by enterprises and organisations, and other regulations in the fields of state management based on their functions and tasks for foreigners and hosting agencies, organisations and individuals or employing agencies and organisations.

3. The Ministry of Public Security shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees in, unifying plans on inspection of agencies, units and individuals in implementing the law on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam.

4. The settlement of complaints and denunciations about foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam must comply with the Law on Complaints and the Law on Denunciations.

Article 11. Coordination in the handling of violations of the law on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam

1. Cases of violations of the law on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam that are detected by the immigration units under the Ministry of National Defence shall be handled according to their competence; if there are signs of crimes falling within the competence of the investigating bodies under the Ministry of Public Security, such units shall exchange opinions with the immigration agency for coordinated handling of such violations.

2. Cases involving foreigners who violate the law on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam and are entitled to privileges and immunities, the handling of their violations must comply with the regulations on privileges and immunities for diplomatic missions, consular offices and representative offices of international organisations in Viet Nam. The functional bodies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall exchange information on the cases and violating foreigners with the immigration agency for coordinated management.

3. The Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defence shall direct their functional bodies to promptly notify related agencies, provincial-level People’s Committees, and the immigration agency of methods and tricks of violation of law in the field of foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam in order to proactively coordinate with one another in preventing, detecting and handling violations.

4. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees shall direct their functional bodies to:

a/ Coordinate, and exchange information, with the immigration agency on the progress and results of the appraisal and verification of dossiers for issuance of various licences or on the operation of foreign organisations and enterprises and foreigners in the course of performance of state management functions and tasks of ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees to serve the management of foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam;

b/ Coordinate with the immigration agency in the course of handling foreigners who enter Viet Nam under the visa exemption regime or with electronic visas to work or attend conferences or seminars with attached agencies and organisations of ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees but commit violations of law.

Article 12. Coordination in the promulgation and use of paper forms on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam

1. The Ministry of Public Security shall:

a/ Consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defence before promulgating paper forms on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam, and entry/exit stamp and temporary residence certificate specimens;

b/ Print and supply blank publications to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defence for the issuance of papers for entry into, exit from and residence in Viet Nam;

c/ Provide the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with specimens of international travel documents to be issued by the Ministry of Public Security to stateless persons residing in Viet Nam immediately after their promulgation for notification to foreign countries;

d/ Decide on approval or disapproval of international travel documents issued by competent foreign authorities to stateless persons residing in those countries and promptly exchange opinions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to reply to those countries regarding such decision.

2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defence shall:

a/ Use blank publications provided by the Ministry of Public Security for issuance to foreigners who enter, exit from or reside in Viet Nam; and annually estimate the quantity of blank publications requested to be provided by the Ministry of Public Security and pay printing costs under regulations;

b/ Guide Vietnamese and foreign agencies, organisations and individuals in using paper forms promulgated by the Ministry of Public Security for foreigners’ entry into, exit from and residence in Viet Nam;

c/ Notify competent foreign authorities of forms of Viet Nam’s international travel documents to be issued to stateless persons residing in Viet Nam immediately after receiving them from the Ministry of Public Security;

d/ Receive forms of international travel documents issued by competent foreign authorities to stateless persons residing in those countries and request the Ministry of Public Security to give opinions to be notified to the foreign side regarding the approval or disapproval for individuals issued such papers to enter, exit, transit through and reside in Viet Nam.

Article 13. Coordination in the compilation of state statistics on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam

1. The Ministry of Public Security shall direct the immigration agency to compile state statistics on foreigners’ entry into, exit from and residence in Viet Nam and send statistical data to the Bureau of Statistics (the Ministry of Finance) under regulations.

2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall direct its functional bodies to synthesise and compile statistics on the issuance of entry visas, residence papers and violation cases of foreigners managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and exchange situations and figures with the immigration agency on a quarterly basis or upon request.

3. The Ministry of National Defence shall direct its functional bodies to synthesise and compile statistics on foreigners who enter or exit Vietnam, are issued visas, deported or compelled to exit, or are ineligible for entry, and violation cases of foreigners at border gates managed by the Ministry of National Defence and exchange situations and figures with the immigration agency on a quarterly basis or upon request.

4. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees shall direct their functional bodies to synthesise and compile statistics on foreigners working with their attached organisations and units and exchange situations and figures with the immigration agency on a quarterly basis or upon request.

Article 14. Focal-point agencies for coordination among ministries and ministerial-level agencies in the management of foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam

1. Ministers and heads of ministerial-level agencies shall decide on focal-point agencies to coordinate with the immigration agency in managing foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam according to the state management functions and tasks of their ministries and ministerial-level agencies.

2. Focal-point agencies mentioned in Clause 1 of this Article shall:

a/ Advise and propose ministers and heads of ministerial-level agencies to organise the performance of the responsibility for coordination in the management of foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam in accordance with their functions and tasks and this Decree;

b/ Based on the practical situation, advise and propose ministers and heads of ministerial-level agencies to sign regulations on coordination in the management of foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam with the Ministry of Public Security or between focal-point agencies and the immigration agency.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 15. Effect

This Decree takes effect on September 15, 2026, and replaces the Government’s Decree No. 64/2015/ND-CP of August 6, 2015, providing the mechanism for coordination among ministries, ministerial-level agencies and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities in the management of foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Viet Nam.

Article 16. Implementation responsibility

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and Chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall implement this Decree.-

On behalf of the Government
For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
PHAM GIA TUC