Foreign nationals who intend to work legally in Viet Nam may be required to obtain a work permit application  before starting employment. The work permit procedure involves several steps, including preparing the required documents, submitting the application, and obtaining approval from the competent authority.

This article provides an overview of the work permit application for foreign workers in Viet Nam, including eligibility requirements, required documents, application procedures, processing time and important legal considerations.

1. What Is a Work Permit in Viet Nam?

A work permit is a document issued by a competent Vietnamese authority allowing a foreign worker to legally work in Vietnam for a specific employer and position.

Depeding on the worker’s circumstances, some foreign nationals may be exempt from the work permit requirement. In such cases, the employer may need to complete the procedure for obtaining a Certificate of Exemption from Work Permit or comply with the applicable notification requirements.

The current framework governing foreign workers in Viet Nam is primarily set out in Decree No.219/2025/ND-CP, effective from August 7, 2025.

2. Who Needs a Work Permit in Vietnam?

Foreign workers generally need a work permit when they work in Vietnam and do not fall within an applicable exemption.

The regulations cover foreign nationals working in Vietnam as, among others:

• Managers;
• Executive directors;
• Experts; and
• Technical workers.

Whether, a particular foreign employee needs a work permit depends on the employee’s position, employment arrangement, duration of work in Viet Nam, and whether an exemption applies.

Therefore, employers should determine the employee’s status before preparing the application.

3. Conditions for Obtaining a Work Permit

Before applying for a work permit, the foreign worker and employer should ensure that the applicable legal requirements are satisfied.

Depending on the specific case, the application may require documents proving:

• The foreign worker’s professional qualifications or experience;
• The worker’s health condition;
• The worker’s criminal record status;
• The worker’s valid passport; and
• The employment position and proposed period of employment.

The supporting documents must also satisfy Vietnamese requirements concerning validity, translation, certification, and, where applicable, consular legalization.

4. Documents Required for a Work Permit Application

Under Article 18 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, the work permit application generally includes the following documents:

4.1. Employer’s application

The employer must prepare the document reporting the need to employ foreign workers and requesting issuance of the work permit using Form No.03 under the Decree.

4.2. Health certificate

A health examination certificate issued by a qualified medical facility is generally required.

In certain cases, a foreign-issued health certificate may be accepted if Viet Nam and the relevant country or territory have an applicable treaty or mutual recognition agreement and the certificate remains within its permitted validity period.

4.3. Valid passport

A copy of the foreign worker’s valid passport is required.

4.4. Criminal record or equivalent document

The application may require a criminal record certificate or a document confirming that the foreign worker is not serving a sentence, has not had a criminal record that has not been expunged, and is not being prosecuted.

Under the current regulations, the relevant document is generally required to have been issued no more than 6 months before the date of application, subject to applicable exceptions.

4.5. Documents proving professional qualifications or experience

The foreign worker must provide documents demonstrating that they meet the requirements for the relevant position, such as documents relating to professional qualifications, management experience, or technical experience, depending on the position.

4.6. Other supporting documents

Additional documents may be required depending on the foreign worker’s specific form of employment and position.

Foreign-issued documents may need to be consularly legalized, translated into Vietnamese, and certified in accordance with Vietnamese law, unless an exemption applies.

5. Work Permit Application Procedure in Vietnam

The work permit application process can generally be divided into the following steps:

Step 1: Determine whether a work permit is required

The employer should first determine whether the foregin worker falls within the scope of work permit requirements or qualifies for an exemption.

Step 2: Prepare the application

The employer and foreign worker prepare the required documents, including qualification documents, health documents, passport and criminal record documents.

Documents issued overseas should be checked carefully for legalization, translation and certification requirements.

Step 3: Submit the application

According to Article 22 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, the employer submits the application through the competent administrative procedure channel at the locality where the foreign worker is expected to work.

The application should generally be submitted within 60 days but no later than 10 days before the expected starting date of employment.

Step 4: Authority reviews the application

The competent authority reviews the application and considers the foreign worker’s eligibility and the employer’s need to employ foreign workers.

Step 5: Receive the work permit

If the application satisfies the legal requirements, the competent authority issues the work permit to the foreign worker. Under the current procedure, the competent authority has 10 working days from receipt of a complete application to consider approval of the foreign worker’s employment need and issue the work permit.

If the application is rejected, the authority must provide a written response stating the reason within the prescribed period.

6. How Long Does It Take to Get a Work Permit in Vietnam?

Under Article 22 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, the competent authority has 10 working days from the date it receives a complete work permit application to process and issue the work permit. However, the total preparation period may be longer because the employer may need additional time to obtain, legalize, translate and certify documents issued overseas.

For this reason, employers should prepare the foreign worker’s documents well in advance of the intended employment date.

7. Common Issues With Work Permit Applications

• Foreign workers and employers may encounter problems such as:
• Qualification documents do not sufficiently prove the required professional experience;
• Overseas documents have not been properly legalized;
• Vietnamese translations do not satisfy certification requirements;
• The criminal record document is outside the permitted validity period;
• Information is inconsistent between the passport, employment documents and supporting documents; or
• The foreign worker’s position does not match the documents submitted.

Checking the documents before submission can help reduce the risk of delays or requests for additional documents.

8. Work Permit Exemptions

Not every foreign worker working in Vietnam is necessarily required to obtain a work permit. Vietnamese law provides specific categories of foreign workers who are exempt from the work permit requirement.

However, being exempt does not necessarily mean that no administrative procedure is required. Depending on the applicable exemption, the employer may still need to obtain a Certificate of Exemption from Work Permit or complete the relevant notification procedure. Therefore, employers should determine the exact exemption category before allowing a foreign woker to commence employment.

9. Legal Basis for Work Permit Applications

The principal legal document currently governing foreign workers in Vietnam is: Decree No.219/2025/ND-CP dated August 7, 2025 on foreign workers working in Viet Nam.

Decree 219/2025/ND-CP took effect on August 7, 2025 and replaced the previous regulations under Decree 152/2020/ND-CP, as amended by Decree 70/2023/ND-CP.

10. Legal Services for Work Permit Applications in Vietnam

The work permit procedure for foreign workers may involve documents issued by foreign authorities, consular legalization, Vietnamese translation and certification, as well as documents proving professional qualifications and work experience.

For businesses employing foreign workers, reviewing the requirements before submitting the application can help avoid unnecessary delays.

Công Ty Luật TNHH Sài Gòn 48 provides legal support for foreign workers and businesses in Viet Nam, including:

• Consulting on work permit eligibility; `
• Reviewing foreign worker documents;
• Advising on work permit exemptions;
• Supporting preparation of work permit applications;
• Advising on consular legalization and documents translation requirements;
• Supporting businesses throughout the work permit application process.

If your company is preparing to employ a foreign worker in Viet Nam and needs assistance with the work permit procedure, contact Công ty Luật TNHH Sài Gòn 48 for case-specific legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do all foreign workers in Vietnam need a work permit?

No. Certain categories of foreign workers are exempt from the work permit requirement under Vietnamese law. The applicable exemption should be determined based on the worker’s specific circumstances.

2. How long does a work permit application take in Vietnam?

The competent authority generally has 10 working days from receipt of a complete application to process and issue the work permit under Article 22 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP.

3. Can a foreign worker start working before receiving a work permit?

A foreign worker who is required to have a work permit should not commence employment in Vietnam before satisfying the applicable legal requirements.

4. Do foreign documents need to be legalized?

Depending on the document and applicable exemption, documents issued overseas may need consular legalization, Vietnamese translation and certification before being included in the application.

5. How long is a work permit valid?

The validity period depends on the applicable employment arrangement and the relevant legal basis. The maximum period should be determined based on the specific case and documents submitted.

6. Can an employer apply for a work permit on behalf of a foreign worker?

Yes. The work permit application is generally handled by the employer through the prescribed administrative procedure.

Conclusion

Obtaining a work permit is an important legal requirement for many foreign nationals working in Viet Nam. Employers should determine whether the foreign worker requires a work permit, prepare the required documents and complete the application within the prescribed timeframe.

Because document requirements may vary depending on the worker’s nationality, position and employment arrangement, businesses should review the specific case before submitting the application.

Legal basis: Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP on foreign workers working in Vietnam.

Contact Công Ty Luật TNHH Sài Gòn 48

If you need legal assistance with a work permit application for foreign workers in Vietnam, our lawyers can advise you on the applicable requirements and support you throughout the application process.

Công Ty Luật TNHH Sài Gòn 48

📞 Hotline: 0819 490 333
🌐 Website: ctyluatsaigon.com
📍 Address: 48 Nguyễn Huy Tự, Phường Tân Định, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Việt Nam.

Contact us today for consultation on Vietnam work permits and legal procedures for foreign workers.