4 minutes How to Obtain a Work Permit in Vietnam: Foreigner’s Essential Guide
Obtaining a work permit in Vietnam as a foreign national is an essential legal requirement for employment, ensuring compliance and career security. This guide explores eligibility, documentation, costs, types of work permits, and top reasons for work permit rejection to help foreign professionals prepare successful applications.
Types of Work Permits in Vietnam
Vietnam issues work permits based on the type of job position and the nature of the foreigner’s employment within the company. According to Vietnamese regulations, the main categories of work permits include:
- Manager / Executive Director
For those holding management or executive roles. Applicants must typically show at least 3 years of relevant experience in a similar position.
- Expert
Qualified individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher and substantial work experience—usually a minimum of 3 years in the related field or 5 years with a professional license.
- Technical Worker
Skilled workers trained in technical or specialized fields, with at least 1 year of formal training and 3 years of relevant work experience, or 5 years of experience depending on role specifics.
- Other Positions
Foreign workers performing other job functions such as specialists or transferred employees within multinational companies may also apply but must meet approval criteria depending on the role.
These work permits are generally valid for up to 2 years and can be extended once, for another 2 years.
Eligibility Requirements
Foreign applicants must meet these prerequisites:
- Be at least 18 years old, in good health, and have full legal capacity.
- Hold necessary professional skills, qualifications, and work experience suited to the job category or industry.
- Have no criminal background or ongoing prosecution in Vietnam or abroad.
- The employer must have official approval to hire foreign labor within regulated quotas.
Required Application Documents
To apply for a Vietnamese work permit, prepare:
- Employer’s formal request for a work permit.
- Completed application form (provided by the employer).
- Health certificate issued within the last 12 months by an authorized hospital.
- Criminal record certificate from home country or Vietnam, issued within last 6 months.
- Proof of qualifications (degrees, certificates, appointment decision, experience letters).
- Two recent 4×6 cm passport-sized photos.
- Official employer approval for foreign labor employment.
- Certified copy of your passport.
- Supporting documents specific to your role (job description, contract, company charter).
All foreign documents require notarization, translation, and consular legalization unless exempt.
Application Process
- Prepare and Gather Documentation
Ensure that all required documents meet validity, notarization, and legalization standards. Missing or incomplete documents lead to automatic rejection. - Employer Pre-Approval
Before you apply, your employer must submit a request explaining the need to hire a foreign worker and obtain approval from the provincial labor authority. This step confirms foreign labor demand. - Submit Application Dossier
Submit the complete dossier to the provincial Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (DOLISA) where the employer is registered. Applications should be submitted at least 15 working days before the intended employment start date. - Fee Payment
Pay all applicable fees including health check fees, criminal record certification fees, consular legalization fees, and work permit issuance fees. - Application Review and Result
The application authority reviews your dossier within 10 working days after submission. If approved, you will receive your work permit. If rejected, you will get a written notice stating the specific reasons, giving you a chance to rectify issues and reapply.
Costs and Fees
- Consular legalization: USD 10–25 per stamp.
- Health check: 1,000,000–4,000,000 VND.
- Criminal record check: about 200,000 VND in Vietnam.
- Document translation/notarization fees vary by provider.
- Work permit issuance fee ranges between 400,000 to 1,000,000 VND, based on province.
Province/City | Fee (VND) |
Hanoi | 400,000 |
Ho Chi Minh City | 600,000 |
Da Nang | 600,000 |
Lâm Đồng | 1,000,000 |
Common Reasons for Work Permit Rejection
- Incomplete or Invalid Documentation
Most rejections result from missing documents, expired criminal or health certificates, lack of proper notarization, translation, or legalization, or incorrectly filled application forms. Vietnam’s Department of Labor and Social Affairs (DOLISA) follows strict checklist rules, rejecting incomplete dossiers outright.
- Qualification Mismatch
Applicants must have qualifications and experience matching the job registered on the permit. For instance, an IT engineer cannot be approved as a financial director if they lack relevant qualifications or experience for that role.
- Employer Licensing Issues
The employer must have valid business registration licenses and foreign staff employment approvals. Applications from businesses with expired licenses, unregistered operations, or insufficient capital get automatically rejected.
- Health Certificate Problems
Applicants need health certificates issued by accredited facilities recognized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. Serious infectious diseases or expired certificates lead to denial.
- Criminal Record Problems
A history of criminal convictions, especially involving drugs, terrorism, human trafficking, or immigration violations, results in rejection. Criminal clearance must be recent and properly legalized.
- Application Procedure Errors and Deadlines
Late submission, mismatched information between documents, invalid visa status (e.g., overstaying visa or wrong visa class), and failure to meet submission deadlines cause denials.
- Quota or Regulatory Restrictions
Foreign labor quota limits in specific industries can block permit issuance despite meeting other criteria.
- Lack of Employer Support
Insufficient employer documentation or failure to provide required attestations can cause rejection.
Tips to Avoid Rejection
- Cross-check document completeness, legalization, and translation requirements carefully.
- Verify your employer’s licensing, foreign labor approval status, and capital requirements.
- Submit applications well in advance to avoid deadline issues.
- Provide accurate and up-to-date health and criminal records.
- Ensure your qualifications align fully with your registered job description.
- Declare any prior visa or immigration issues transparently.
By carefully preparing and understanding these rules, foreign professionals significantly increase their chances of obtaining a Vietnamese work permit successfully. In case of rejection, written explanations provide clear guidance for correcting deficiencies and reapplying effectively
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