In the context of global economic integration, attracting and utilizing high-quality foreign human resources has become a crucial strategic element for many businesses in Ho Chi Minh City. However, legal barriers remain the biggest challenge when businesses want to sponsor foreign workers to work legally. Legal regulations are becoming increasingly stringent, especially with the new adjustments. Decree 70/2023/ND-CP, This makes the process of preparing business documents complicated and prone to rejection if businesses are not familiar with the actual administrative procedures.
To completely solve this problem, Work permit application services professionalism MAN – Master Accountant Network We assist businesses in processing Work Permit applications from the initial inquiry to the issuance of the permit, saving time and minimizing the risk of rejection. We offer optimized application processing time and guarantee the highest approval rate, helping foreigners quickly and legally begin working in Vietnam.
What is a work permit application service?
Legally, a work permit is a mandatory document issued by the Vietnamese state labor management agency to foreigners to confirm their legal right to work at a specific enterprise or organization. Accordingly, Work permit services for foreigners This is a professional legal support solution where specialized intermediary units will act on behalf of businesses to carry out the entire process, from explaining the need for labor, notarized translation, consular legalization, to receiving the final results.
In reality, many businesses attempt this procedure themselves but face numerous difficulties due to a lack of understanding of the actual administrative process. Businesses should consider seeking a service provider. work permit services Professionalism applies when falling under the following categories:
- The HR department lacks practical experience: Human resources departments, lacking prior experience with immigration procedures and foreign labor management, are easily overwhelmed by constantly changing paperwork requirements.
- The file contains numerous complex errors: The qualifications do not match the intended job title, there is a lack of proof of work experience from abroad, or the worker belongs to a nationality that makes visa application difficult.
- Urgent processing required: Businesses need to bring in experts to operate machinery according to project schedules or appoint senior management personnel on time to avoid business disruptions.
Partnering with a competent consulting firm will help businesses completely transfer legal risks, while minimizing opportunity costs arising from repeated delays or rejections of applications.
Why are the procedures for obtaining work permits for foreigners becoming increasingly stricter?
Recent changes in the State's labor management policy have prioritized job opportunities for domestic workers while only accepting truly qualified foreign experts. This has led to increasingly stringent application review processes by relevant authorities, as stipulated in Decree 152/2020/ND-CP and Decree 70/2023/ND-CP.
Common mistakes that lead to work permit applications being rejected.
In the process of assisting businesses, MAN – Master Accountant Network has found that the majority of rejected applications are not due to unqualified employees, but rather stem from technical errors in the document preparation process.
- The explanation is unconvincing. This is the primary reason. The company has failed to demonstrate why Vietnamese workers are not yet qualified for this job position. Form No. 01/PLI or Form No. 02/PLI, which leads to the competent authority rejecting the request for foreign labor right from the first step.
- Improper consular legalization: Diplomas and certificates of experience issued abroad will be immediately rejected if they are not legally authenticated by the appropriate consular authority or if the certified translations contain incorrect specialized terminology.
- The information is inconsistent: Even a single character discrepancy in name, date of birth, or title between a passport, criminal record certificate, and company statement constitutes an invalid document.
The latest legal changes that businesses must know.
The promulgation of Decree 70/2023/ND-CP, amending and supplementing several articles of Decree 152/2020/ND-CP, has brought about groundbreaking changes. Most notably, it stipulates that businesses must announce the recruitment of Vietnamese workers for positions intended for foreign workers on the electronic portal of the Department of Employment or the Employment Service Center at least 15 days before submitting the explanatory report.
On the other hand, authorities are currently strengthening post-inspection mechanisms. Close coordination between the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Immigration Department helps to rigorously review cases of foreigners using tourist visas or short-term business visas but working long-term without a legal work permit.
Latest conditions for obtaining a work permit.
To ensure a smooth application process, assessing the capabilities of both the worker and the sponsoring company is a crucial first step, strictly adhering to current legal regulations.
From the perspective of foreigners:
- Possesses full legal capacity as stipulated by current law.
- Must be in good health and meet the requirements of the intended job position, as certified by a competent medical facility as specified in the Ministry of Health's regulations.
- Not a person who has committed a crime or is subject to criminal prosecution under Vietnamese law and foreign law. This must be proven by a valid criminal record certificate.
- Meet stringent standards regarding professional qualifications, degrees, and years of practical work experience corresponding to the position applied for (such as Specialist, Manager, Executive Director, or Technical Worker).
From the perspective of the guaranteeing company:
- It must be an organization or business operating legally in Vietnam, possessing a Certificate of Business Registration or a decision on establishment issued by a competent authority.
- The explanatory procedures have been completed, and written approval has been received from the competent authority for the employment of foreign workers for each specific job position.
What documents are required for a work permit application?
The document list requires absolute accuracy in both form and content. To optimize approval chances and meet the data formatting standards of search engines, businesses need to prepare the following core documents:
- Document approving the need to employ foreign workers (Application result from the explanatory report stage).
- Criminal record certificate (Issued abroad or in Vietnam, valid for no more than 6 months from the date of application).
- Health certificate (Issued by a large hospital qualified to conduct health examinations for foreigners according to regulations of the Ministry of Health).
- Professional qualifications and proof of experience (University degree or higher accompanied by proof of at least 3 years of work experience abroad, legalized by consular authorities and notarized translation).
- Employment contract or appointment decision (Draft employment contract or appointment decision from the Board of Directors).
- Passport (Certified copy of the entire passport of the foreigner, ensuring it is still valid).
- Portrait photos (two color photos, 4x6cm in size, white background, clear facial features, no glasses, and taken no more than 6 months ago).
- Application for a work permit (to be completed according to Form No. 11/PLI as prescribed in Decree 70/2023/ND-CP).
Work permit application process in Ho Chi Minh City
To streamline complex administrative procedures, MAN employs a standardized, professional three-step process, enabling businesses to effectively manage progress and risks:
- Step 1: Explain the need for foreign labor. MAN assists businesses in posting job openings on legally mandated job portals. We then prepare detailed explanatory documents using Form No. 01/PLI, highlighting the urgency of the job position, to be submitted to the relevant authorities at least 15 working days before the expected date of employment.
- Step 2: Submit the official work permit application. Upon receiving the approval of the explanation document, MAN's specialists proceed to complete all supporting documents (criminal record check, notarized translation, consular legalization) and the company representative submits the work permit application to the competent authority.
- Step 3: Support with post-licensing procedures. After receiving the actual work permit results, MAN continues to support businesses in signing official labor contracts, registering for mandatory social insurance, and advising on the steps to apply for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) so that employees can feel secure in their long-term stay.
Where can I apply for a work permit in Ho Chi Minh City?
One of the factors that helps speed up the application processing time is accurately identifying the competent authority. Depending on the type of business and its location (District 1, District 7, Binh Thanh District, or Thu Duc City), the application will be submitted to one of the following agencies:
- Ho Chi Minh City Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (SLĐTBXH): This is the main receiving agency for the majority of representative offices, joint-stock companies, and limited liability companies located outside industrial parks and export processing zones in the city.
- Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks Management Board (HEPZA): The authority to receive and approve applications is reserved for businesses and factories operating within export processing zones and industrial parks (such as Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone, Tan Binh Industrial Park, Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park) under the management of Ho Chi Minh City.
- Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park Management Board (SHTP): This agency is responsible for handling procedures related to foreign labor for high-tech enterprises and FDI enterprises operating in the High-Tech Zone of Thu Duc City.
- Ho Chi Minh City Department of Internal Affairs: Coordinate and provide advice on resolving certain special cases involving foreign non-governmental organizations or specialized professional associations under the management of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.
How long does it take to get a work permit?
The processing time for a work permit in Vietnam typically ranges from 18 to 27 working days, including the recruitment advertising phase, the explanation of the need to employ foreign workers, and the official issuance of the work permit. Understanding the processing time allows businesses to proactively arrange entry schedules for their employees.
Below is a summary table detailing the progress of each stage in the current work permit application process in Ho Chi Minh City:
| Execution process | Actual processing time | Receiving and approving agency |
|---|---|---|
| Job postings & Needs explanation report | 15 working days | Ho Chi Minh City Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs or HEPZA |
| Document preparation, consular legalization, translation. | 3 to 7 business days | Embassy, Consular Department & Justice Office |
| Reviewing applications and issuing work permits. | 5 working days | The labor management agency has approved the explanation. |
| Estimated total completion time | 18 to 27 business days | Comprehensive service package from MAN |
In general, the total time may be longer if the original documents of the foreign national are delayed or contain translation errors. For urgent situations requiring personnel to be present in Vietnam immediately, businesses can use MAN's expedited processing solution to shorten the total time to just 7 to 10 working days.
Price list for comprehensive work permit application services in Ho Chi Minh City.
To help businesses easily balance their budgets, transparency of expenses from the outset is a top operating principle of MAN – Master Accountant Network.
What are the costs involved in obtaining a work permit for a foreigner?
Total budget to complete work permit issuance procedures It includes several different cost components:
- State fees are paid directly into the budget as stipulated by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.
- The cost of preparing the satellite application includes medical examination fees at designated hospitals, fees for obtaining a criminal record certificate (Type 1 or Type 2) in Vietnam, fees for notarized translations, and fees for consular legalization of foreign documents.
- The service fee includes in-depth legal consultation and representation for all procedures provided by the service provider.
Price list for services at MAN (Guaranteed no hidden fees)
To meet the diverse needs of businesses, from new registrations and renewals to re-registrations, MAN develops flexible solution packages designed to provide businesses with optimal solutions. work permit in Ho Chi Minh City Fast service with transparent pricing:
| Detailed service package | Applicable subjects | Execution time | Estimated package cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Work Permit | Foreign nationals who have never had a business license or changed their sponsoring business are eligible. | 15 to 20 days | From 5,500,000 VND (Contact for detailed pricing) |
| Work permit renewal service | Workers holding a work permit that is valid for between 5 and 45 days. | 10 to 12 days | From 3,500,000 VND (Contact for detailed pricing) |
| Reissuing work permits | The license is lost, torn, damaged, or the passport information has changed. | 5 to 7 days | From 2,500,000 VND (Contact for detailed pricing) |
| Work permit exemption application service | Large capital investors, people married to Vietnamese citizens. | 10 to 12 days | From 4,000,000 VND (Contact for detailed pricing) |
Depending on market fluctuations and the complexity of each specific case, the actual cost will be detailed by our specialists and a formal written quotation will be sent to your company, with a commitment that no hidden fees will be incurred throughout the process.
Why do businesses choose MAN as their labor permit service provider?
Among the numerous service providers on the market, MAN proudly stands as a trusted legal partner, accompanying the development of thousands of FDI enterprises and multinational corporations in Vietnam.
MAN's professional capabilities and impressive statistics
What sets MAN – Master Accountant Network apart is its practical problem-solving capabilities and its commitment to the highest level of responsibility towards its clients:
- Extensive practical experience: We are led by lawyers who are members of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association and have over 15 years of experience. MAN has successfully processed over 5,000 work permit applications for various positions in Vietnam.
- Outstanding success rate: Maintaining an approval rate of up to 99.8%, MAN has a particular strength in handling highly complex applications, such as those from foreigners lacking original qualifications, lacking experience verification, or belonging to national groups that are difficult to access for Vietnamese visas.
- Dedicated staff: We bring together lawyers and legal experts with in-depth knowledge of the practical operational procedures at various agencies and departments in Ho Chi Minh City, always keeping up-to-date with even the smallest changes in legal regulations.
Case Study: Rescuing an Emergency Project for a Technology Corporation at SHTP
A clear example of our capabilities is the case of supporting an Indian technology corporation producing embedded software for autonomous driving, operating within the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park (SHTP) in Thu Duc City.
- Situation: Due to the extremely tight project handover deadline, the company needed to send 5 Senior Solution Architects to operate the software system within 10 days. However, these experts lacked the necessary documentation certifying their practical work experience, which had to be legalized by the consulate according to the Vietnamese standard form.
- Solution: Upon receiving the request, MAN's team of legal experts immediately analyzed the case, proposed a valid alternative legal solution, and worked directly and continuously with the Management Board of the Saigon High-Tech Park (SHTP).
- Result: All five experts successfully obtained work permits within just 8 working days, helping the company ensure the project handover schedule for its partner and avoid legal risks arising from personnel delays.
Frequently Asked Questions about Work Permits (FAQ)
Below are direct answers from MAN's lawyers and legal experts to the most frequently asked questions from HR departments:
How long is a work permit valid for?
Is it possible to apply for a work permit online?
Do foreigners who change companies need to apply for a new work permit?
How many years of experience does a foreign expert need to be granted a license?
Do foreigners who marry Vietnamese citizens need a work permit?
What is the fine for working without a work permit?
Conclude
Possessing a legal work permit not only allows foreigners to confidently contribute their skills but also protects businesses from legal risks and unnecessary administrative penalties. With standardized processes, transparent costs, and a team of experienced professionals, MAN's work permit application service proudly supports businesses in overcoming all administrative barriers, allowing them to focus entirely on core business activities in Vietnam.
Contact information for MAN – Master Accountant Network
- Address: 19A, 43rd Street, Tan Thuan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
- Mobile/Zalo: 0903 963 163 – 0903 428 622
- Email: man@man.net.vn
Content production is overseen by: Mr. Le Hoang Tuyen – Founder & CEO of MAN – Master Accountant Network, CPA Vietnam auditors with over 30 years of experience in accounting, auditing, and financial consulting.
