Vietnam work permit guide: how to get a work permit in Vietnam
A Vietnam work permit is the core document that lets most foreign nationals work legally in Vietnam. If you are hiring, transferring or sponsoring a foreign employee, the work permit in Vietnam process now runs under Decree 219/2025 and is handled through the provincial authority, usually Sở Nội vụ after the 2025 administrative merger. This guide explains who qualifies, which documents to prepare, where the file is lodged, the 10-working-day processing timeline once a file is complete, and how the permit connects to the next temporary residence card step.
Who needs a Vietnam work permit?
Most foreign nationals coming to work in Vietnam need a work permit before they can work legally for the sponsoring enterprise. The permit also becomes the foundation for an employment-based temporary residence card, so it is not just an HR formality.
Some foreign workers are exempt under Decree 219/2025 — for example, owners or capital-contributing members above a defined threshold; managers, executives, experts or technical workers coming to work for under 90 days in a year with unlimited entries; or others coming to work for under 30 days and no more than 3 times a year. Exempt cases still need a written work-permit-exemption confirmation.
Eligibility under Decree 219/2025
A foreign worker generally needs to fit one of four categories: manager, executive director, expert, or technical worker. Decree 219/2025 lowered some experience thresholds compared with the previous rules, but the file still has to prove that the person's education, experience and role match the sponsored position.
The employer also needs a genuine need to use foreign labor for the role. Decree 219/2025 merged the former separate demand-reporting step into the work-permit application itself, so the application now has to explain both the worker's qualifications and the employer's need in one file.
- Expert: hold a university degree or higher and at least 2 years of relevant experience (only 1 year for certain priority fields such as finance, science and technology, and innovation)
- Technical worker: trained for at least 1 year with 2 years of relevant experience, or at least 3 years of experience
- A clean criminal record; a health certificate confirming fitness to work
- A sponsoring enterprise in Vietnam that has a genuine need to employ a foreign worker for that position
Vietnam work permit documents checklist
The exact document set depends on the job category, province and whether documents were issued in Vietnam or overseas. The practical checklist below is the starting point for most Vietnam work permit files.
Documents issued abroad usually need notarisation or certification, consular legalisation and Vietnamese translation before filing. This is the part that most often causes delay, so collect overseas documents before the intended start date rather than waiting until the employee arrives.
- Passport copy and current visa or entry status, where relevant
- Application forms and employer documents for the sponsoring Vietnam entity
- Degree, professional certificate or training evidence for the claimed category
- Experience letters or appointment documents matching the role
- Criminal record certificate issued within 6 months
- Health certificate issued within 12 months
- Portrait photos in the required size and format
- Vietnamese translations and legalisation for foreign-issued documents
Where to file: Sở Nội vụ, not the old DOLISA route
Under Decree 219/2025, the work permit is issued by the provincial People's Committee (Ủy ban nhân dân cấp tỉnh), which delegates intake and processing to its specialized agency. In most provinces after the mid-2025 merger, that agency is the Department of Home Affairs, Sở Nội vụ.
This matters because older articles still refer to DOLISA or the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. For a current work permit in Vietnam, the file is submitted through the provincial Public Administration Service Centre or the National Public Service Portal, with Sở Nội vụ handling the file in most provinces.
Vietnam work permit processing time
When the file is complete and valid, the competent authority issues the permit within 10 working days under Decree 219/2025. A work permit is valid for a maximum of 2 years and may be renewed once.
That 10-working-day timeline does not include the preparation time for overseas documents. Criminal records, degrees, experience letters and legalisation can take several weeks depending on the country, so the real project timeline is usually longer than the authority's processing window.
Vietnam work permit cost overview
There is no single national price for a Vietnam work permit because the total is built from several parts: provincial state fee, criminal record, health check, legalisation, translation and service fee if you use an agent.
The official issuance fee varies by province, and the most variable cost is often overseas document legalisation. For a detailed breakdown of each component, read the Vietnam work permit cost guide.
- State issuance fee: set by each province
- Criminal record and health-check costs
- Legalisation and Vietnamese translation for foreign documents
- Agent service fee, if you choose assisted preparation and filing
After the permit: TRC next step
Once the work permit is issued, many foreign employees use it to apply for a temporary residence card instead of repeatedly extending short visas. The TRC can make longer employment in Vietnam easier for the employee and, in some cases, family members.
The TRC has its own document set and validity rules. After the work permit is approved, compare the TRC requirements and the TRC vs visa tradeoffs before deciding the next immigration step.
When an agent is useful
A straightforward file can be handled internally if the employer has staff who know the provincial portal, document legalisation and Vietnamese translation requirements. The risk is that one missing legalisation step or weak experience letter can delay the file beyond the planned start date.
InTimeVisa is useful when you want eligibility checked before you spend money on overseas documents, a clear checklist for the worker and employer, and one team to prepare, lodge and track the work permit in Vietnam until issuance.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs a Vietnam work permit?
Most foreign nationals working for a Vietnam employer need a work permit unless they qualify for a specific exemption under Decree 219/2025. Exempt workers still usually need a written work-permit-exemption confirmation.
Where is a work permit in Vietnam filed now?
Under Decree 219/2025, the permit is issued by the provincial People's Committee and handled by its specialized agency. In most provinces after the 2025 merger, that means Sở Nội vụ, not the old DOLISA route.
How long does a Vietnam work permit take?
When the file is complete and valid, the authority issues the permit within 10 working days. Preparation can take longer because overseas degrees, criminal records and experience documents may need legalisation and Vietnamese translation.
What documents are needed for a Vietnam work permit?
Common documents include passport, employer forms, degree or training evidence, experience proof, criminal record certificate, health certificate, photos, and legalised Vietnamese translations for foreign-issued documents.
What comes after the work permit?
Many foreign employees use the approved work permit to apply for a temporary residence card. The TRC has a separate document set, so plan it as the next immigration step after the permit is issued.
Need a work permit?
Get a quote →We review your eligibility and documents BEFORE filing to avoid a rejected application, and stay with you until the permit is issued. Your documents (passport, criminal record, etc.) are kept confidential. The quote is free and no-obligation — you only pay when you agree to proceed. InTimeVisa is a private service, not a government agency, and is not affiliated with the Vietnamese government.