HANOI - Vietnam has expanded interagency data sharing on foreign nationals under coordination rules that took effect Sept. 15.

Decree 286/2026/NĐ-CP replaces a 2015 framework governing cooperation among agencies responsible for foreigners’ entry, exit, transit and residence.

Ministries, ministry-level agencies and provincial authorities must now exchange statistics quarterly on foreigners working with organizations and units subordinate to them, or provide the figures when requested. Under the 2015 rules, the figures were supplied when requested by the Ministry of Public Security.

The new decree also requires government bodies to share or connect administrative data involving foreigners when immigration authorities need the information to issue entry, exit or residence documents.

Where technical systems permit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must update the national immigration database immediately after issuing visas or temporary residence cards under its authority. If direct updating is unavailable, the information must be sent to immigration authorities within five working days.

For residence management, agencies exchange information on visas, investment- and enterprise-registration certificates, work permits and professional licences. The rules also cover specified training and cooperation programs, and conference and seminar programs involving foreigners entering on e-visas or under visa exemptions.

The decree changes how government bodies coordinate and exchange information; it does not itself create new visa or work-permit categories. It follows Vietnam’s introduction in May of a unified platform for foreigner residence declarations.

Ahead of implementation, Dong Nai’s industrial parks and economic zones authority advised businesses employing foreign specialists and workers to assign staff to oversee documentation and keep labor contracts, work permits and residence papers consistent.

In its Vietnamese-language guidance, the authority said procedures involving foreign workers are “processed faster and more transparently” when officials have enough information to cross-check.