WORK PERMIT EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE

Cases Requiring a Work Permit Exemption Certificate

Cases Exempted Without an Exemption Certificate

Under Clauses 3,7 Article 154 of the 2019 Labor Code:

• Head of a representative office, project, or foreign NGO in Vietnam.
• Cases under international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.

Under Clauses 4, 5, 6, and 8 Article 154 of the 2019 Labor Code:

• Working in Vietnam for under 3 months to provide services.
• Working in Vietnam for under 3 months to resolve urgent technical or technological issues that local or current experts cannot handle.
• Licensed foreign lawyer practicing in Vietnam under the Law on Lawyers.
• Foreigners married to Vietnamese citizens and residing in Vietnam.

ODA-related work: Providing consultancy, technical expertise, research, evaluation, supervision, or implementation of ODA projects.

Investors:

• Capital-contributing members or owners of LLCs with contributions at least 3 billion VND.
• Chairpersons or Bord of director members of JSCs with contributions at least 3 billion VND.

Education sector: Teachers, researchers, or experts invited by Vietnamese educational institutions.

Media: Foreign journalists or reporters with permits from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

International education management: Assigned by foreign authorities to teach or manage at institutions established by diplomatic or intergovernmental organizations, or under international treaties.               

Relatives of diplomats: Allowed to work under applicable international treaties.

Students / trainees: Studying in Vietnam or abroad with internship or job offers in Vietnam (including on Vietnamese ships).

Business setup: Foreigners responsible for establishing commercial presence.

Diplomatic / official passport holders: Working for state, political, or socio-political organizations.

Short-term experts: Managers, executives, experts, or technicians working in Vietnam for less than 90 days per year.

Volunteers: Unpaid work under international treaties, confirmed by foreign missions or international organizations.

International agreements: Entering Vietnam to implement agreements signed by central or provincial authorities.

Internal transferees: Managers, executives, experts, or technicians transferred within a foreign enterprise with a commercial presence in Vietnam under WTO commitments, after 12 months with the parent company.

Approved professionals: Certified by MOET or other competent authorities to work in education, finance, science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, or socio-economic priority sectors.

No.

Document Name

Notes/Remarks

1

Application Form for Work Permit Exemption Certificate (Form No. 01)

Must be signed and sealed by the employer.

2

Passport

Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from submission date.

3

Health certificate issued in Vietnam or recognized by Vietnam (valid within 12 months)

Required unless otherwise exempted.

4

Two (02) color photos (size 4x6 cm, white background, taken within the last 6 months)

For attachment to the application form.

5

Power of attorney (if the employer authorizes a third party to handle the procedure)

Must include signature and company seal.

6

Additional documents according to the specific exemption category (see Section B below)

Each category has different requirements.

No.

Exemption Category

Specific Required Documents

1

• Clause 3, Article 154 – Head or Representative of Foreign NGOs
• Clauses 9, 14 & 15, Article 7 – Certified Experts and Officials:
  🔹 Holders of official passports working for state or political organizations.
  🔹 Certified by MOET to teach, research, or manage international programs.
  🔹 Certified by competent authorities to work in finance, science, technology, or innovation.

🏛️ Certification or document issued by the relevant competent authority as prescribed by law.

2

• Clause 7, Article 154 – Under International Treaties;
• Clauses 4, 6, 7, 11 & 12, Article 7 – ODA, Education, Interns, Volunteers, Agreements:
  🔹 Working under ODA-funded projects.
  🔹 Teaching or managing under diplomatic/international institutions.
  🔹 Foreign students, interns, or volunteers in Vietnam.
  🔹 Working under international agreements signed by competent agencies.

📘 Document(s) from the foreign employer assigning the employee to work in Vietnam, together with the relevant international agreement or treaty.

3

Point b, Clause 13, Article 7 – Intra-Company Transfer (WTO Service Commitments)
🔹 Managers, executives, experts, or technical workers transferred internally after at least 12 months of employment with the parent company.

• 📎 Documents proving professional status (manager/expert/technician).
• 🪪 Appointment Letter from the foreign employer confirming internal transfer and 12 months of continuous employment prior to assignment in Vietnam.

PROCEDURE TYPE

ELIGIBILITY/ CONDITIONS

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

PROCESSING TIME

NEW ISSUANCE

First-time applicant meeting exemption conditions under Decree 219/2025/NĐ-CP.

1. Application Form for Work Permit Exemption Certificate.
2. Passport copy (notarized).
3. Case-specific supporting documents (depending on exemption type).

05–07 working days.

RE-ISSUANCE

Certificate lost, damaged, or information changed (e.g., name, nationality, passport number, company name).

1. Application Form for Re-issuance.
2. 02 recent color photos (4x6cm, white background).
3. Old exemption certificate (if available).
4. Passport copy.
5. Supporting document for information change (if applicable).

03–05 working days.

EXTENSION

Certificate nearing expiry (must apply at least 30 days before expiry). Only one-time extension allowed with maximum validity of 02 years.

1. Application Form for Extension.
2. Current Exemption Certificate.
3. Updated passport copy.
4. Updated supporting documents related to exemption type.

05–07 working days.