For foreigners who are artisans of traditional trades or experienced in their professions, production execution and management but have no certificate or diploma of recognition, a written certification of at least five years experience in their profession, production execution and management issued by a competent foreign agency is required. Currently, work permits for foreigners are valid for a maximum of two years and the work permit process can be a bit of headache and last from 4 to 6 weeks. We’ve put this guide together to walk you through the process, so you know what documents to pack and how to prepare them for getting a work permit in Vietnam. Authorities are becoming stricter regarding work permits. Those who violate the regulations by working in Vietnam without a work permit may be penalized or, if unable to meet work permit requirements, deported back to their home countries.

Vietnam Work Permit or work permit exemption is valid for not than 2 years and issued for foreigners, they could be a Foreign Expert as someone recognized as an expert by a foreign organization or with a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) and at least three (03) years of work experience in their field, the proof of this must be presented in writing by a foreign organization. Or a Foreign Executive, Operation Director/Manager as a chief or deputy of an organization and Operation Director/Manager is a department head responsible for the department’s operation. Or a Foreign Technician as someone who has had technical training or other specialized training for at least one (01) year, and at least three (03) years of work experience in their field. To legally work in Vietnam, and apply for temporary residence card, you require a work permit or work permit exemption certificate. While you can find work without a permit, good companies will not allow you to work for them without it as they can get fined by the government. The work permit process can be a bit of headache and last from 4 to 6 weeks. We’ve put this guide together to walk you through the process, so you know what documents to pack and how to prepare them for getting a work permit in Vietnam.

Under Vietnam labor laws, any foreigner expatriate or teacher must obtain a Vietnamese Work Permit to work and teach legally in Vietnam. Vietnamese Work Permits are issued to many foreigners including for teachers, expats/ specialists, legal representatives, managers or directors… In this article, we will provide a whole procedure and detailed requirements to help foreign teachers who are teaching English, French, Japanese, Chinese in Vietnam to apply and obtain their Vietnam Work Permit. Requirement for teachers just require University/ bachelor degree as a proof for education background and teaching certificate as Certificate in TFSOL. 

Pursuant to the new Decree No 11/2016/ND-CP issued on 3 February 2016 detailing on the implementation of Labor Code regarding to the foreign labor working in Viet Nam, if the current work permit within valid period is lost, damaged or the content of the work permit is changed, foreign workers must apply for a replacement one. The work permit reissued application dossier for foreign nationals must be submitted to the local Department of Labour and Social Welfare at least 5 days but less than 45 days before the expiry date of the current work permit.

Vietnam Government has authorized 5-year visa exemption for foreign nationals who have Vietnamese family members and regularly travel to Vietnam for visiting relatives but don’t want to apply for visa each time. The visa exemption is valid for 5 years with multiple entries and must be 6 month shorter than the validity of the current valid passport. With this 5-year visa exemption, you can maximally stay 06 months per entry. After 06 months, you need to exit Vietnam and enter again or apply for visa extension for continuously staying in the country. if holders of 5-year visa exemptions done in Vietnam cannot use it to exit Vietnam immediately. They must exit with the Vietnam visa which they used to enter Vietnam. Then, the next time you enter with 5-year Vietnam visa exemption, you are able to use it to exit the country.

According to the Immigration Department of Vietnam, passport holders of all countries are allowed to enter Vietnam via Visa on Arrival (VOA). In this case, you can apply for Tourist/ Business Approval Letter beforehand, then have Vietnam visa stamp on your passport at any Vietnam International Airport. The applicants must possess with passport at least 06-month validity to apply for the Approval letter. The stamping fee is various depending on type of visa (Tourist or Business) and visa’s validity (1 month/ 3 months/ 6 months/ 1 year with single/multiple entry).