Vietnam Work Permit Application Checklist 2026

The Vietnam work permit documents for foreigners includes various types of documents depending on the job position, employment form, and requirements of the competent authorities. Preparing a comprehensive dossier from the outset will help enterprises mitigate the risk of requests for amendments or supplements, which can prolong the processing time.

In practice, common errors often arise from documents proving work experience, unlegalized consular documents, incorrect notarized translations, or expired documents at the time of submission. To assist enterprises and foreign employees in smooth preparation, Viet An Law has compiled the latest Vietnam work permit application checklist 2026, along with crucial notes during the dossier completion process.

Work permit application checklist in Vietnam 2026

According to Article 18 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, the documents required for Vietnam work permit include:

Checklist hồ sơ cấp giấy phép lao động

Foreign worker’s dossiers

☐ Valid passport.

☐ Two 4x6cm color photos (white background, taken no more than 6 months ago).

☐ Valid health certificate.

☐ Criminal record certificate or document confirming no criminal record and not currently under criminal investigation.

☐ Documents proving the type of employment of the foreign worker.

☐ Documents proving the status of manager, executive director, expert, or technical worker as prescribed.

Dossiers from the guaranteeing company

☐ Explanation of the need for foreign labor and request for a work permit (Form No. 03 issued with Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP).

☐ Letter of introduction or authorization for the person submitting the application (if any).

Vietnam work permit requirements: Notes on supporting documents

Documents proving the type of employment for foreign workers

• Workers transferring within an enterprise: A document from the foreign employer assigning the foreign worker to work for a fixed term at a commercial presence in Vietnam, confirming that the foreign employer had employed the worker for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to entering Vietnam;
• Workers performing economic and social contracts or agreements; participating in tenders and projects in Vietnam: A document from the employer assigning the foreign worker, along with the signed contract or agreement;
• Contracted service providers: A service contract signed between a Vietnamese and a foreign partner, and documentation proving that the foreign worker has worked for a foreign enterprise without a commercial presence in Vietnam for at least 24 months;
• Service offers: A document from the service provider assigning the foreign worker to Vietnam to negotiate the provision of services;
• For workers transferred from agencies, organizations, or businesses abroad to work in Vietnam, except for intra-company transfers: A document from the foreign employer assigning the foreign worker to work in Vietnam, matching the intended job position.

Documents proving that the foreign worker is a manager, executive director, expert, or technical worker

Managers:

• Company charter and documents proving management status or appointment/transfer documents for management positions;
• Establishment license of the agency or organization or appointment/transfer documents for the head and deputy head of the agency or organization.

CEO:

• Certificate of registration of branch operations, certificate of registration of representative office operations, or certificate of registration of business location of the enterprise;
• Company charter or document stipulating the organizational structure of the agency or organization; document confirming from the foreign employer the number of years of work experience in a field relevant to the job position that the foreign worker intends to work in Vietnam.

Expert:

• A degree, certificate, or diploma proving a university degree or equivalent, and a confirmation letter from the foreign employer regarding the expert’s years of work experience.
• A degree, certificate, or diploma proving a university degree or equivalent in the fields of finance, science, technology, innovation, national digital transformation, priority areas for socio-economic development, or in accordance with cooperation agreements of the Vietnamese Government, and a confirmation letter from the foreign employer regarding the expert’s years of work experience.
• Certificates of high achievement, qualifications, or experience in the fields of culture and sports for artists, coaches, and athletes;
• Pilot’s license, professional certificate allowing work on aircraft for flight attendants, professional qualification certificate in aircraft maintenance, professional competency certificate for foreign seafarers issued by competent authorities of Vietnam;
• Documents proving qualifications and standard qualifications according to the Law on Education, the Law on Higher Education, and the Law on Vocational Education for experts working in the field of education and training. In the case of experts working in foreign language or computer centers, they must comply with the center’s organizational and operational regulations;
• Documents proving that experts work in certain other specialized professions or jobs as guided by the Minister or Head of the ministerial-level agency managing the specific industry or job.

Documents requiring consular legalization abroad

Generally, documents issued by foreign agencies or organizations must be legalized by consular authorities before being used in Vietnam, except in cases where exemptions are granted under international treaties or the principle of reciprocity.

Documents that commonly require consular legalization include:

• Foreign criminal record certificates;
• Certificates of work experience;
• University degrees, professional certificates;
• Training certificates;
• Appointment letters;
• Letters of assignment or dispatch to work in Vietnam;
• Other documents issued by foreign organizations or agencies.

Businesses should check the applicable regulations for each country to determine the exact consular legalization requirements.

Documents requiring certified translation in Vietnam

After consular legalization (if required), foreign-language documents usually need to be translated into Vietnamese and the translation certified according to regulations.

Documents that commonly require certified translation include:

• Passports;
• Criminal record certificates;
• Medical examination for work permit;
• Diplomas and certificates;
• Experience certificates;
• Appointment letters;
• Transfer letters;
• Contracts or agreements in foreign languages.

Inaccurate translations or incorrect personal information are common reasons why documents are requested for revision.

Validity period of each document under Vietnamese law

Common dossier errors leading to rejection in Vietnam

In practice, many work permit applications are returned or require additional information due to the following errors:

Common dossier errors leading to rejection

• Passport about to expire: A passport with a very short remaining validity period may affect the validity of the work permit.
• Overdue criminal record certificate: A criminal record certificate issued more than 6 months prior to the application date.
• Expired Medical examination for work permit: A health certificate for foreign workers issued more than 12 months ago, or one that is not in the correct format or not from a qualified medical facility.
• Lack of documents proving work experience: Inability to demonstrate the required number of years of experience for the applied position.
• Inappropriate degrees: Qualifications unrelated to the intended professional position, or inconsistencies in the application documents.
• Absence of consular legalization: Foreign documents that have not been legalized by the consular office as required.
• Mismatched information among documents: Inconsistencies in name, date of birth, passport number, or job title across different documents in the application.

Work Permit application form in Vietnam

Businesses should create a separate Vietnam work permit application checklist for each group of employees, such as experts, managers, executives, or technical workers, to facilitate the document preparation process.

The Vietnam work permit checklist should be reviewed before the procedure for the explanation of the need for foreign labor and before submitting the work permit application to minimize revisions and additions.

Particular attention should be paid to the sample document for the employer reporting and explanation of the need for foreign labor and requesting a work permit, as per Form No. 03 in the Appendix issued with Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP.

FAQ regarding the Vietnam work permit application checklist

Is a university degree mandatory?

Not all applications require a university degree. Specific requirements depend on the job position and proof that the employee is a specialist, manager, executive, or technical worker.

Can a foreign criminal record certificate be used?

Yes. However, this document must be valid and meet the requirements for consular legalization and translation as stipulated.

Can a copy of a passport be submitted?

Businesses usually submit a copy of a passport upon request from the receiving agency and present the original for verification.

Can a work permit be issued if the application lacks a work experience certificate?

Generally no. This is one of the important documents to prove eligibility for specialists or technical workers.

Utilizing a comprehensive dossier checklist from the very beginning is a deciding factor that helps enterprises shorten processing times and mitigate the risk of requests for dossier amendments or supplements. If you require assistance with dossier review, consular legalization, notarized translation, or executing work permit procedures for foreign workers, Viet An Law is ready to provide prompt and efficient support based on the latest Vietnam work permit application checklist 2026.