Work Permit Procedures for Foreign Employees in Vietnam

Hiring foreign employees brings expertise and international experience to businesses in Vietnam. However, employers must strictly comply with the legal requirements regarding work permits to avoid administrative penalties and ensure a smooth onboarding process.

1. Who Needs a Work Permit in Vietnam?

Determine the applicable work permit or exemption route before work begins. Eligibility depends on the position, assignment and statutory conditions; a general 30-day or three-month threshold should not be used as a universal rule.

• Experts, managers, and technical workers recruited by Vietnamese enterprises.

• Employees transferred internally within a foreign-invested company.

• Foreigners working under labor contracts, service contracts, or project assignments.

An exemption may require confirmation, notification or another prescribed step, depending on its legal basis. Check the current requirements for the actual worker rather than assuming that every exemption follows the same procedure.

2. Basic Steps to Obtain a Work Permit

Step 1 – Assess the applicable route: Review the position and worker under the current framework. Foreign labour demand consideration and work permit issuance form an integrated procedure; do not assume that a separate prior demand approval must always be obtained first.

Step 2 – Prepare the dossier: Assemble the employer’s application and the identity, health, criminal-status, qualification, experience and assignment records required for the actual role. Check foreign-document formalities and any applicable exemption.

Step 3 – Submit through the competent route: Confirm the current provincial receiving authority or authorized body and submit the dossier using an available prescribed channel. Keep the receipt and respond to any official request.

Step 4 – Coordinate the result and employment: Review the issued permission and the conditions for the applicable working arrangement. Where an employment contract is required, prepare it in the prescribed sequence before the planned work begins. Work permission and lawful immigration status require coordinated review.

The current framework provides a review period of ten working days from receipt of a complete work permit dossier. Preparation, authentication, supplementation and related immigration steps can affect the overall schedule.

3. Jurion & Partners – Professional Support for Work Permit Procedures

Jurion & Partners offers comprehensive legal assistance for both employers and foreign employees, including:

• Consulting on eligibility, exemptions, and labor position classification.

• Preparing, reviewing, and submitting all documents related to labor demand approval and Work Permit issuance.

• Supporting renewal, re-issuance, or changes to the Work Permit.

• Assisting with related immigration procedures such as temporary residence cards (TRC), visas, and labor contract compliance.

View more >> Regulations On Work Permits For Foreign Workers

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