Foreign work permits in Vietnam

Foreign work permits in Vietnam are governed by Government Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, issued on August 7, 2025, and effective from the same date. The new regulations focus on working conditions, required documents, procedures for issuance, re-issuance, and renewal, as well as cases exempt from work permit requirements.

For businesses employing foreign workers, correctly identifying the type of employment, job position, and necessary procedures from the outset is crucial. Errors at this stage can lead to unsuitable documentation or require the procedures to be repeated.

What is a work permit for foreigners?

A work permit is a document issued by a competent authority to foreign workers who are required to have a work permit to work in Vietnam. Decree 219/2025/ND-CP regulates foreign workers working in Vietnam, including conditions, documents, issuance, re-issuance, extension, and revocation of work permits, as well as certificates confirming exemption from work permit requirements.

Businesses can refer to this. Information about work permits on MAN To further compare related topics during the application process.

The concept of a work permit

Decree 219/2025/ND-CP regulates foreign workers working in Vietnam in positions and forms of employment within the scope of the Decree. The document was issued on August 7, 2025 and came into effect on August 7, 2025.

It's important to note that a work permit doesn't just contain the employee's personal information. The application must also detail the type of work and job position the foreigner will be doing in Vietnam. Therefore, businesses should accurately determine these two factors before preparing the application.

Types of work that fall within the scope of licensing.

The form of work determines the type of documents a business must use to prove its legitimacy in the application. Decree 219/2025/ND-CP stipulates various forms such as transfer from an organization abroad to Vietnam, performance of a contract or agreement, provision of services under contract, offering services for sale, and other cases within the scope of the Decree.

Procedures should not be determined solely based on the job title in the contract. Businesses need to compare the nature of the employment relationship, the employer, and documents proving the form of employment.

Requirements vary depending on the job position.

Foreign workers eligible for work permits must meet the requirements corresponding to the position of manager, executive director, expert, or technical worker. Article 19 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP specifies the types of documents required to prove each group of positions.

Supporting documents may vary depending on the location, such as company charters, appointment letters, diplomas, certificates, or experience verification. Therefore, a single set of documents should not be used for all cases.

Foreign nationals who are not subject to permit requirements.

Not all foreign workers in Vietnam are required to apply for a work permit. Decree 219/2025/ND-CP stipulates that many groups are exempt from this requirement, including certain owners or contributing members, members of the Board of Directors who meet the conditions regarding capital contribution value, and other specific cases.

Some notable cases include owners or contributing members with capital of VND 3 billion or more in limited liability companies; Chairmen or members of the Board of Directors with capital contributions of VND 3 billion or more in joint-stock companies; foreign workers who are managers, executives, experts, or technical workers entering Vietnam to work for a total period of less than 90 days in a year; and other cases as stipulated in the Decree.

Cases that do not require a license

Decree 219/2025/ND-CP stipulates a fairly broad group of cases exempt from licensing requirements. In addition to cases involving capital contributions and short-term work, it also includes confirmed foreign journalists, students in legally defined categories, relatives of members of foreign diplomatic missions, holders of official passports, volunteers, and certain cases confirmed by ministries, ministerial-level agencies, or provincial People's Committees.

Businesses should not draw conclusions based solely on nationality or title. Determining eligibility for issuance must be based on the specific legal circumstances and corresponding supporting documents.

Distinguishing between those not eligible for issuance and those completely exempt from the procedure.

Not being subject to work permit requirements does not mean that all cases are exempt from administrative procedures. Decree 219/2025/ND-CP stipulates that some groups do not need to go through the procedure of obtaining a confirmation certificate, but must notify the competent authority at least 3 working days before the expected start date of work in Vietnam.

This is a point businesses need to check before assigning foreigners to work. The fact that no permit is required should not be interpreted as meaning there are no further procedural obligations.

Documents required for obtaining a work permit for a foreigner.

The application for a work permit under Decree 219/2025/ND-CP includes documents from the employer, a health certificate, a passport, a criminal record certificate or equivalent document, a photograph, documents proving the type of work, and documents proving the position of manager, executive director, expert, or technical worker.

Businesses can refer to this for more information. MAN work permit application guide To compare how files are classified according to each case.

Components of the license application file

The main sets of documents include: a written report from the employer explaining the need to employ foreign workers and requesting a permit (Form No. 03); a health certificate; a valid passport; a criminal record certificate or equivalent document; two color photos measuring 4 cm x 6 cm; documents proving the type of work; and documents proving that the worker belongs to the group of managers, executives, experts, or skilled workers.

Criminal record certificates or other required confirmation documents must be issued no more than 6 months prior to the application date, except in cases where administrative procedures have been streamlined as per regulations. Health certificates issued by foreign medical facilities are only valid if they meet the requirements of a treaty or mutual recognition agreement and are valid for no more than 12 months from the date of issuance.

For documents issued by foreign countries, businesses need to check the requirements for consular legalization, translation into Vietnamese, and authentication. If legalization is waived, there must be a valid reason; it should not be assumed that all foreign documents are exempt.

Distinguishing between job positions and job titles

The job position in the work permit application must be substantiated by documentation appropriate to the managerial, executive, specialist, or technical worker category. The job title on the contract is not the sole basis for determining the position category.

Businesses should verify the consistency between the actual work performed, the proposed position described in the application, and supporting documentation. If these three elements do not match, the application may require additional information or adjustments.

Work permit issuance process

Applications for work permits must be submitted within 60 days, but no less than 10 days, before the foreign worker is expected to start work. After receiving a complete application, the competent authority has 10 working days to review and approve the request and issue the permit.

Current administrative procedure information can be checked on National Public Service Portal, in which the procedure for granting work permits to foreign workers working in Vietnam is identified with procedure code 1.014199.

Requirements must be met before submitting the application.

Before submitting the application, businesses need to determine whether the employee is eligible for a work permit, the job position, the type of work, and the competent authority. They must also check the validity of the passport, health certificate, criminal record check, and other documents proving the job position and type of work.

The timing of application submission should also be included in the recruitment plan. Waiting until the last minute to prepare documents can jeopardize the process, especially if the application includes documents that need to be obtained or legalized from abroad.

Steps to follow

Businesses can organize the process in the following steps:

1. Step 1: Determine the type of work, location, and type of employment; then prepare the application according to the corresponding document groups.
2. Step 2: Submit your application within 60 days, but no less than 10 days before your expected start date.
3. Step 3: The competent authority receives and processes the application according to current administrative procedures.
4. Step 4: Receive the permit or a written response if the request is not approved or the permit is not granted.

The above procedure should be compared with the administrative procedures displayed on the National Public Service Portal and the local decentralization mechanism at the time of application submission.

Processing time

The processing time for a work permit application is 10 working days from the date the competent authority receives a complete application. If the request for employment is not approved or the permit is not granted, the competent authority must provide a written response stating the reasons within 3 working days from the date of receiving the complete application.

Duration, renewal, and extension of work permits

Work permits are issued for the duration of the respective workplace but not exceeding two years. If the permit is still valid but lost, damaged, or eligible for re-issuance, the re-issuance procedure must be followed; if the permit is about to expire and the conditions for continued work are met, the renewal procedure must be followed.

Work permit validity period

According to Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, the validity period of a work permit is determined by the validity period of the corresponding workplace but not exceeding 2 years. Therefore, it should not be understood that all permits are automatically valid for 2 years; the actual validity period depends on the basis used in the application.

Reissuing work permits

Reissuance is applicable in cases stipulated in the Decree, such as when a license is still valid but lost, damaged, or certain information needs to be changed. The processing time for reissuance is 3 working days from the date of receipt of complete documents.

It is necessary to distinguish between reissuing and issuing a new work permit. If an employee has already been issued a valid work permit but changes their job position or the type of work indicated on the permit without changing their employer, they must go through the procedure to obtain a new work permit.

Work permit renewal

The renewal application includes a written request, a health certificate, two color photos, a valid work permit, a valid passport, and documents proving the type of employment as applicable.

Applications for renewal must be submitted at least 10 days but no more than 45 days before the work permit expires. The competent authority has 10 working days from the date of receipt of a complete application to review and process the renewal.

Common mistakes businesses make when applying for work permits.

The risks often lie not only in the lack of a document but also in misidentifying the type of procedure. In particular, inconsistencies between job position, type of work, and supporting documentation can render an application ineligible.

Incorrectly identifying the job position or type of work.

An application may include a passport, criminal record check, and medical certificate, but it may still lack sufficient evidence if the documentation proving the position or type of work is inconsistent. Businesses should compare the actual work, the position stated in the application, and the supporting documents before submitting it.

Confusing license renewal with new license issuance.

Reissuance only applies to cases stipulated in the Decree. When there is a change in job position or form of work, the enterprise must go through the procedure of obtaining a new work permit instead of automatically using the old permit.

No check required for foreign documents.

Documents issued by foreign countries may require consular legalization, translation into Vietnamese, and authentication. Businesses should determine the required documents from the outset, especially when employees are abroad and need time to complete procedures in the issuing country.

Authority and location for carrying out the procedure

According to Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, provincial People's Committees have the authority to issue, reissue, extend, and revoke work permits, and also decide on the delegation of authority to competent agencies. Therefore, the agency directly handling applications may vary from locality to locality.

The licensing authority

In cases where an employee works for an employer whose headquarters, branch, representative office, or business location is in the locality where the employee is expected to work, the People's Committee of that province has jurisdiction according to the Decree. If the employee works for an employer in multiple provinces or centrally-governed cities, the jurisdiction belongs to the People's Committee of the province where the employer has its main headquarters.

Because the decentralization mechanism may be implemented locally according to regulations, businesses should check the actual receiving agency on the National Public Service Portal before submitting their application.

Application submission method

Decree 219/2025/ND-CP stipulates the online submission of applications through the National Public Service Portal and the mechanism for receiving applications according to the local administrative system. Businesses should check the corresponding procedures at the time of application to accurately determine the submission channel and processing agency.

Experience in document review from a business perspective.

A work permit application should be reviewed according to the logic of the procedure, rather than simply checking the quantity of documents. The proper sequence is to determine the permit category, identify the position and type of work, check the supporting evidence, and then compare the validity period and format of each document.

Businesses can refer to this. MAN's work permit services If further verification of the actual handling of the case is needed.

For businesses with a large number of foreign workers, it's essential to manage permit validity periods and personnel records. Renewal deadlines, ranging from 10 to 45 days before the permit expires, should be included in the tracking schedule to avoid procedural gaps.

Professional informationThis content is compiled using a practical approach by the MAN – Master Accountant Network accounting and tax team, based on published legal regulations and administrative procedures. Because procedures may vary by locality, businesses should check local regulations before submitting their applications.

Conclude

Foreign work permits require careful processing, starting with determining the correct application category, job position, and type of employment before preparing the necessary documents. According to Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, applications for work permits must be submitted within 60 days, but no less than 10 days before the expected start date, and the processing time is 10 working days from the date of receipt of complete documents.

Businesses also need to clearly distinguish between new issuance, re-issuance, and renewal, and monitor license expiration dates to ensure timely processing. For documents issued by foreign countries or cases where employees work under multiple employment arrangements, reviewing the basis from the outset helps minimize the risk of having to supplement or repeat procedures.

Primary legal source: Decree 219/2025/ND-CP on the Government's Electronic Information Portal; Work permit issuance procedures on the National Public Service Portal; and Information explaining the policies of the Government Electronic Newspaper..