Vietnam specifies locations subject to police residence inspections

The Ministry of Public Security's Circular No. 116/2026 provides detailed guidance on implementing several provisions of the Law on Residence.

Other locations subject to inspection include rental homes, borrowed homes, homes provided free of charge by organizations or individuals, religious establishments, social assistance facilities, medical facilities, tourist accommodation establishments and other lodging facilities, and vehicles used as residences.

Residence registration authorities at all levels, agencies and organizations involved in residence management, as well as farms and ranches will also face inspections.

Article 26 of the circular stipulates that residence inspections may be conducted on a regular basis, on a surprise basis, or when required for crime prevention and control or to ensure security and public order.

According to the circular, inspections will examine the implementation of residence registration and management procedures, the collection, updating, and use of residence information in the national residence database, as well as the rights and responsibilities of citizens, households, agencies, and organizations.

Residence registration and management authorities are responsible for inspecting compliance with residence regulations by citizens, households, and relevant agencies and organizations.

During inspections, police may mobilize local security protection forces as well as security personnel from agencies, businesses, and organizations to assist.

When inspections are conducted by higher-level authorities, they must coordinate with lower-level residence registration authorities.

Under Clause 6, Article 25 of the circular, commune-level police are responsible for conducting regular and surprise residence inspections.

The new regulations require household members to notify residence registration authorities when someone stays overnight at their residence.

The notification must be submitted before 11:00 pm on the first day of the guest's stay.

If the guest arrives after 11:00 pm, it must be submitted before 8:00 am the following day. The maximum overnight stay under the notification requirement is 30 days.

Residents may submit notifications by telephone, email, the residence registration authority's website, the national public service portal, the VNeID application, or dedicated temporary residence notification software.

They are not required to report in person to the police.

The Ministry of Public Security said the new regulations are intended to ensure citizens' actual places of residence are accurately updated to support residence management, maintain security and public order, prevent crime, facilitate search and rescue operations, and support social policy planning.

The ministry said the regulation is not intended to inconvenience residents, as the procedures are simple, free of charge, available through multiple reporting channels, and rely primarily on electronic information submitted via the VNeID application.

Earlier, the Ministry of Public Security provided further clarification on Vietnam’s new residency notification rule, underlining that the requirement for overnight guests, including relatives and friends, to be reported is intended to improve the accuracy of residential records and support public security and administrative services.

The revised residence notification rule primarily expands the categories of people responsible for reporting overnight stays, clarifies legal obligations, and provides multiple reporting options.

In addition to households, accommodation providers, and medical facilities, owners or managers of vehicles are now also required to notify authorities when individuals stay overnight on those vehicles.

If neither the head of the household nor another household member is present, the overnight guest is responsible for making the notification personally.

The notification must include basic information such as the guest’s full name, date of birth, personal identification number or passport number, the reason for the stay, and the location and duration of the overnight accommodation.