Work Permit

In order to work legally in Vietnam for a certain period of time (up to 2 years), a foreigner must have a Work permit or Certificate of exemption from work permit.

I. Who are exempted from Work permit or Certificate of exemption from work permit (can work in Vietnam without any document related to work permit)?

Foreign experts, managers, chief executive officers or technicians who work in Vietnam for a period of under 30 days and an accumulated working period of under 90 days per year.

II. Who needs a Work permit?

Foreigners working in Viet Nam (hereinafter referred to as foreign workers) in one of the forms below:

  1. Working under labor contracts
  2. Being transfer within an enterprise
  3. Performance of any of the following types of contract, namely economic, commercial, financial, banking, insurance, scientific and technical, cultural, sports, educational, vocational training or medical health contracts
  4. Foreigners responsible for establishing commercial presence
  5. Managers, executive directors, experts and technical workers
  6. Other cases prescribed by the Government

III. Who needs a Certificate of exemption from work permit?

Foreign citizens being:

  1. Capital-contributing members or owners of limited liability companies
  2. Members of the Board of Directors of joint stock companies
  3. Heads of representative office and projects of international organizations or non-governmental organizations in Vietnam
  4. Internal movement in enterprises operating in 11 service sectors specified in Vietnam’s commitments schedule to the WTO
  5. Other cases prescribed by the Government

Since the procedures of applying for a work permit are quite complicated, the period of application is usually from one month to two months, the laborers and employers have difficulty in preparing all documents.

To obtain work permit, it is necessary first to clearly identify the case of the foreigner in order to prepare the appropriate application within the allowed time. Please contact us to be supported promptly.

(Source: Decree No. 11/2016 / ND-CP, Labor Code 2012, Circular 35/2016/tt-bct)

Requirements

Prior to carrying out the procedures for Work permit/Certificate of exemption from work permit, the enterprise needs a written approval of foreigner(s) recruitment (Form 03). For this purpose, the enterprise should send a report explaining the need for employing foreign workers (Form No.1) to the Department of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs (or the Industrial Park Management Board if the company located in the industrial zone) and receive a written response within 15 days from the date the competent agency approves the report.

1. Foreigners who need Certificate of exemption from work permit

No. Name of Document Quantity Requirement
1. Passport 01 Notarized copy of all pages
2. Application form of Certificate of exemption from work permit 01 Form 09 (download here)
3. Resume of the applicant 01 Attached to Form 09 (format as required by government)
4. License(s) of the organization that applicant working for Required as per case by case. Please contact us for detail.
5. Documents proving that the employees are exempted from the work permit

2. Foreigners apply for Work permit for the first time

No. Name of Document Quantity Requirement
1. Passport 01 Notarized copy of all pages
2. Photo size 4x6cm 02 White background, front view, bare head, without sunglasses, not more than 6 months
3. Application form of Work permit 01 Form 07 (download here)
4. Health checkup document (issued in Vietnam or foreign country) 01 Not more than 12 months.
  • Issued in a foreign country: need to be consular legalized, translated into Vietnamese and notarized.
  • Issued in Vietnam: list of eligible hospitals as prescribed.
5. Criminal record 01 Not more than 6 months.
  • Issued in a foreign country: need to be consular legalized, translated into Vietnamese and notarized.
  • For foreigner resides in Vietnam: criminal record issued in Vietnam.
6. Document proving that applicant is a manager, a chief executive, an expert or a technical worker. Required as per case by case. Please contact us for detail.
For manager, chief executive (legal representative):
7. Business registration certificate - clearly stating as the legal representative 01 Notarized copy
8. Certificate of management experience, clearly stating the position 01 Translated into Vietnamese and notarized copy
For expert:
9. Confirmation of being an expert in a company, clearly stating the position OR University degree or above/equivalent diploma + Certificate of at least 3 years of relevant experience in the field of employment in Vietnam 01 Translated into Vietnamese and notarized copy
10. Business license 01 A copy and original to compare or notarized copy
For technical worker:
11. Qualifications, degrees, certificates proving of being trained at least 1 year + Certificate of 3-year experience in equivalent field 01 Translated into Vietnamese and notarized copy
12. Business license (if any) 01 Notarized copy
13. Business registration certificate 01 Notarized copy

How to Apply?

In order to apply your work permit, applicants need to complete the following steps

1. Contact Us

Contact us for free consultancy

2. Submit Documents

Send us the requirements documents via e-mail

3. Get Work Permit

Have your work permit certificate

Contact Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Have Your Question?

Send us your questions. Our experts will answers.

Ask your question
Read more FAQs

Questions?

Our support gurus are here to help you achieve visa requirements. Check out our FAQs, send us an email, or give us a call.

+1 (800) 741 9567

Ask your question

Ready to apply ?

Start your visa application today through our secure simple online form which will take you less than 5 minutes.

Apply Visa
Get In Touch!