Work Permit Requirements for Foreign Employees in Vietnam

Vietnam continues to attract foreign investors, executives, and technical experts. However, hiring foreign employees requires strict compliance with Vietnamese labor regulations. Employers must carefully navigate the legal framework to avoid administrative penalties, delays, or operational disruptions. In case you need advice, please contact Apolo Lawyers via email at contact@apolo.com.vn or Hotline (+84) 903 419 479 for the best advice and support.

1. Legal Requirements and Eligibility

Under the Labor Code 2019 and Decree 152/2020/ND-CP (as amended), foreign nationals working in Vietnam for more than three (03) months are generally required to obtain a valid work permit, unless exempted.

To qualify, a foreign employee must:

• Be at least 18 years old with full legal capacity

• Possess appropriate professional qualifications and relevant work experience

• Meet health requirements

• Have no criminal record

• Be approved for a position that cannot be filled by a Vietnamese employee

Determining whether a candidate qualifies as an “expert,” “manager,” or “technical worker” requires careful legal assessment - an area where Apolo Lawyers provides strategic guidance to minimize rejection risks.

Work Permit Requirements for Foreign Employees in Vietnam

2. Application Procedure and Compliance Obligations

Before applying for a work permit, the employer must first register the demand for foreign labor and obtain approval from the competent labor authority. Only after this step can the formal work permit dossier be submitted.

The application typically includes:

• Approval of foreign labor demand

• Health certificate

• Criminal record certificate

• Legalized diplomas and experience confirmation

• Passport copy and application forms

Foreign-issued documents must undergo consular legalization and certified Vietnamese translation, a stage where procedural errors frequently occur.

Apolo Lawyers supports clients by:

• Conducting a compliance review of qualifications and documents

• Advising on document legalization and translation requirements

• Preparing and submitting the full application dossier

• Liaising directly with competent authorities to expedite processing

Our proactive approach helps clients avoid unnecessary delays and administrative penalties.

Work Permit Requirements for Foreign Employees in Vietnam

3. Risk Management and Ongoing Legal Support

Non-compliance with work permit regulations may result in significant fines, deportation of foreign employees, or suspension of business operations.

Beyond initial applications, Apolo Lawyers provides ongoing advisory services, including:

• Work permit renewals and amendments

• Work permit exemption procedures

• Compliance audits for companies employing multiple foreign staff

• Strategic workforce planning for foreign-invested enterprises

With extensive experience advising FDI companies and multinational corporations, Apolo Lawyers ensures that your foreign workforce operates in full compliance with Vietnamese law, allowing you to focus on business growth with confidence.

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