Work Permits for Expats in Vietnam (2026) — Rules, Exemptions & Residence Cards
If you're sending staff to Vietnam or hiring foreigners locally, the work permit is the document that makes it legal — and the rules just got simpler. This guide covers who needs a permit, the employer steps, exemptions, and how the work permit connects to a residence card. It's an orientation, not legal advice.
⚖️ Recently reformed. Decree 219/2025/ND-CP (promulgated August 2025) replaces Decree 152/2020/ND-CP and Decree 70/2023/ND-CP and further streamlines foreign-worker management. Details below reflect law-firm summaries as of October 2026.
Step-by-step
- 1
Employer files the demand-for-foreign-labour report
Under Decree 219/2025/ND-CP the separate demand-approval step and the permit application are merged into one procedure: the employer files the demand for foreign labour together with the application, now decided by the provincial People's Committee. Law-firm summaries report a statutory processing time of 10 working days, down from about 20.
- 2
Confirm the role qualifies and gather documents
Foreign hires generally must be managers, executives, experts, or technical workers. Law-firm summaries report that the rules were relaxed: an 'expert' now needs a bachelor's degree or higher plus at least 2 years of relevant experience (reportedly down from 3; 1 year in priority sectors), and a technician 3 years (reportedly down from 5). Confirm the thresholds in the decree text. Documents include a health check, criminal-record check, qualifications, and passport.
- 3
Apply for the work permit
The employer applies to the labour authority for the work permit, typically valid up to 2 years and tied to the specific employer and position. Vietnamese enterprises can now self-certify copies of a foreigner’s passport, removing some notarization steps.
- 4
Convert to a temporary residence card (TRC)
With a work permit (or exemption certificate), the foreigner can apply for a Temporary Residence Card — a multi-year residence permit that replaces repeated visa renewals and usually matches the work-permit validity.
- 5
Track renewals and changes
Work permits are re-issued/renewed before expiry, and a change of employer, position, or location generally requires a new or amended permit. Staying ahead of expiry avoids gaps that can invalidate residence status.
Permit vs exemption vs residence card
Three documents often get conflated. The work permit is the right to work, tied to an employer and role. An exemption certificate covers people who legally don't need a permit but still must be registered. The temporary residence card (TRC) is the right to live in Vietnam long-term without repeated visa renewals — obtained after the work permit. You generally need the work-permit step settled before the residence step.
What Decree 219/2025 changed
| Item | Before (Decree 152/2020), as reported | Decree 219/2025, as reported by law-firm summaries |
|---|---|---|
| Procedure | Two steps: approval of the demand for foreign labour, then the permit | One consolidated procedure |
| Statutory processing | About 20 working days (reported) | 10 working days (reported) |
| "Expert" experience | 3 years plus a degree (reported) | Bachelor's degree or higher plus 2 years; 1 year in priority sectors (reported) |
| Technician experience | 5 years | 3 years |
| Short assignments exempt from a permit | Up to 30 days (reported) | Under 90 days per calendar year (reported) |
| Issuing authority | Ministry of Labour (MOLISA) or provincial labour departments (DOLISA) | Provincial People's Committee, which may delegate to a provincial department |
Summaries by Duane Morris, Apolat Legal, Fidinam and others. They differ on some details (for example the capital threshold for exempt owners and the starting date), so check the decree text before relying on a threshold. Exemption certificates can be extended once, for up to two years.
From job offer to residence card
-
Confirm eligibility
EmployerThe hire must be a manager, executive, expert or technician meeting the degree and experience rules, or fall under an exemption.
Gate: Degree and experience evidence is ready before anything is filed.
-
File the consolidated application
EmployerDemand for foreign labour and the permit application go in together, with a health certificate, a criminal-record check, qualifications and a passport copy.
Gate: Foreign-issued documents are legalised and translated; names match across all documents.
-
Receive the work permit
Provincial authorityReported statutory time is 10 working days from a valid dossier. Permits are generally valid for up to two years and tied to the employer and position.
Gate: No work before the permit or exemption certificate is issued.
-
Apply for the temporary residence card
Employer + employeeThe card normally tracks the permit validity and replaces repeated visa renewals.
Gate: The permit step is settled first.
-
Track renewals and changes
EmployerA change of employer, position or location usually needs a new or amended permit.
Gate: Renewal started before expiry so there is no gap in residence status.
Steps summarised from Decree 219/2025/ND-CP as reported by law firms; provincial practice varies, so ask your adviser for local lead times.
Work-permit readiness checklist
Before filing
- Role fits manager, executive, expert or technician (or an exemption)
- Degree and years of experience documented
- Health certificate and criminal-record check obtained
Documents
- Foreign documents legalised and translated
- Names and dates consistent across all documents
- Passport valid for the full permit period
After issue
- Residence-card application filed
- Renewal and change-of-role dates in the compliance calendar
- Tax residency and insurance treatment agreed (see the tax and hiring guides)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do foreigners need a work permit to work in Vietnam?
Yes, unless they fall under a specific exemption. Most foreign employees must hold a valid work permit, generally issued to managers, executives, experts, and technical workers, valid for up to two years and tied to a specific employer and role. Working without a permit (or exemption certificate) exposes both the worker and employer to penalties.
What law governs work permits in Vietnam now?
The framework was set by Decree 152/2020/ND-CP and has been substantially reformed by Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, issued on 7 August 2025, which replaces Decree 152/2020 and Decree 70/2023 and further streamlines hiring foreign workers. Because the rules changed recently, confirm the current procedure with a licensed adviser before applying.
Who is exempt from a Vietnam work permit?
Common exemptions include foreigners married to a Vietnamese citizen and living in Vietnam; certain owners/capital-contributing members and board members above a capital threshold; intra-corporate transferees in some service sectors; and short assignments — reportedly managers, executives, experts or technical workers on assignments of less than 90 days per calendar year (the earlier limit was reported as 30 days; summaries differ, so confirm). Exempt individuals still typically need a work-permit-exemption certificate.
What is a temporary residence card (TRC)?
A Temporary Residence Card is a multi-year residence permit that lets a foreigner live in Vietnam without renewing a visa each time. Foreign workers usually obtain a work permit (or exemption certificate) first, then apply for a TRC whose validity tracks the work permit. It can also extend to dependents in defined cases.
How long does a Vietnam work permit take and last?
A work permit is generally valid for up to two years and can be re-issued. Processing depends on the province and on having the demand report approved in advance; Decree 219/2025 merged the demand-approval and permit steps into one procedure with a statutory time that law-firm summaries report as 10 working days (about 20 before), which shortens the overall timeline if confirmed.
Sources
- Decree 219/2025/ND-CP (7 August 2025): LuatVietnam English text; summaries by Duane Morris, Apolat Legal, EIG Law, Fidinam and Vialto Partners
- Reported changes: expert experience 3 to 2 years, technician 5 to 3 years, merged procedure with a 10-working-day statutory time, short-assignment exemption under 90 days per calendar year
Law-firm summaries, not the gazette text; some points await further implementation guidance. Not legal advice.