PROCEDURES FOR VIETNAM'S VISAS AND WORK PERMITS

Foreign nationals who plan to work and reside long-term in Vietnam must go through specific legal procedures related to long-term work visas, work permits, and temporary residence cards (TRCs). Understanding these requirements is essential for both employees and employers to stay compliant with Vietnam’s labor and immigration laws. Under the new regulations, health certificates issued abroad must meet the requirement of mutual recognition between countries. However, this recognition is still limited and lacks clear official guidance. Therefore, in most cases, foreign employees are strongly advised to undergo a medical check-up in Vietnam to ensure their documents are accepted for work permit applications. This article provides a step-by-step guide based on the most recent updates under Decree 219/2025/NĐ-CP (effective from 07 August 2025), helping both employers and expatriates stay informed and prepared throughout the application process.

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BASIC PROCEDURES FOR FOREIGN WORKERS TO WORK AND RESIDE LEGALLY IN VIETNAM

Foreign nationals planning to live and work in Vietnam must comply with specific legal procedures and documentation requirements. Understanding these steps is crucial to ensure compliance with Vietnam’s immigration and labor laws. This article outlines the essential documents and processes for foreign workers, including:

Document	Purpose	Issuing Authority
Short-Term Business Visa	Entry for meetings, conferences, exploring investment opportunities	Immigration Department
Work Permit or Work Permit Exemption Certificate	Legal right to work in Vietnam	Department of Home Affairs
Temporary Residence Card (TRC)	Long-term residence matching employment duration	Local Immigration Office

STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURES FOR VIETNAM BUSINESS VISA

A Vietnam Business Visa (usually a DN visa) allows foreigners to enter Vietnam for business activities such as meetings, conferences, or exploring investment opportunities.

Vietnam Business Visa Steps	Description for procedure of Vietnam Business Visa
Step 1: Prepare Required Documents	Passport (valid for at least 6 months) Completed visa application form signed and sealed by the Company Passport-sized photos (4x6 cm, white background)
Step 2: Submit The Application	Sponsoring company uploads documents via public service account. Wait for feedback from Immigration Department. May be required to submit originals.
Step 3: Receive Your Vietnam Business Visa	The entry approval letter will be issued on the online system within 5-7 working days, though processing time may be longer in certain cases. Option A: Bring passport + approval letter to Embassy/Consulate for visa stamp. Option B: Visa on Arrival – stamped at airport with approval letter and supporting docs.

WHO CAN BE GRANTED A WORK PERMIT?

Category	Requirements	Supporting Documents
Managers or Executives	Recognized under Vietnam’s Enterprise Law	Appointment decision, company charter, business license
Experts	University degree and at least 02 years relevant experience	Degree, work experience certificate
Technical Workers	(01 year specialized training and 02 years experience) or at least 03 years relevant experience	Training certificate, work experience proof

👉 Note: All documents in foreign languages must be consular legalized, translated into Vietnamese, and certified.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR APPLYING WORK PERMIT IN VIETNAM

Applications must be submitted at least 10 days before the foreign worker’s intended start date:

Work Permit Step	Document Name		How to prepare the documents
Job Posting Step	Company Recruitment Notice		Signed and seals
	Recruitment Result		Signed and seals
Work Permit Application Step	Form No. 03 - combining both the work permit request and foreign labor demand confirmation.		Signed and seals
	Passport still in valid		Scanned all pages
	Vietnam Work Permit Health Check valids with 12 months		Original
	Criminal Record Certificate valids within 6 months		If Vietnam Criminal Record, please provide original. If foreign Criminal Record, please provide Orignal Legalized document.
	Photos		Recent color photos, size 4×6 cm, white background
	For Manager	Business License	Notarized true copy
		Company Charter	Original
	For Expert	Bachelor degree or higher	Original legalization
		Experience Certificate with at least 02 years in relevant position	Original legalization

👉 All foreign-issued documents (University Degree, Working Experience Certificate, Foreign Police Clearance Certificate, health certificates) in foreign languages must be legalized and translated into Vietnamese and certified in accordance with regulations of Vietnam.

NEED ASSISTANCE WITH VIETNAM’S VISA AND WORK PERMIT PROCEDURES?

Applying for a Vietnam visa, work permit, or temporary residence card can be time-consuming and confusing if you are not familiar with local regulations. Mistakes in document preparation or missing deadlines may lead to delays or rejections.

👉 To save time and ensure full compliance, it is highly recommended to work with a trusted immigration service provider.

Visa5s.com has extensive experience supporting foreign workers and companies with: