Work Permit in Vietnam: Requirements, Procedure and Cost (2026 Guide)

As Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Vietnam continues to surge, the demand for foreign experts, managers, and technical specialists within local enterprises has reached record highs. To ensure that business operations remain in full compliance with Vietnamese law, obtaining a Work permit for foreigners in Vietnam is a mandatory legal prerequisite for the vast majority of expatriates employed in the country.

Failure to adhere to Vietnam work permit requirements can result in significant administrative penalties and potential deportation for employees. In the following guide, Viet An Law provides a comprehensive analysis of the eligibility criteria, documentation, and streamlined application process for a Work permit in Vietnam 2026. Our objective is to assist foreign investors and enterprises in navigating these regulatory updates to ensure seamless human resource management and legal standing.

General information about Work Permits for foreigners in Vietnam in 2026

Legal basis & latest documents applicable from 2026

• Labor Code 2019 effective from January 1, 2021;
• Decree 219/2025/ND-CP regulating foreign workers working in Vietnam, effective from August 7, 2025 (replacing Decree No. 152/2020/ND-CP, amended and supplemented by Decree No. 70/2023/ND-CP);
• Decision 636/QD-BNV in 2025 announcing new and abolished administrative procedures in the field of employment; occupational safety and hygiene within the management scope of the Ministry of Home Affairs;
• Decision 886/QD-BNV of the Ministry of Home Affairs detailing the procedure for granting a work permit in Vietnam for foreigners.

Conditions for granting a work permit for foreigners

According to Article 151 of the Labor Code 2019, the conditions for granting a work permit for foreigners are as follows:

• Age: 18 years old or older and have full civil act capacity.
• Professional qualifications & health: Having professional qualifications, technical skills, practical skills, work experience; having adequate health as prescribed by the Minister of Health.
• Criminal record: Not a person who is currently serving a sentence, has an unspent conviction, or is being examined for penal liability according to foreign law or Vietnamese law.

In addition, foreign workers working in Vietnam must comply with Vietnam labor law and be protected by Vietnam law, unless international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member provide otherwise.

Application dossier under the new regulations of work permit in Vietnam 2026

Mandatory application components

According to Article 18 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, to complete the procedure for applying for a work permit in Vietnam, enterprises need to prepare a full set of dossiers including the following categories:

• Application form: Written explanation of the demand for foreign workers and request for a work permit.
• Health certificate: Valid within 12 months, issued by a qualified medical facility (no need to submit a paper copy if data is connected to the National Health Information System). A proper health check for work permit Vietnam is mandatory.
• Passport: A certified copy of the passport still valid as prescribed.
• Criminal record certificate: Written confirmation of no criminal record issued no more than 06 months ago. (Exempt from submission if interconnected administrative procedures have been carried out).
• Portrait photo: 02 color photos (4x6cm), white background, looking straight, bareheaded, without color glasses, taken within 6 months.
• Documents proving the form of work: Labor contract, document of appointment to work, or related cooperation agreements.
• Documents proving the job position: Diplomas, certificates, or documents confirming experience to prove capacity as a Manager, Executive Director, Expert, or Technical Worker.

Forms used according to new regulations

The employer’s written report explaining the demand for foreign workers and requesting a work permit is according to Form No. 03 of the Appendix issued together with Decree 219/2025/ND-CP.

Common dossier errors causing rejection or delayed time

• Not yet consularly legalized: Documents issued by foreign countries (diplomas, criminal records, experience confirmations…) must be consularly legalized and notarized and translated into Vietnamese, unless exempt under international treaties.
• Conflicting information between documents: The job title in the written explanation of demand does not match the diploma or experience confirmation document of the worker.
• Validity of the Criminal record certificate: Many applications are rejected because the Criminal record certificate has expired 06 months as of the date of application submission.
• Health certificate not from the right level: Medical examination at facilities lacking competence to examine foreigners or using improper forms. A standard health check for work permit in Vietnam must strictly follow the Ministry of Health regulations.
• Unconvincing job position description: The written explanation of the demand for foreign workers does not clearly state why Vietnamese workers cannot meet this position, leading to the functional agency not approving the position.
• Changed passport information: The passport number on related documents (Criminal record, diploma) does not match the current passport (due to changing to a new passport) without accompanying proof documents.

Procedure for granting a work permit on the National Public Service Portal

Standard procedure steps according to Decision 886/QD-BNV

• Step 1: Submit online application: The enterprise submits the dossier at least 10 days and no more than 60 days before the expected date the worker starts working online via the National Public Service Portal.
• Step 2: Receipt & Appraisal: The system automatically transfers the dossier to the local competent authority for processing under the single-window mechanism.
• Step 3: Return results: Within 10 working days, the competent authority issues a work permit if the dossier is valid. Within 03 working days, in case the application is rejected, the competent authority will issue a written response clearly stating the reason.

Receiving agency & resolving competence

• Provincial People’s Committee;
• Or the Provincial People’s Committee where the employer’s head office is located in case the foreign worker works for one employer in multiple provinces and centrally run cities;
• Or the competent agency decided by the Provincial People’s Committee on decentralization.

Processing time

• 10 working days from the date of receiving a complete valid dossier as prescribed in case of approving the demand and granting a work permit.
• 03 working days from the date of receiving a complete dossier in case of not approving the demand for using foreign workers or not granting a work permit.

Fees for applying work permits in Vietnam

According to regulations in documents guiding the Law on Fees and Charges 2015, state fees are within the decision competence of the provincial People’s Council. Therefore, each locality will prescribe different specific fee levels.

Extension and re-issuance of work permits in Vietnam

Cases eligible for Vietnam work permit extension

The maximum term of a work permit is 02 years, in case of extension, it can only be extended once for a maximum term of 02 years.

At least 10 days but no more than 45 days before the work permit expires, the employer submits a dossier requesting a work permit extension directly or through public postal services or by hiring services of enterprises, individuals or through authorization to the local Public Administration Service Center where the foreign worker is working.

Cases of re-issuance of work permits

• The unexpired work permit is lost or damaged and cannot be used.
• Changes to one of the contents stated in the unexpired work permit: full name; nationality; passport number; changing the employer’s name without changing the employer’s identification code.

Penalties for violations & legal risks of not having a work permit in Vietnam

According to point a, clause 3, clause 4 and clause 5, Article 32 of Decree 12/2022/ND-CP regulating penalties for violations regarding foreign workers working in Vietnam without a work permit as follows:

Penalty level if you do not have a work permit for foreigners in Vietnam

Foreign workers without a Vietnam work permit will be fined from 15,000,000 VND to 25,000,000 VND.

Penalty level for enterprises employing illegal workers

For employers employing foreign workers to work in Vietnam without a work permit, the fines are as follows:

• From 01 – 10 people: Fine 30,000,000 – 45,000,000 VND
• From 11 – 20 people: Fine 45,000,000 – 60,000,000 VND
• From 21 people or more: Fine 60,000,000 – 75,000,000 VND

The fine levels for the above acts apply to individuals. For organizations, the fine is twice the fine level for individuals.

Risks regarding visa, temporary residence card & forced exit

• Visa/Temporary Residence Card cancellation: If there is no valid work permit, labor-type residence documents will be revoked or not extended. Consequently, falling back on a business visa Vietnam might be heavily restricted or denied.
• Forced deportation: Violating foreign workers will be forced to exit in a short time, disrupting to the unit’s production and business plans.
• Blacklist: Violation information is stored in the system of the Immigration Department, making it extremely difficult to apply for a business visa Vietnam or return to Vietnam to work in the future.
• Contract risks: Labor contracts signed when not yet having a work permit can be declared invalid, leading to hard-to-resolve legal disputes.

Comprehensive Vietnam work permit service – When should you use it?

Which enterprises should hire legal services?

• Newly established/New FDI investment: Not yet understanding regulations on explaining labor demand and occupation codes according to the new standards.
• Complex dossiers: Workers from countries with difficult consular legalization procedures or whose diplomas do not directly correspond to the applied position.
• Urgent processing needed: Enterprises need experts to come and work immediately to keep up with project progress.
• No dedicated legal department: Wanting to optimize resources to focus on production and business instead of tracking administrative procedures.

Benefits of using a specialized unit for work permits

• “Soft” consulting: Instead of just submitting the dossier, we advise on how to describe the job position (Expert, Technical worker) so that the approval rate on the Public Service Portal is the highest.
• Interconnected procedures: Support in implementing the Criminal record certificate and work permit simultaneously, helping to shorten the waiting time by 30 – 50%.
• Comprehensive logistics processing: From notarized translation, consular legalization to guiding the medical examination at the exact medical facility qualified to do so.
• Value-added services: Support in applying for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) and labor-type visa right after getting the work permit, helping foreigners stabilize long-term residence.

Why choose Viet An Law Firm?

• Over 18 years of experience in the field of investment, labor, and immigration consulting for domestic and foreign enterprises.
• Fast processing – compliant with regulations – absolute confidentiality of client information.
• Directly representing to work with state agencies, helping clients save maximum time and costs.

Frequently Asked Questions about Work Permit in Vietnam 2026

Are foreigners working in Vietnam required to have a work permit?

Under recently Vietnam work permit requirements, foreign workers working in Vietnam are required to have a work permit issued by the competent authority.

However, some special cases may be exempt from work permits, for example, capital contributors, members of the Board of Directors of joint-stock companies, heads of representative offices, or short-term working experts as prescribed by law.

How long is the validity of a work permit in Vietnam?

According to current regulations, a work permit has a maximum term of 02 years.

After expiration, the work permit can be renewed once for a maximum period of 02 years.

How long does it take to process a work permit application?

Normally, the competent authority will issue a work permit within about 10 working days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid dossier.

Can a foreigner work in Vietnam without a work permit?

Foreigners are not allowed to work in Vietnam without a valid work permit, except for cases exempted by law.

If violated, both employees and employers can be administratively sanctioned or forced to leave the country.

How much does it cost to apply for a work permit in Vietnam?

The cost of issuing a work permit is regulated by the People’s Council of the province or city, so the fee may vary from locality to locality.

In addition to state fees, enterprises may also incur costs such as:

• Translation and notarization of documents
• Consular legalization of foreign documents
• Medical examination as prescribed
• Legal services (if using a consulting unit)

Can foreigners apply for a work permit on their own?

According to regulations, the enterprise or employer is the unit that submits the application for a work permit for foreign workers.

In many cases, businesses can authorize a law firm or consulting unit to carry out the procedures.

Does a work permit have anything to do with visas and temporary residence cards?

After being granted a work permit, foreign workers can apply for a work visa or Temporary Residence Card (TRC) to reside and work legally in Vietnam for a long time.

What cases are exempt from work permits in Vietnam?

Some common cases of exemption from work permits include:

• Owner or capital contributor of a company in Vietnam;
• Member of the Board of Directors of a joint-stock company;
• Heads of representative offices of foreign traders;
• Employees entering Vietnam to work for less than 30 days and not more than 3 times in a year;
• Foreign lawyers who have been granted a license to practice in Vietnam.

With many years of experience consulting for FDI enterprises, representative offices, and international organizations, Viet An Law Firm provides a comprehensive – fast – reputable service in applying for a work permit for foreigners in Vietnam. Clients in need of consultation, please contact Viet An Law Firm for the most professional and effective support.