Work permit & temporary residence card

All foreign nationals working in Vietnam need a Work Permit unless they qualify for an exemption under Article 7 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP. Common exemptions include managers, executives, experts, or technical workers working under 90 days per calendar year, the same categories of intra-company transferees from the parent company (11 WTO service sectors, with at least 12 consecutive months of employment immediately before entering Vietnam), LLC owners/capital contributors or JSC Chairpersons/Board members with at least VND 3 billion in contributed capital, and licensed foreign lawyers in Vietnam. Capital contributors of at least VND 3 billion, workers staying under 90 days and foreign lawyers only notify the authority at least 3 working days before starting work (Article 9 of the decree). Intra-company transferees and other exempt categories need a confirmation certificate (5 working days). A hired legal representative is not covered by the capital exemption and still needs a work permit.

Statutory Work Permit issuance takes 10 working days from receipt of a complete Form 03 dossier (Article 22 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP), excluding overseas document legalization or Apostille and subsequent Temporary Residence Card (TRC) processing (5–7 working days at the Immigration Department). Because consular legalization (or Apostille) and criminal record checks take additional time, we recommend starting preparation early so the Form 03 dossier is submitted within the statutory 10–60 day window before the intended start date.

Work Permits in Vietnam are issued for a maximum of 2 years and may be renewed once for up to an additional 2 years (Article 29 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP). The validity period is linked to the employee's labor contract term, assignment letter, or project duration, whichever is shortest.

Key documents include: unified Form 03 (combining foreign labor demand justification and work permit application), consular-legalized or apostilled degree certificates and experience verification (unless exempted under a treaty or reciprocity), a criminal record check issued within 6 months, a health check certificate from a qualified medical facility, valid passport copies, and two 4×6 cm photos. Specific requirements vary by Work Permit category under Decree 219/2025/ND-CP.

A TRC is a residency document issued by Vietnam's Immigration Department, allowing the holder to reside in Vietnam for the duration of their Work Permit without needing separate visa entries. It functions as a multi-entry visa and proof of legal residence.

If a Work Permit expires, the employee must stop working immediately, and employers face administrative fines for employing foreign workers without valid permits. Under Articles 28 and 29 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, a Work Permit can be renewed once (for up to 2 years) and the renewal application must be submitted at least 10 days but no more than 45 days before expiry. We begin internal document preparation 45–60 days before expiry so the filing is completed within the statutory window.

Yes. Spouses and children under 18 of Work Permit holders are eligible for Dependant TRCs, allowing them to reside in Vietnam for the same duration as the primary WP holder. Required documents include legalized or apostilled marriage/birth certificates, the WP holder's passport and WP copies, a sponsor letter from the employer, and health insurance. We handle the full application through the Immigration Department.

It depends on the Work Permit category under Article 3 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP. For the 'Expert' category, a university degree (or higher) is required along with at least 2 years of relevant work experience (reduced to at least 1 year for priority sectors such as finance, science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation). If you do not hold a university degree, you may qualify under the 'Technical Worker' category, which requires either at least 1 year of technical training plus at least 2 years of relevant experience, or at least 3 years of relevant practical experience. For 'Manager' or 'Executive,' qualification is based on your statutory corporate title or executive appointment (with at least 3 years of relevant experience required for executives heading a corporate division). We assess each case individually to determine the appropriate category.

Government fees for a Work Permit are approximately VND 600,000 (around $25). However, the real costs are in document legalization or Apostille (varies by country, typically $200-500 per document), health checks ($50-100), and criminal record processing. Our professional service fee covers the entire process including liaison with the competent provincial authority, document preparation, and submission. Contact us for a detailed quote based on your specific situation.

No. A Work Permit is tied to a specific employer and position. If an employee changes employers, the old WP must be returned and a new one applied for. However, some documents from the original application (e.g., legalized degree, criminal record if still valid) can be reused, which shortens the process. We manage employer transitions to minimize the gap between permits.