Work Permit for Foreign Managers in Vietnam 2026

A work permit in Vietnam for foreign managers in Vietnam is an important legal condition for foreign workers to hold management and executive positions in enterprises and organizations operating in Vietnam. In the context where Vietnam continues to attract foreign investment and expand international cooperation, the demand for employing foreign managers is increasing, especially for foreign executives in Vietnam working at an FDI company in Vietnam, multinational corporations, representative offices, and investment projects. Businesses looking to sponsor foreign executives in Vietnam should review the updated Vietnam work permit 2026 provisions. However, to work legally in Vietnam, foreign managers must meet conditions regarding job position, experience, supporting documents, and the work permit application in Vietnam procedure in accordance with regulations.

Who is a manager according to Vietnamese Law in Vietnam?

According to Clause 24, Article 4 of the Law on Enterprises 2020, an enterprise manager (or manager) includes individuals who hold roles in the direct governance and execution of the enterprise, specifically:

• Owners of private enterprises.
• Unlimited partners in partnerships.
• Chairpersons of the Board of Members, members of the Board of Members (for limited liability companies).
• Company Presidents.
• Chairpersons of the Board of Directors, members of the Board of Directors (for joint-stock companies).
• Directors or General Directors.
• Other individuals holding management positions with the authority to enter into transactions on behalf of the company in accordance with the Company’s Charter.

Apart from the aforementioned enterprise management titles, labor law also recognizes “heads and deputy heads of agencies or organizations” as managers. This expands the scope of application beyond just enterprises to include non-governmental organizations, international organizations, associations, and other types of lawful agencies and organizations in Vietnam. Understanding who qualifies as a manager is key to meeting the work permit requirements for foreign managers. This clear definition helps employers easily cross-reference and apply the correct occupational codes and job titles when handling a work permit application in Vietnam.

Which titles are considered a “manager” in a foreign manager work permit in Vietnam?

Titles that are easily recognized as managers in an application dossier include:

• General Director / Director: The person who runs all day-to-day operations of the company.
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Equivalent to a General Director.
• Chairman of the Board of Directors (Chairman of the BOD) / Chairman of the Board of Members.
• Members of the Board of Directors / Members of the Board of Members: Individuals with voting rights in strategic decisions of the company.

When requesting a work permit for foreign managers in Vietnam, it is critical to select the correct corporate title. In addition to top-level management, management positions of dependent units are also considered valid manager titles when applying for a Vietnam work permit 2026:

• Head of Branch: The head of a branch, authorized to manage the business operations of the enterprise’s branch.
• Head of Representative Office: Particularly common for foreign companies initially penetrating the Vietnamese market.
• Head of Department / Divisional Director: For instance, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Note: For Head of Department titles to be considered managers, the Company’s Charter must explicitly specify the management authority of these positions.

Dossiers proving the manager position in Vietnam

Legal documents of the organization or enterprise

• Certified copy of the Enterprise Registration Certificate: This is the core document proving that the sponsoring legal entity is operating lawfully.
• Company’s Charter (Copy): In cases where the employee assumes a management position that is not a Director/General Director/Chairman (e.g., Head of Department), the Company’s Charter must explicitly specify that such a position is an enterprise manager with the right to transact on behalf of the company. For an FDI company in Vietnam, clear charter provisions prevent application rejections.
• Operation License of the branch/representative office: Applicable if the foreigner works at a branch or representative office.

Documents proving the experience and title of the foreigner

• Enterprise Registration Certificate/ Investment Certificate (abroad or in Vietnam): Expressly naming the foreigner in a management position (Capital contributing member, Chairman, Director, etc.).
• Appointment Decision: The company’s decision to assign or appoint the individual to a management position.
• Work Experience Confirmation Letter (Experience Certificate): Issued by companies or organizations abroad confirming that this person has previously worked in a management position (Director, Manager, Head of Department, etc.). Note that this document must clearly state the company name, working duration, and specific job title.
• Labor Contract or old work permit: Documents proving that the individual has previously held a management position in Vietnam or another country.

Requirements for consular legalization and translation

All documents issued by foreign agencies or organizations (such as the Appointment Decision from the parent company abroad, experience confirmation letters, foreign criminal record certificates) must undergo consular legalization procedures at diplomatic missions. Subsequently, these documents must be translated into Vietnamese and notarized by public notarization organizations or state Justice Departments in Vietnam before submission to satisfy the work permit requirements for foreign managers. Properly authenticated Vietnam work permit documents eliminate unexpected delays.

Work permit in Vietnam procedure for managers

Work permit procedure for managers

Step 1: Explain the demand for utilizing foreign labor

Enterprises cannot arbitrarily recruit foreigners but must prove that the domestic labor market cannot satisfy the position. Whether you operate a domestic enterprise or an FDI company in Vietnam, proving the demand for foreign labor is mandatory.

• Execution timeline: At least 15 working days prior to the expected date of utilizing foreign labor.
• Execution method: The enterprise must submit Form No. 01/PLI (Report explaining the demand for utilizing foreign labor) to the provincial/municipal People’s Committee.

Step 2: Submit the dossier requesting work permit issuance

Gathering all required Vietnam work permit documents is part of Step 2. This step is crucial for any work permit application in Vietnam.

• Execution timeline: At least 15 working days before the employee is expected to start working.
• The dossier includes:
  • Written request for a work permit (Form No. 11/PLI).
  • Health check certificate (valid for 12 months issued by hospitals in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Health).
  • Criminal record certificate (issued within 06 months).
  • Documents proving the manager status (as analyzed in the Dossiers Proving the Position section).
  • 02 color photos of 4x6cm size (white background, taken within the last 06 months).
  • Certified copy of the entire passport (or pages containing personal identity information and a valid visa).
  • Document approving the demand for utilizing foreign labor (Result of Step 1).
• Receiving authority: According to regulations in Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, the current authority belongs to the provincial People’s Committee. However, in practice, enterprises will submit the dossier at the provincial Public Administrative Service Center to be transferred to the agency decentralized by the provincial People’s Committee for processing.
• Result: Within 05 working days from the date of receiving a complete and valid dossier, the competent authority will issue the permit. If refused, a written response clearly stating the reason must be provided.

Step 3: Concluding the labor contract and reporting

By law, immediately after receiving the original permit, the enterprise and the foreign worker (if working in the form of executing a labor contract) must proceed to sign a written labor contract before the expected starting date. Afterward, the enterprise is responsible for submitting a copy of this signed labor contract to the licensing agency to complete the full Vietnam work permit procedure.

Parent company managers assigned to Vietnam

According to regulations, foreign workers under internal transfers are managers, executives, experts, and technical workers of a foreign enterprise that has established a commercial presence in the territory of Vietnam, who are temporarily assigned by that foreign enterprise to its commercial presence in Vietnam. To be considered an internal transfer, the manager must have been recruited by the parent company for at least 12 consecutive months prior. This mechanism helps multinational corporations smoothly deploy foreign executives in Vietnam.

The biggest difference is that for managers belonging to 11 service sectors in Vietnam’s WTO schedule of specific commitments (Business, communication, construction, distribution, education, environment, finance, health, tourism, recreational cultural, and transport services), they can apply for a work permit exemption in Vietnam instead of a new issuance. Securing a work permit exemption in Vietnam simplifies international mobility. The supporting documents for this case require a Letter of Assignment from the foreign parent company, explicitly stating the assignment duration, job position, and confirming that they fall under internal transfers. Certain senior roles may even qualify for a work permit exemption in Vietnam. Navigating these specific rules under the work permit for foreign managers in Vietnam 2026 framework requires careful documentation.

Why choose Viet An Law Firm’s work permit service in Vietnam for foreign managers?

Viet An Law Firm is proud to be one of the organizations possessing a team of highly experienced lawyers and consultants in the field of advising on procedures for a foreign manager work permit. When using Viet An Law Firm’s professional work permit service in Vietnam, enterprises will be provided with a comprehensive solution:

• Consulting on the roadmap, selecting and arranging the most reasonable job titles matching actual degrees and experience.
• Providing a full package of translation, notarization, and consular legalization of foreign documents.
• Representing the client to draft forms and explain the demand for utilizing foreign labor with state agencies.
• Submitting dossiers on behalf of the enterprise, tracking progress directly and online, and resolving any arising issues.
• Advising on the steps to apply for Visas and Temporary Residence Cards (TRC) after the worker has obtained their work permit.
• Commitment to rapid processing time and absolute information confidentiality under the Vietnam work permit 2026 guidelines.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a work permit for foreign managers in Vietnam valid?

According to current regulations in the Labor Code 2019, the duration of this permit is granted according to the time agreed upon in the labor contract, the assignment letter, or the appointment decision, but for a maximum period of not exceeding 02 years.

How to renew a manager’s work permit?

To continue working legally, the employer must execute the renewal procedure at least 05 days but no more than 45 days prior to its expiration date. An important condition is that the employee must continue working in the exact manager position recorded in the current permit. The renewal dossier will be simpler than a new issuance (usually not requiring a criminal record certificate if there are no changes or exit from Vietnam, but still requiring a new health check certificate and a document approving the demand for utilizing foreign labor). The permit can only be renewed a single time for a maximum duration of 02 years. Thereafter, if employment continues, a new issuance procedure must be performed. Therefore, maintaining compliance under the work permit for foreign managers in Vietnam 2026 requires strict adherence to these timelines.

If clients have any consulting needs related to the procedures or work permit requirements for foreign managers, please contact Viet An Law Firm for the best support!