Work Permit in Hanoi: Procedures and Full-Service Work Permit Application

A work permit in Vietnam is a mandatory legal basis for foreigners to work legally in businesses, organizations, representative offices, or branches in Hanoi. The procedures for obtaining a work permit in Hanoi in 2026 have several points to note regarding authority, required documents, deadlines, and online application methods.

Viet An Law Firm provides a comprehensive work permit service in Hanoi, assisting businesses with reviewing eligibility, preparing documents, submitting applications, monitoring results, and advising on related procedures, including work permit renewal, re-issuance of work permits, visas, and temporary residence cards for foreigners.

Overview of work permit in Hanoi: procedures and full-service work permit application

Authority to issue a work permit application in Hanoi, Vietnam

From 2026, the procedures for granting Vietnam work permit in Hanoi will undergo significant changes in administrative decentralization. According to Clause 2, Article 4 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, the People’s Committee at the provincial level has the authority to delegate the authority to issue and revoke work permit to competent agencies.

In Hanoi, according to Decision No. 1052/QD-SNV, effective from January 26, 2026, the Department of Internal Affairs – the agency delegated by the Chairman of the People’s Committee – has officially authorized the People’s Committees of communes and wards to directly handle administrative procedures related to foreign workers. This delegation will be in effect until December 31, 2028.

Who needs work permit application in Hanoi?

Businesses are only allowed to hire foreign workers for positions that Vietnamese workers cannot fill to meet production and business needs. Permit issuance mainly applies to four groups of job positions as stipulated in Article 3 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP:

• Managers: Business managers or heads and deputy heads of agencies and organizations.
• Executive Directors: Heads of branches, representative offices, or those directly managing a sector of a business with at least 3 years of relevant experience.
• Experts: Hold a university degree or equivalent and have at least 2 years of relevant work experience in the intended position and they need a work permit for foreign experts.
• Technical workers: Have received at least 1 year of training and have at least 2 years of experience, or at least 3 years of relevant work experience.

Notes on determining the workplace location of foreigners in Hanoi

• Correctly identifying the workplace location will determine which authority has the power to receive the application.
• For businesses with headquarters, branches, or business locations outside industrial parks and high-tech zones in Hanoi, the People’s Committees of communes and wards will directly receive and process applications for new, renewed, extended, and revoked work permits.

In the case of foreigners working in Hanoi and other provinces

• • If a foreign worker has been granted a work permit but wishes to work for the same employer in multiple provinces and cities (e.g., working in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City), the business must complete the procedures in the province or city where the business’s headquarters are located.
  • In addition, in this case, the business must fulfill its notification obligations. Specifically, at least three days before starting work in a new locality, the business must notify the competent authority in that locality of the following information: full name, passport number, work permit number, start and end dates of work.

What are the requirements for obtaining work permit in Hanoi?

To ensure the progress of work, employers must submit the application for a work permit within 60 days, but no less than 10 days before the foreign worker is expected to start working.

General conditions for foreign workers

According to Clause 1, Article 151 of the Labor Code, foreigners entering Vietnam to work must meet the following basic conditions:

• • Be 18 years of age or older and have full civil capacity.
  • Possess professional, technical, vocational, and work experience qualifications and be in good health as prescribed by the Minister of Health.
  • Not be serving a sentence, have not had their criminal record expunged, or are under criminal investigation.
  • Must have a work permit issued by a competent state agency, except in cases where exemption applies.

Forms of work requiring work permit

According to Clause 1, Article 2 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, foreigners working in Vietnam in the following forms are required to obtain a work permit, except for cases exempted from work permits according to Article 154 of the Labor Code and Article 7 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP:

• • Performing labor contracts.
  • Internal transfers within enterprises.
  • Performing economic and social contracts or agreements.
  • Service providers under contract or offering services.
  • Persons responsible for establishing a commercial presence.
  • Performing labor contracts with diplomatic missions or foreign organizations in Vietnam.

The process of granting work permits to businesses in Hanoi

In order to promote digital transformation, Clause 1, Article 6 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP stipulates that employers must submit applications for work permits online through the National Public Service Portal. The system will then automatically transfer the application to the competent licensing authority through a one-stop integrated mechanism.

Where to submit work permit application in Hanoi?

In Hanoi, applications can be submitted to the Public Administrative Service Centers in the locality where the worker intends to work, through the following methods:

• • Direct submission;
  • Public postal service, hiring a service from a business/individual;
  • Through authorization.

Work permit fees and processing time in Hanoi in 2026

Below is a table comparing the application submission methods, processing times, and fees for work permits in Hanoi:

Cost of work permit service in Hanoi, Vietnam

The cost of obtaining a work permit in Hanoi typically includes government fees, translation and notarization fees, consular legalization fees for foreign documents, and consulting service fees. Depending on the application status, job position, and the number of documents to be processed, Viet An Law Firm will provide a specific fee Hanoi work permit service after reviewing the application.

Common mistakes when preparing work permit application materials in Vietnam

During the process of assisting businesses, Viet An Law Firm has observed that applications are often returned or require additional documentation due to the following errors:

• • Consular legalization errors: Documents issued by foreign countries (degrees, experience certificates, criminal records) are not legally certified according to regulations, or the Vietnamese translations are not properly authenticated. According to Article 5 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, this is a mandatory requirement unless exempted by an international treaty.
  • Inconsistent experience proof: The foreign company’s confirmation of years of work experience does not match the intended job title (manager, expert) in Vietnam.
  • Incorrect application forms: Using outdated forms that do not comply with the Appendix issued with Decree 219/2025/ND-CP (such as Form No. 03, report explaining the need).

Work permit service in Vietnam at Viet An Law

Viet An Law assists businesses in obtaining work permits in areas with a high concentration of businesses, representative offices, and foreign workers in Hanoi, such as Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Cau Giay, Nam Tu Liem, Bac Tu Liem, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Thanh Xuan, Long Bien, Hoang Mai, Tay Ho, and industrial zones throughout Hanoi.

Why choose work permit service in Vietnam at Viet An Law?

Viet An Law Firm is a legal consulting firm with 20 years of experience assisting businesses in obtaining work permits in Hanoi for foreign experts, managers, executives, and technical workers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a labor contract with a foreigner be signed for a period longer than the work permit

According to Clause 2, Article 151 of the Labor Code, the term of a labor contract for a foreign worker working in Vietnam cannot exceed the term of the work permit.

Therefore, businesses cannot sign labor contracts with foreigners that are longer than the term of the work permit.

What is the maximum term of a work permit for foreign experts?

According to Article 155 of the Labor Code, the maximum term of a work permit is 2 years. If renewed, it can only be renewed once for a maximum term of 2 years.

The company is located in Cau Giay (Hanoi) and is not in an industrial zone, so where should submit the application for a work permit?

According to Decision No. 1052/QD-SNV of the Department of Internal Affairs of Hanoi City… In Hanoi, for businesses located outside industrial parks/high-tech zones, the People’s Committees of the communes and wards (where the employee is expected to work) will be the agency issuing work permits.

However, clients need to prepare and submit their applications at the nearest branch of the Public Administrative Service Center for processing and forwarding to the competent People’s Committee.

If a work permit is refused, will the state agency provide a reason?

According to Clause 3, Article 22 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, in cases where a work permit is not granted, the competent authority must provide a written response stating the reason within 3 working days from the date of receiving a complete application.

Based on this, clients can review and adjust their application accordingly.

If a foreigner has a work permit but violates Vietnamese law, will the permit be revoked?

According to Clause 3, Article 30 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, foreign workers who fail to comply with Vietnamese law during their employment in Vietnam and are subsequently prosecuted will have their work permits revoked.

The work permit application process in Hanoi requires businesses to prepare accurate documentation, correctly identify the conditions, job positions, and the appropriate authority to submit the application. To save time and minimize the risk of application rejection or legal complications, businesses should choose a consulting firm with experience in the field of foreign labor.

Viet An Law Firm provides work permit application services in Hanoi for experts, managers, executives, technical workers, and foreign workers employed in Vietnamese businesses, FDI companies, representative offices, and branches of foreign businesses.

For clients needing assistance with new applications, renewals, or extensions of work permits, or advice on procedures related to foreign workers in Hanoi, please contact Viet An Law for support:

Hotline/Zalo/WhatsApp/Viber: (+84) 961 571 818

Email: info@vietanlaw.com

Support Offices: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Service Area: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other provinces and cities nationwide.