HOW TO APPLY FOR VIETNAM WORK PERMIT

NO.

UPDATE HIGHLIGHTS

UPDATE DETAILS DUE TO DECREE 219/2025/ND-CP

1

Background knowledge

Foreign workers are not required to have formal training in a field directly related to the job position they are expected to take. This applies to the categories of Experts.

2

Working experience certificate 

• The employee may use a previously issued work permit as a substitute for a foreign-issued working experience certificate .
• In cases where the employee has never been granted a work permit in Vietnam, they must provide a working experience certificate issued by a foreign company, confirming at least 2 years of work experience. This document must be legalized by the relevant consular authorities.

3

For the Manager/Executive Director title group

The Decree goes into detail for 02 cases:

• Head of branch, representative office, or business location of the enterprise; or
• The person who leads and directly operates at least one area of an agency, organization, or enterprise and is subject to the direct direction and management of the head of the agency, organization, or enterprise.

4

Job recruitment

Starting from August 7, 2025, the employers will be required to post recruitment notices for Vietnamese workers in positions intended for foreign hires on public information portals, with a minimum posting period of 5 days.

5

Passport

The company may submit a company-certified copy, a notarized copy, or a scanned copy of the original passport. The company shall be legally responsible for the accuracy of the information provided.

6

Document Required

There are new changes for each job category as follows:

• Managers: Must provide the Company’s Charter/Operating Regulations; Business Registration Certificate/Establishment License or the Resolution/Appointment Decision of the enterprise.

• Experts:
  • University degree (or equivalent) and at least 2 years of relevant experience.
  • For experts in finance, tech, innovation, digital transformation, or priority sectors: 1 year of experience accepted if degree is in the relevant field.
  • Proof: Old Vietnam Work Permit or foreign Work Experience Certificate (minimun 2 years), consularized.
• Technical workers: Must present documents proving relevant work experience appropriate to the expected position.
  • Trained for at least 1 year and has at least 2 years of relevant work experience for the intended position in Vietnam.
  • Has at least 3 years of relevant work experience for the intended position in Vietnam

7

Work permit extension

To renew a work permit, if the employee intends to continue working at the company in the same position and job title, the company may apply to renew the employee’s existing work permit. It is not necessary to provide a criminal record or documents proving expertise and experience, as required for new work permit applications.

Steps

Description of Vietnam Work Permit Issuance Procedure 

Processing time

Step 1:
Post the Job Recruitment Notice for the position intend to hire foreigners

• Recruitment posting is required only for foreign employees working under the following cases:
  a) Performing labor contracts;
  i) Participating in contracts or projects in Vietnam;
  m) Working under labor contracts with foreign diplomatic agencies or foreign organizations in Vietnam.
• For other cases, this step is not required and can proceed to the next step directly. In particular, “Internal transfer” from a foreign parent company (the owner or investor listed in the Vietnamese company’s business registration) to the Vietnam-based company are generally exempt from the job posting requirement.
• Before applying for a work permit, the enterprise must announce the recruitment of Vietnamese workers for the relevant position. This announcement must be posted on official platforms such as the local Employment Service Center website or recognized recruitment websites. The recruitment notice must remain publicly posted for at least 5 days to allow qualified Vietnamese candidates to apply.

At least 5 working days

Step 2:
Submit the Vietnam Work Permit Application

After the 5-day recruitment announcement period, if no suitable Vietnamese candidates apply, the company may proceed to submit an application for a work permit for the foreign employee.

10 working days

Documents Applied for Each Job Position – Work Permit New Issuance 2025

Job Position

Required Documents

Manager

• Company Charter (or Operating Regulations)
• One of the following:
  – Business Registration Certificate (or Establishment License)
  – Resolution or Appointment Decision issued by the enterprise

Executive Director

• Branch/Representative Office/Business Registration Certificate
• Company Charter or organizational structure document
• Experience confirmation from the foreign employer relevant to the job in Vietnam.

(If the foreign worker has worked in Vietnam before, a valid Work Permit or Work Permit Exemption Certificate can be used instead of the experience confirmation.)

Expert

• University degree or graduation certificate (consular legalized original)
• Certificate of at least 2 years of work experience in a relevant position (consular legalized original)
• Alternatively, a previous valid Work Permit may be used

General Documents Applied for All Job Positions:

1. Application Form No. 03 (per Decree 219/2025/ND-CP)
2. Criminal record certificate (Vietnamese or foreign, issued within last 6 months)
3. Vietnamese health examination certificate (issued within last 12 months)
4. 02 color photos (4cm x 6cm, JPG, white background, straight face, bare head, no glasses), taken within 6 months
5. Scanned copy of original passport (full pages, including blank and non-blank pages)

Number of Violating Employees

Penalty (VND)

01 – 10 workers

30,000,000 – 45,000,000

11 – 20 workers

45,000,000 – 60,000,000

21 or more workers

60,000,000 – 75,000,000