All foreigner labors must apply for a short-term business visa to work, conduct or explore business opportunities in Vietnam. In this article, we specialize in the documents necessary for the foreign labors to obtain Short-Term Business Visas (including DN, LĐ, ĐT, LV visa) and these visas depend on your line of work. Specifically, DN visas are granted for people working with company in Vietnam.  LĐ visas are granted for foreigners with working purpose. ĐT visas are granted for foreign investors in Vietnam and foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam. LV visas are granted for person working with the departments, agencies and units under the central Communist Party of Vietnam and under central authority. You can apply for visas allowing you to stay for a period of 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or 1 year, all with single/multiple entry options.

Based on the Visa Policy of Vietnam, all visitors to Vietnam must provide a valid passport and an approval letter to stamp visa at Vietnam International Airports or Vietnamese Embassies/ Consulates in their countries except they are eligible for visa exemption. In order to get a tourist visa, you need to go through 2 step: the first is to apply for Vietnam tourist approval via a travel agency in Vietnam, the second step is to collect and stamp Vietnam Tourist visa. Places of picking up visa is optional, you could choose which one is the most suitable and convenience for you: at Vietnamese Embassy/ Consulate in your own country; or Vietnam’ international airports; or Vietnam’ international border crossings. After having tourist visa stamp on your passport, the procedure for visa is completely done. Now you can enjoy your wonderful time in Vietnam with beautiful landscapes, tasty cuisine,…

Vietnam has over a dozen international overland border crossings. These allow overland travel to Cambodia via five crossings, Laos via six crossings and China at least two crossings. In order to obtain the Vietnam visa at the borders you must have a original approval letter. You can also arrive by air at Hanoi, Saigon and Da Nang, Phu Quoc and Cam Ranh international airports to obtain the Vietnam Visa On Arrival (Pre-Arranged Visa). Unless you come from one of the visa-exempting countries and just you must hold a passport valid for six months from your intended arrival date, and must have at least one blank visa page;

All foreigners coming to Vietnam for short-term business, meeting or working purpose must apply for a business visa under sponsored by a registered company in Vietnam. You can apply for visas allowing you to stay for a period of 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or 1 year, all with single/multiple entry options. Like Tourist visa, you can pick up the business visa either through visa on arrival at Vietnam’s international airports or through Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate in your countries. If you wish to extend your stay without having to leave the country, you can do so by applying for a visa extension or renewal. However, there are not all nationalities are eligible to apply for a visa extension/renewal, and the requirements change accordingly as well. So we will update the latest changes from the Vietnam Immigration Department to help foreigners have a well-preparation for their stay in Vietnam.

Foreigner labors having a valid work permit and continue working for a current company, they must renew the work permit before 45 days period to the expiry date of the current work permit. One of the most important conditions allowing you to apply for work permit renewal is that the information of yourself (full name, passport number,…) and of the sponsored company/ organization must be the same as that of the recent work permit. The work permit extension application dossier for foreign nationals must be submitted to the provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (DoLISA) at least 5 days but less than 45 days before the expiry date of the current work permit. 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.

In most cases, a work permit is required when working in Vietnam for more than three months. The companies seeking to employ foreign nationals, a recruitment plan by the company must be submitted at least thirty days in advance of the worker's arrival to the provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (DoLISA). Where the work permit is not compulsory, a notice must be submitted seven days in advance to the provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (DoLISA) prior to working in Vietnam. Currently, work permits for foreigners are valid for a maximum of two (2) years. Authorities are becoming more strict 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.