Obtaining Work Permits for Foreigners in Vietnam

The process for obtaining work permits for foreigners in Vietnam is currently carried out as follows: Decree 219/2025/ND-CP This regulation, issued by the Government and effective from August 7, 2025, focuses on the conditions for employees, job positions and forms of employment, required documents, competent authorities, and timeframes for completing procedures.

For FDI businesses, the application should not be prepared based solely on a fixed list of documents. It is necessary to determine in advance whether the employee requires a work permit, what type of work they will do, and whether they belong to the management, executive, specialist, or technical worker category. The business can further verify this information. What is a work permit? To establish a unified concept before carrying out the procedure.

Quick answer: The application for a work permit includes Form No. 03, a health certificate, passport, criminal record certificate or equivalent documents, photographs, and documents proving the type of work and job position. The processing time is 10 working days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid application in case the request is approved and the permit is issued.

Who needs a work permit?

Therefore, when a business begins the work permit application process, determining the applicable category should be done before collecting documents. The most effective way to obtain a work permit is to correctly identify the legal case before compiling the list of required documents.

Foreign workers in Vietnam need to be determined in advance whether they are required to obtain a work permit or not. If they are required to obtain one, the employer must prepare the necessary documents according to the job position and type of work as stipulated by law.

Foreign workers who are required to have a work permit.

If the scope of application is not clearly defined, the work permit process may begin with an unsuitable set of documents. During the work permit application process, information regarding both the employer and the employee needs to be verified and consistent.

The group of individuals required to obtain a work permit is determined based on foreign workers employed in Vietnam who do not fall under any exemptions or are not subject to the regulations. Decree 219/2025/ND-CP also defines various forms of employment, therefore, one should not rely solely on whether the worker has signed an employment contract with the enterprise.

Businesses should start by identifying three factors: the employee's qualifications, the job position, and the type of work. This forms the basis for selecting the right application package instead of applying the same checklist to all foreign personnel.

Four job positions for foreign workers

Businesses can compare Foreign work permits in Vietnam To verify further relevant information before finalizing the application, these four job categories are crucial for selecting supporting documents when applying for a work permit. Businesses should determine the job categories before applying for a work permit, rather than adjusting the application after submission.

Decree 219/2025/ND-CP stipulates four main job categories for foreign workers: managers, executives, experts, and technical workers. Supporting documents must match the registered job category.

A point to avoid is using internal job titles such as "Manager," "Director," "Engineer," or equivalent titles as the sole basis for the application. The application must include documentation proving suitability for the job position as required.

Cases not subject to work permit requirements

Determining whether a work permit is required should be done before the business prepares its application. In many cases, reviewing exemptions before applying for a work permit helps avoid procedural errors.

Decree 219/2025/ND-CP stipulates several cases where foreign workers are not required to obtain a work permit. Some common cases include owners or contributing members of limited liability companies with capital contributions of VND 3 billion or more; chairmen or members of the board of directors of joint-stock companies with capital contributions of VND 3 billion or more; and some cases where workers enter Vietnam to work for less than 90 days in a year.

Not being subject to licensing requirements does not mean that all procedures can be skipped. Depending on the case, businesses may have to go through the procedure of confirming that they are not subject to licensing requirements or simply need to notify as required. These are just some common cases; Article 7 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP also stipulates other cases, so it is necessary to refer to the specific case.

Conditions for obtaining a work permit

When applying for a work permit, businesses need to check both the general conditions and the conditions specific to the job position. The work permit requirements should be compared with the employee's actual documentation before the expected start date.

The conditions for granting work permits are considered simultaneously with the job position and supporting documents. Workers need to have documents meeting requirements regarding personal identity, health, criminal record, and documents proving the position and type of work. For FDI applications, documents issued by foreign countries must also be checked for their usability in Vietnam.

General conditions for foreign workers

A checklist for work permit applications should include separate documents related to personal information, health, and criminal record. Checking the validity of these documents when applying for a work permit helps minimize the need for reprocessing.

The application for a license must include a valid passport, a medical certificate as required, a criminal record certificate or equivalent confirmation document, and other documents as needed. The criminal record certificate or confirmation document must have been issued no more than 6 months prior to the application date, except in cases where the inter-agency procedure has been completed as prescribed.

For health certificates issued by foreign medical facilities, the certificate may be used when Vietnam and the issuing country or territory have a treaty or agreement on mutual recognition, and its validity period does not exceed 12 months from the date of issuance.

Job requirements

If the documents do not match the position, the work permit application will lack the necessary supporting evidence. FDI enterprises should review the position criteria before applying for work permits for personnel from the parent company.

Professional requirements vary among the four groups of positions. According to Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, some experts may meet the requirements of a university degree or equivalent along with relevant experience; some experts in specific fields may have their own criteria. For technical workers, the training and experience requirements must be compared according to the specific case.

A record that identifies an employee as a specialist but lacks documentation proving the appropriate qualifications or experience may not meet the requirements for job application documentation. Similarly, technical employee records need to clearly demonstrate the basis of training and experience employed.

Requirements for documents issued abroad

Documents issued or certified by foreign agencies or organizations must be examined for consular legalization requirements, except in cases where exemptions are granted under international treaties, the principle of reciprocity, or legal regulations. After fulfilling this requirement, the documents must be translated into Vietnamese and certified according to regulations.

Qualifications, experience verification, documents from overseas employers, or documents related to the type of work should be reviewed from the outset. Do not wait until close to the expected start date to begin processing foreign documents.

Work permit application documents

Businesses can compare conditions for granting an investment registration certificate To verify further relevant information before finalizing the application, the work permit application should be divided into general documents and documents specific to each case.

When applying for work permits for multiple employees, businesses should create a separate checklist for each person. The work permit application dossier under Decree 219/2025/ND-CP includes a group of general documents and a group of documents depending on the position and type of work. The basic components include Form No. 03, a health certificate, a passport, a criminal record certificate or equivalent document, a photograph, and documents proving the position and type of work.

Businesses can further verify the content. Application for a work permit for a foreigner MAN used this to check how documents were categorized before creating an internal file checklist.

Basic documents required when applying for a work permit.

In terms of checklists, businesses can start with the following groups of documents, then add documents according to specific positions and work types:

• The employer's document reports and explains the need to employ foreign workers and requests work permits. .
• A medical certificate is required.
• The passport is still valid.
• A criminal record certificate or equivalent confirmation document, with the date of issuance meeting the requirements.
• Two color photos, 4 cm x 6 cm in size, with a white background, showing the face looking straight ahead, head uncovered, and no glasses.
• Documents proving the type of employment.
• Documents proving that the employee belongs to the group of managers, executives, specialists, or technical workers.

Documents proving employment

This section requires careful verification during the work permit application process because internal job titles are not the sole basis for verification. If the position documents are unclear, the company should address this before proceeding with the work permit application.

Documents proving employment status are a crucial part of the application process, requiring careful selection based on the specific circumstances. There isn't a single type of document that applies to all employees. Businesses need to compare Article 19 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP with the actual records of each individual.

Managers and executives

For managers, the documents may include company charters, proof of managerial qualifications, or appointment/transfer decisions. For CEOs, depending on the case, documents from branches, representative offices, business locations, or documents detailing management and operational processes may be used.

The job title on the appointment decision should be compared with the nature of the position and supporting documentation. It shouldn't be solely based on the fact that an employee is named "Director" in internal records to determine they belong to the executive director category.

Expert

Expert profiles must demonstrate professional qualifications and experience according to applicable criteria. Documentation may include diplomas, certificates, or relevant professional papers, combined with experience verification or other valid documentation as required.

If an employee is transferred from a parent company or foreign enterprise, both documents proving the specialist position and documents proving the type of work should be checked simultaneously. These two sets of documents have different functions and should not be combined into a single basis for verification.

Technical workers

For skilled workers, businesses need to select supporting documents that comply with the training and experience requirements stipulated in Decree 219/2025/ND-CP. Experience documents should clearly demonstrate that the worker has performed work or work in a field related to the intended position.

Documents proving the type of employment

During the work permit application process, the type of employment must be determined beforehand to select the correct supporting documents. Incorrectly identifying the type of employment is one of the reasons why the work permit application may not match the actual situation.

The form of employment is a separate layer of information in the record. Decree 219/2025/ND-CP stipulates many forms such as signing labor contracts, internal transfers within enterprises, performing contracts or agreements, providing services under contract, offering services, and other cases.

For example, in the case of internal company transfers, the documentation may need to include a document from the overseas employer assigning the worker to Vietnam and confirming that the worker has been employed for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to entering Vietnam to work. Therefore, the type of employment needs to be determined before compiling the list of documents.

Documents issued abroad

Documents issued overseas require consular legalization, translation, and certification before use in the application, except in cases where exemptions apply. Businesses should check each document individually instead of applying the same procedure to all applications.

Work permit application process and where to submit the application.

A streamlined work permit application process should begin with reviewing the eligibility criteria, followed by completing and submitting the application. Businesses can proactively manage the work permit process by preparing foreign documents in advance.

The work permit application process includes determining the permit category, preparing and checking documents, submitting them on time, monitoring the assessment process, and receiving the results. This administrative procedure is currently published on the National Public Service Portal with procedure code 1.014199.

The National Public Service Portal allows for searching. work permit issuance procedures and the application submission method will be announced at the time of implementation.

Prepare and review documents.

Businesses can compare How to obtain a work permit for foreigners To verify further relevant information before finalizing the application, the responsible department should cross-check the information between the passport and the company documents before processing the work permit.

The final check before applying for a work permit should focus on the position, type of work, and document validity period.

Before submitting, businesses should check the consistency of names, nationality, passport numbers, employer names, job titles, employment types, and validity periods of the documents. For FDI applications, additional documents originating from the parent company or foreign organization should be reviewed.

Submit your application locally.

The method for obtaining a work permit should be determined according to the procedures published locally.

According to the published procedures, applications can be submitted online through the National Public Service Portal or in person, via postal service, by hiring a service provider, or by authorization to the local Public Administrative Service Center as prescribed.

The competent authority for processing the application

Businesses need to identify the correct point of contact before applying for a work permit to avoid submitting it to the wrong recipient. For applications involving multiple locations, determining the appropriate authority should be done from the outset when applying for a work permit.

Decree 219/2025/ND-CP stipulates that provincial People's Committees have the authority to issue, reissue, extend, and revoke work permits. Provincial People's Committees may delegate this authority to competent agencies. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish between legal authority and the actual point of contact for receiving applications at the local level.

In cases where employees work for the same employer in multiple provinces or centrally-governed cities, the authority to issue, reissue, extend, and revoke employment licenses rests with the People's Committee of the province where the employer has its head office, as stipulated by regulations.

Get results

If the application meets the requirements, the competent authority will approve the need and issue a work permit. If the need to employ foreign workers is not approved or a work permit is not issued, the competent authority must provide a written response stating the reasons within the prescribed timeframe.

How long does it take to get a work permit?

When planning to obtain a work permit, businesses need to separate the time spent preparing the application from the time the government agency takes to process it.

The actual processing time for a work permit may be longer than the administrative processing time if foreign documents need to be prepared.

The time it takes to obtain a work permit depends on both the time required to prepare the documents and the time it takes for the competent authority to process them. According to current administrative procedures, the processing time is 10 working days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid application in cases where the request is approved and the permit is issued.

Processing time for work permit applications

The 10-working-day deadline only applies after the competent authority receives all required documents in the case of licensing. Businesses should estimate the time needed to process work permits based on the actual status of their application, not just the administrative deadline.

The competent authority shall process the application within 10 working days from the date of receipt of complete documents as prescribed in the case of approval of the need and issuance of a license. If the need for use is not approved or a license is not issued, the deadline for a written response is 3 working days.

When must businesses submit their applications?

Obtaining work permits should be included in the foreign employee onboarding plan from the moment the start date is determined.

Employers must submit the application within 60 days, but no less than 10 days before the foreign worker is expected to start work. This period should be calculated after the business has determined the feasibility of the application.

In cases where approval or licensing is denied.

If the request for employing foreign workers is not approved or the application is ineligible for a permit, the competent authority must respond in writing, stating the reasons, within 3 working days according to current procedures. Businesses should base their next course of action on the specific reasons provided, rather than simply resubmitting the application in its original state.

Changes and notes according to Decree 219/2025/ND-CP

Decree 219/2025/ND-CP was issued by the Government on August 7, 2025, and came into effect on the same day. This is the current legal basis for regulations concerning foreign workers in Vietnam. Businesses should review their existing guidelines, forms, and procedures before implementing them.

Decree 219/2025/ND-CP is the current legal basis.

Decree 219/2025/ND-CP stipulates the conditions, procedures, and formalities for granting, re-granting, extending, revoking work permits, and confirming exemption from work permit requirements. The regulations concerning foreign workers in Vietnam in Decree 152/2020/ND-CP, amended and supplemented by Decree 70/2023/ND-CP, are no longer in effect according to the implementing provisions of Decree 219.

Changes in jurisdiction when issuing work permits.

One point to note is that authority is regulated by the Provincial People's Committee and there is a mechanism for decentralization of implementation. Therefore, it should not be assumed that all documents nationwide are submitted to a single specialized department. Businesses need to check the actual receiving point of contact in their locality when carrying out procedures.

Form No. 03 in the file

The application for a work permit must include a written report from the employer explaining the need to employ foreign workers and requesting a work permit, using Form No. 03 issued with Decree 219/2025/ND-CP. This is a point businesses need to check, as their internal checklists are still using forms from the previous period.

Avoid applying outdated regulations.

Businesses can compare Full text of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP To verify additional relevant information before finalizing the application. If the old checklist is still in use, the business should update it before applying for a work permit under the new circumstances.

Comparing current regulations is a necessary step in any work permit application. Some content found online may still use outdated forms or refer to the agency, deadlines, and conditions under Decree 152/2020/ND-CP and Decree 70/2023/ND-CP. Before preparing the application, businesses should directly compare the regulations and procedures published on the National Public Service Portal.

Cases where paperwork is likely to cause problems

Reviewing the application before granting a work permit is often more effective than waiting for the receiving agency to request amendments.

Documentation often encounters problems when individual documents appear complete but fail to substantiate the same legal case. In particular, inconsistencies between job title, work type, experience, and the foreign company's documentation need to be addressed before submission.

Incorrect job placement

This is the first point to address when applying for a work permit for a specialist or skilled worker.

Determining whether someone is a manager, executive director, specialist, or technical worker must be based on corresponding criteria and supporting documentation. Internal job titles are for reference only and should not be used as the sole basis for identification.

Inappropriate professional qualifications and experience.

A degree or certificate of experience is only valid proof if its content matches the criteria of the job position. If the document only shows general experience without clarifying the specific job or field, the business may not have sufficient grounds to prove the position applied for.

Foreign documents do not meet the requirements.

The time required for legalization, translation, and certification should be factored into the work permit application plan.

Foreign documents may require consular legalization, translation, and authentication. If documents are processed too late, the processing time may be extended, even though the administrative processing time of the competent authority is only 10 working days.

Incorrectly identifying the form of work.

The form of employment determines the supporting documents that need to be submitted. For example, employees who are transferred within the same company may have requirements regarding the period of employment abroad. Therefore, the company needs to determine the actual form of employment before preparing the application.

Duration, renewal, and extension of work permits

Managing the timeframe after obtaining a work permit helps businesses avoid missing deadlines for renewal or extension.

After being issued, the work permit must continue to be managed according to the recorded validity period and content. If the permit is lost, damaged, or there are changes requiring re-issuance, the business must follow the re-issuance procedure. When the permit is about to expire and the conditions are met, the renewal procedure can be carried out.

Work permit validity period

Immediately after obtaining the work permit, the company should record the permit's validity period in its human resources management records.

The validity period of a work permit is determined by the duration of one of the grounds for granting the permit and shall not exceed 2 years as stipulated. Businesses should check the specific validity period on the permit instead of assuming that all cases have the same validity period.

Reissuing work permits

Reissuance is applicable in cases stipulated in Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, including cases where the license is still valid but lost or damaged and unusable, or where there are changes to certain information such as full name, nationality, passport number, or the name of the employer, without changing the employer's identification number.

The application for license renewal essentially uses Form No. 03, two 4cm x 6cm color photos, and documents proving the changes or a valid license, depending on the case. The processing time is 3 working days from the date of receipt of a complete application as prescribed.

Work permit renewal

Plans for applying for a work permit again should be made well in advance of the renewal date to allow sufficient time for processing the paperwork.

Renewal applications must be submitted at least 10 days and no more than 45 days before the license expires. The processing time for renewal applications is 10 working days from the date of receipt of complete and required documents.

Businesses should schedule the monitoring of permit expiration dates as soon as employees begin working. Early preparation is especially necessary when the file includes documents issued overseas.

Work permit services at MAN

MAN focuses on assisting businesses in reviewing cases and documents before applying for work permits. MAN – Master Accountant Network supports businesses in reviewing and processing foreign worker applications on a case-by-case basis. The focus of the process is not only on preparing all necessary documents but also on correctly identifying the permit category, job position, type of work, and requirements for foreign documents.

Businesses can refer to this. Work permit issuance services for foreigners or Work permit consulting services in Ho Chi Minh City When a case-by-case review of records is required.

What does MAN support?

The goal of this support is to help businesses prepare the right documentation from the outset when applying for work permits. Depending on the case, the support may focus on the following areas:

• Review whether the worker is required to obtain a work permit or is exempt from such requirements.
• Identify the job position group and check the supporting documentation.
• Compare the work procedure with the required documents.
• Check the status and usage requirements of documents issued abroad.
• Verify information before submitting applications and assist with procedures according to local regulations.

When should you use a work permit application service?

This service is suitable for businesses undertaking the procedure for the first time, FDI businesses receiving personnel from their parent company, cases with many foreign documents, or cases where employees have a specific type of work. For simple cases, businesses can still handle the process themselves after thoroughly checking current regulations and procedures.

Conclude

Obtaining work permits for foreigners must be done in accordance with the legal circumstances, job position, and type of work. According to Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, the application dossier includes general documents and supporting documents specific to each case; the processing time is 10 working days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid application in cases where the request is approved and the permit is issued.

For FDI enterprises, the three aspects that should be checked first are the licensing category, the basis for proving the position and type of work, and the conditions for using documents issued abroad. At the same time, it is necessary to verify the correct local receiving point and avoid applying checklists developed under outdated regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions about Obtaining a Work Permit

How long does it take to get a work permit?

The processing time for issuing a work permit is 10 working days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid application in the case of approval and issuance of the permit. If the application is not approved or the permit is not issued, the competent authority will respond in writing, stating the reasons, within 3 working days.

What documents are needed to apply for a work permit?

The list of documents required for a work permit varies depending on the position and type of work, so a single checklist should not be used for all cases.

The application dossier includes Form No. 03, a health certificate, a passport, a criminal record certificate or equivalent confirmation document, two color photos, documents proving the type of employment, and documents proving that the employee is a manager, executive director, expert, or technical worker. The specific components vary depending on the case.

Where do I submit my work permit application?

Before applying for a work permit, businesses should double-check the contact information published locally.

Applications can be submitted online through the National Public Service Portal or via the methods announced locally. The Provincial People's Committee is the competent authority according to Decree 219/2025/ND-CP and may delegate the authority; therefore, businesses need to check the specific receiving point in their locality.