Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security has clarified how overnight stay notifications work under updated residence rules that took effect on July 1, 2026. The clarification is relevant for visitors who plan to stay outside normal hotel check-in systems, including with friends, relatives, private hosts, serviced apartments or other non-hotel accommodation.
The rule is not limited to commercial hotels. Households, accommodation providers, medical facilities and some vehicle owners or managers may be responsible for notifying the residence registration authority when someone stays overnight. If no household head or household member is present, the person staying overnight may have to make the notification personally.
Private stays need a check-in plan
Travelers staying with friends or family should confirm in advance who will make the notification and which details are needed. Officials said the notice should include basic information such as the guest’s full name, date of birth, personal identification number or passport number, the reason for the stay, the address and the intended length of the stay.
The Ministry of Public Security says the notification should be submitted before 11:00 p.m. on the first day of the stay. If the guest arrives after 11:00 p.m., the notification should be made before 8:00 a.m. the next morning. A single reported stay may not exceed 30 days.
Officials said the process is free and can be completed through several channels, including telephone, email, the online portal of the residence registration authority, the National Public Service Portal, VNeID or dedicated residence-notification software. The clarification says an in-person visit to a police office is not required for the notification itself.
Foreign visitors still have a separate temporary residence declaration
For foreign nationals, Vietnam also maintains a temporary residence declaration process under immigration rules. The Ministry of Public Security’s public-service portal describes this as an online procedure handled by the declarant through the website for temporary residence declaration, the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry’s public-service portal. The official procedure says the declaration should be made immediately upon the foreigner’s arrival and lists no fee.
In practice, hotels, guesthouses and licensed homestays usually handle this when checking a passport. Private stays can be less automatic, so visitors should not assume the formality has been completed unless the host confirms it. Carrying passport details and visa or entry-stamp information will make the process easier if a host needs to file the declaration.
New unified online platform
Vietnam has also been rolling out a unified Ministry of Public Security platform for temporary residence declarations for foreigners and lodging notifications for Vietnamese citizens. State media reported that the system was scheduled for uniform deployment from May 21, 2026, with full nationwide operation expected before July 1, 2026, and a new foreigner management process planned nationwide from June 15, 2026.
The official platform is aimed at accommodation managers rather than tourists filing routine hotel stays themselves. For travelers, the practical step is simple: when staying outside a hotel, ask the host before arrival how the overnight stay or temporary residence declaration will be made, and keep passport information available.
Uncertainty for short informal visits
The official clarification focuses on responsibility, deadlines and reporting channels, but it does not provide detailed examples for every travel situation, such as very short private visits, mixed hotel-and-family itineraries or late-night arrivals in remote areas. Visitors staying privately should treat the rule as something to arrange with the host, especially for stays at private homes, apartments, dormitories, homestays or other accommodation outside standard hotel reception procedures.
Primary sources
Frequently Asked Questions
The host or person managing the accommodation will normally handle the relevant notification or temporary residence declaration. If no household member is present, the overnight guest may have to submit the notification personally. Foreign visitors should confirm this with the host before arrival.
Officials listed basic details including full name, date of birth, personal identification number or passport number, reason for the stay, address and intended duration of the stay.
The Ministry of Public Security says the notification should be made before 11:00 p.m. on the first day of the stay. If the guest arrives after 11:00 p.m., it should be made before 8:00 a.m. the following morning.
The Ministry of Public Security’s public-service procedure for declaring temporary residence for foreigners lists no fee.
No. Hotels and licensed accommodation providers generally continue to handle guest reporting as part of check-in. The clarification is most useful for travelers staying privately with friends, relatives or other hosts where the process may not be obvious.
