Work permit service in Vietnam is a crucial legal solution that helps businesses legally recruit, employ, and manage foreign labor. In the context of work permit regulations being continuously updated under the 2019 Labor Code and Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, enterprises must prepare dossiers that strictly satisfy all conditions, job positions, and competent authorities from the very beginning. This prevents dossiers from being returned, avoids delays in onboarding personnel, and mitigates the risk of administrative penalties.
With extensive experience in labor, investment, and corporate consulting for numerous Vietnamese and FDI companies, Viet An Law provides a comprehensive, all-inclusive work permit service for foreigners. We support clients through every step of the process: from reviewing eligibility conditions; advising on positions for experts, managers, chief executive officers, and technical workers; standardizing foreign documents; drafting and submitting dossiers; and tracking results. Furthermore, we provide post-licensing guidance on procedures such as work permit extensions, re-issuance, visas, and temporary residence cards (TRC).
Quick summary of work permit services in Vietnam
| Content | Service information |
| Target users of the service | Enterprises, organizations, contractors, and FDI companies employing foreign labor in Vietnam |
| Common foreign employees | Experts, managers, chief executive officers, technical workers, and intra-corporate transferees |
| Processing time | Approximately 10 working days from the date the competent authority receives a complete and valid dossier. The aforementioned timeframe is the processing time of the competent authority for a valid dossier, excluding the time for document preparation, consular legalization, translation, notarization, or dossier supplementation upon request. |
| Processing authority | Competent authorities under the Provincial People’s Committee or decentralized local authorities where the employee works |
| Primary dossier | Written request for work permit issuance, passport, photos, health certificate, criminal record certificate, and documents proving job position and experience |
| Services supported by Viet An Law | Review conditions, advise on dossier solutions, draft forms, translate – notarize, consularly legalize, submit dossiers, and track results |
| Related procedures | Extend work permit in Vietnam, re-issuance of work permits, confirmation of work permit exemption, visas, and temporary residence cards for foreigners |
| Contact for consultation | Hotline/Zalo/WhatsApp/Viber: (+84) 961 571 818 – Email: info@vietanlaw.com |
From June 15, 2026, work permits and certificates confirming exemption from work permit requirements in Ho Chi Minh City will be issued electronically with digital signatures. Valid electronic documents make it easier for businesses to store, retrieve, and use foreign worker records and carry out related procedures after work permits are granted.
Businesses should utilize professional work permit services for foreigners in the following cases:
Using professional services not only helps businesses complete administrative procedures but also helps control legal risks throughout the entire process of employing foreign workers in Vietnam.
Before submitting an application for a work permit for a foreign national, businesses need to carefully review the requirements for the intended job position. Each group of workers, such as specialists, managers, executives, or technical workers, will have different requirements for proving qualifications, experience, job titles, and relevant documents.
| Job position | Conditions to review |
| Expert | Qualifications, work experience, and expertise appropriate to the prospective position in Vietnam |
| Manager | Management title, appointment decision, scope of authority, and role within the enterprise |
| Chief Executive Officer | Documents proving the direct executive power over the unit, department, or activities of the enterprise |
| Technical Worker | Certificates, training process, practical experience, or documents proving occupational skills |
Reviewing work permit application requirements from the outset helps businesses choose the right application process, minimizing the risk of rejection due to unsuitable job titles, insufficient documentation proving experience, or non-standardized foreign documents. Viet An Law Firm assists in checking work permit eligibility for each specific case and advises on suitable application options before proceeding with the application.
Viet An Law Firm provides comprehensive, flexible work permit services for foreigners, tailored to each individual case. The scope of work includes:
| Service content | Tasks supported by Viet An Law |
| Initial consultation | Determine whether the foreign worker is required to apply for a work permit or qualifies for a work permit exemption |
| Condition review | Check the job position, qualifications, work experience, passport, criminal record certificate, health certificate, and corporate documents |
| Dossier solution consultation | Propose methods to prepare appropriate dossiers for each position: expert, manager, chief executive officer, or technical worker |
| Standardization of foreign documents | Guide consular legalization, translation, notarization, and completion of documents issued by foreign countries |
| Dossier drafting | Draft written requests, explanations of demand for foreign labor usage, and related documents |
| Dossier submission representation | Represent the enterprise to submit dossiers, track progress, supplement, and provide explanations to competent authorities |
| Receipt of results | Hand over the work permit and guide the enterprise on usage, retention, and dossier management |
| Post-licensing consultation | Support procedures for extensions, re-issuance, temporary residence card for foreigners, visas, labor contracts, and foreign labor reporting |
Viet An Law Firm has established a clear service process, helping businesses easily track progress and proactively prepare documents.
| Step | Implementation content | Result |
| Step 1 | Receive information from the enterprise and the foreign worker | Determine the work permit issuance demands |
| Step 2 | Review legal conditions and existing documents | Assess the feasibility of dossier implementation |
| Step 3 | Consult on dossier handling solutions | The enterprise clearly knows which documents need to be supplemented |
| Step 4 | Draft and complete the dossier | The dossier is prepared in accordance with the correct forms and specific case requirements |
| Step 5 | Represent for dossier submission and progress tracking | Minimize the need for the enterprise to travel and provide explanations independently |
| Step 6 | Receive results and hand over the work permit | The foreigner has a legal basis to work in Vietnam |
| Step 7 | Consult on post-work permit procedures | Support for visas, temporary residence cards, labor contracts, and reporting obligations |
Depending on the specific case, Viet An Law Firm will send a detailed list of required documents to the business. Typically, clients need to prepare the following basic documents:
For documents issued abroad, Viet An Law Firm will provide specific advice on consular legalization, translation, and notarization to ensure the documents meet the requirements for submission to the competent authority.
The cost of obtaining a work permit for foreigners in Vietnam typically includes government fees, translation and notarization fees, consular legalization fees for foreign documents, and consulting service fees. At Viet An Law Firm, the work permit service fee is quoted depending on the application status, job position, nationality of the worker, and the number of documents to be processed.
| Cost item | Notes to consider |
| State fees | Subject to the regulations of each local authority where the dossier is submitted |
| Translation and notarization fees | Applicable when the dossier contains documents in foreign languages |
| Consular legalization fees | Applicable to qualifications, experience confirmations, or foreign documents |
| Viet An Law service fees | Specific quotation will be provided after the dossier review |
| Fixed costs | No fixed quotation will be provided before the dossier review |
| Incurred costs | Only implemented upon prior consent from the client |
Viet An Law Firm does not apply a fixed fee for all cases because each case has different legal status, nationality, foreign documents, job position, and processing requirements.
Does your business need a quick review of your work permit application for foreigners? Contact Viet An Law Firm via Hotline/Zalo/WhatsApp/Viber: (+84) 961 571 818 for assistance from our lawyers and legal specialists.
In reality, although the procedures for granting work permits to foreigners are clearly stipulated by law, businesses and human resources professionals often encounter many obstacles when implementing them:
That’s why many organizations prioritize seeking a professional work permit service to thoroughly resolve these issues.
Beyond just assisting with application preparation, Viet An Law provides comprehensive legal consulting services for obtaining work permits for foreigners, helping businesses recruit and employ foreign workers in accordance with regulations from the outset. Each application is evaluated by lawyers and legal experts before submission to select the most suitable option, minimizing the risk of requests for additional information or rejection.
Key differences of Viet An Law:
| Capability | Value delivered |
|---|---|
| Nearly 20 years of experience (since 2007) | Deep understanding of regulations on labor, investment, and enterprises with foreign elements |
| Over 2,000 supported work permit dossiers | Experience in handling multiple industries and nationalities |
| Offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City | Support businesses nationwide |
| Team of lawyers and legal professionals | Review dossiers before submission to minimize errors |
| Comprehensive consultation | Work permits, work permit exemptions, visas, temporary residence cards, FDI enterprises |
| Representing clients to work with state authorities | Save time and reduce pressure for businesses |
Utilizing a comprehensive work permit service not only helps complete administrative procedures but also supports businesses in proactively planning the use of foreign workers, reducing incidental costs, and minimizing legal risks throughout their employment in Vietnam.
| Value received by businesses | Practical benefits |
|---|---|
| Pre-implementation dossier assessment | Determine conditions for work permit issuance and necessary supplementary documents |
| Time saving | No need to research regulations or travel multiple times independently |
| Reduced risk of dossier rejection | Dossiers are checked for consistency prior to submission |
| Transparent costs | Clear quotation provided before implementation, minimizing incurred expenses |
| Support for foreign documents | Guide consular legalization, translation, and notarization |
| Companionship throughout the entire process | Track dossiers, provide explanations when required, and receive results |
| Post-licensing support | Extensions, re-issuance, information updates, applications for temporary residence cards and visas |
Since 2007, Viet An Law has advised and assisted thousands of foreign professionals, managers, executives, and technical workers in obtaining work permits in Vietnam. Due to our commitment to client confidentiality, Viet An Law does not disclose the names of businesses or specific case files. However, some typical case groups include:
| Typical cases | Tasks supported by Viet An Law | Distinctive value delivered |
| Issuing work permits for nearly 200 technical workers and experts of a Chinese enterprise in Hanoi | Review conditions, classify job positions, guide dossiers for work experience, qualifications, criminal records, health certificates, and foreign documents | Help the enterprise process a large volume of dossiers, unify information, minimize errors, and proactively plan foreign labor usage |
| Supporting work permit issuance dossiers for a team of experts of a Japanese company in Ho Chi Minh City | Consult on expert conditions, review documents proving experience, qualifications, and prospective job positions in Vietnam | Propose appropriate dossier solutions for each personnel member, especially in cases requiring clear explanations of expert criteria |
| Consulting on 50 dossiers for foreign workers under internal transfer at an enterprise in Bac Ninh | Determine internal transfer conditions, cross-check titles, length of employment at the parent company, and working demands in Vietnam | Help the enterprise select the correct procedures, avoiding confusion between cases requiring a work permit and those eligible for a work permit exemption |
| Supporting an FDI enterprise in the process of extension, re-issuance, and adjustment of foreign labor dossiers | Check work permit validity, changes in job positions, working locations, passports, labor contracts, and related dossiers | Accompany clients after work permit issuance, helping the enterprise maintain compliance in foreign labor usage regulations |
Viet An Law Firm provides work permit services in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and many other localities with a large number of businesses employing foreign workers, such as Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An, and industrial zones nationwide.
For businesses with multiple branches, work locations, or foreign workers employed in multiple provinces, Viet An Law Firm will advise on the appropriate authority to submit applications, how to determine work locations, and suitable document management strategies.
Viet An Law Firm provides a range of services related to work permits for foreigners, including:
Yes. Depending on the status of the application and the documents provided by the client, Viet An Law Firm will review and advise on the appropriate processing method. For urgent applications, businesses should contact us early to have their conditions checked and receive guidance on preparing the necessary documents from the outset.
The processing time depends on the status of the application, foreign documents, and the requirements of the competent authority. Viet An Law Firm will conduct a preliminary review to inform the business of what needs to be prepared, minimizing the risk of application rejection or delays in work permit issuance.
The cost of obtaining a work permit depends on each application: new issuance, renewal, extension, applications with foreign documents, consular legalization, translation, or urgent processing. Viet An Law Firm will quote the fee after verifying the information of the employee and the business.
Typically, the application includes legal documents of the business, passport, photos, health certificate, criminal record certificate, documents proving qualifications, experience, job position, and a written request for a work permit as prescribed.
Not all short-term work cases are handled the same way. Viet An Law Firm will check the working time, position, type of work, and purpose of entry to determine whether the foreigner needs to apply for a work permit, is exempt from a work permit, or only needs to complete the notification procedure.
Most documents issued by foreign countries, such as diplomas, experience certificates, and criminal record certificates, need to be consular legalized, translated, and certified according to regulations, except in cases where exemption is granted. Viet An Law Firm will guide clients in standardizing documents from the outset.
FDI businesses need to prepare legal documents of the business, information on job positions, documents proving the need to employ foreign workers, and personal documents of the employees. Viet An Law Firm assists in reviewing the documents to ensure they are suitable for the industry, job title, and work location.
Yes. A work permit is one of the important bases for foreign workers to apply for a visa or temporary residence card for foreigners in Vietnam. Viet An Law Firm can support the synchronized procedures for work permits, visas, and temporary residence cards for foreigners.
Viet An Law’s work permit service for foreigners is a suitable solution for businesses that need to recruit, employ, and manage foreign workers in accordance with the law. With a team of experienced lawyers and legal professionals, Viet An Law Firm assists clients in reviewing eligibility, preparing documents, and carrying out procedures for issuing, renewing, and extending work permit in Vietnam, as well as applying for work permit exemptions, visas, and temporary residence cards for foreigners in Vietnam.
Quý khách hàng có nhu cầu sử dụng dịch vụ làm giấy phép lao động cho người nước ngoài, vui lòng liên hệ Luật Việt An để được tư vấn và kiểm tra hồ sơ ban đầu:
Hotline/Zalo/WhatsApp/Viber: (+84) 961 571 818
Email: info@vietanlaw.com
Offices: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
Scope of support: Nationwide, including Vietnamese businesses, FDI businesses, representative offices, branches of foreign traders, and contractors employing foreign workers in Vietnam.
