HOW TO APPLY VIETNAM WORKING VISA FOR FOREIGN EXPATRIATES 2024

Vietnam’s Visa Type

Visa duration

Applicable object

Condition & Important Notes

DN1/DN2 type

No longer than 03 months

Granted for people working, conducting business activities with company in Vietnam for a short period of time.

Foreigners must have a sponsored company in Vietnam

LĐ2 type

No longer than 02 years

Granted for foreigners with working purpose

Any foreigner who comes to work in Vietnam must have work permits or work permit exemption certificates.

You will have a LĐ2 Visa stick on your passport if the granted validity is up to 01 year.

You will have a Temporary Residence Card (LĐ2 type) separately from your passport if the granted validity is more than 01 year.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION TO WORK

DETAILED PROCEDURES

PROCESSING METHOD

STEP 1: APPLYING FOR A BUSINESS VISA (DN1/DN2)

Step 1.1

Applying for a Visa Approval Letter of Business Visa, Work Visa, or Investment Visa

For business, work or investment, the applicants are required a Visa Approval Letter from the Ministry of Public Security in advance obtained by a company in Vietnam. A normal processing time to obtain the visa approval letter is 7 working days.

The required documents need to be provided to both the applicant and Vietnam’s sponsor company:

1. A notary-certified copy of the sponsor company’s business or investment or representative license in Vietnam, tax and stamp registration certificate;
2. Visa application forms must be signed and sealed by a legal representative of the company;
3. Scanning the applicant’s passport;
4. Provide the proposed date of arrival (this is the date you want your visa to start from. The start date of the visa itself will be the day you arrive - you can enter Vietnam at a later date (up to your exit date) but not before that date, so be sure to take time zone differences into account);
5. Providing the place of picking up the visa (the visa can be picked up at either the Vietnamese Embassies/ Consulates in your own or another country, or airports).

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Step 1.2

Stamping Vietnam’s Visa at the overseas Embassies or Consulates of Vietnam, or at the international border gates or Vietnam’s international airports

After your visa approval letter is already, you will receive a scanned copy of it via your email. And then you are pleased to prepare all the following documents to stamp your Vietnam visa:

1. Your original passport must be valid for six months from your intended arrival date, and must have at least one blank visa page;
2. 2 passport-sized photographs (4x6 cm);
3. The copy of the visa approval letter;
4. Complete the entry and exit application form;
5. Visa stamping fee depending on the visa single or multiple entry and visa duration

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STEP 2: APPLYING FOR A VIETNAM WORK PERMIT

Step 2.1 -

Implement labor recruitment according to Decree 70/2023/ NĐ-CP

At least 15 days in advance from the expected date of the report explaining the need to use foreign workers

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Step 2.2

Report explaining the need and change in demand for using foreign workers

At least 30 days in advance from the expected date of using foreign workers, the employer must be responsible for determining the need and changing the need to use foreign workers for each job position that Vietnamese workers have not been able to meet and send a report explaining the need to use foreign workers to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

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Step 2.3:

Apply for a Work Permit according to the Job Position Approval Letter in Step 2.2

At least 15 working days in advance from the date the foreign worker is expected to start working for the employer, the person applying for a work permit shall apply to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

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STEP 3: OBTAINING VIETNAM WORKING VISA/ TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARD (LĐ Type)

Step 3.1:

Prepare documents

Prepare documents as required by the Immigration Office

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Step 3.2:

Submit the application

Submit the document online on the Public Security Service portal's website: https://dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn, and then pay the government fee online.

Submit your application directly at the Immigration Office in the city/ province that the sponsored company is located.

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Step 3.3:

Get results

Within from 5 to 7 working days, you can come to the Immigration Office and receive the results.

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DOCUMENT CHECKLIST FOR VIETNAM WORKING VISA

GUIDELINES ON THE PREPARATION

Original

Translation

Notarized true copy

Photocopy

A

PERSONAL DOCUMENTS

1

Passport

X

2

02 photos in 2x3cm with white background taken within the last 6 months

X

3

Application form (NA5 or NA8) with wet signature

X

4

Previously Vietnam Working Visa/TRC (if any)

X

5

Current Visa Approval Letter

X

6

Vietnam Work permit

X

B

DOCUMENTS FROM THE SPONSORED COMPANY IN VIETNAM

1

Business License Certificate

X

2

Application form signed and sealed by the Company

X

3

Introduction Letter

X