Foreigners working in Vietnam on a permanent basis for a Vietnamese company must have a work permit. However, complicated procedures for obtaining a work permit with many steps might confuse a lot of people.
What is a work permit?
A work permit is a work document that is required for all foreign employees before entering an employment contract or conducting any work in Vietnam, unless subject to an exemption.
Foreign investors who have companies in Vietnam can be exempted from work permit applications.
A Work Permit is issued for maximum 2 years and can be renewed. It usually takes from 10 to 15 working days to receive. The service fee is $345 including Value Added Tax and all State fees incurred. Vinasc committed that no additional cost would occur in the entire implementation process.
Vietnam work permit requirements
To get a work permit in Vietnam, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Over 18 years of age;
- Possess suitable technical qualifications, working experience and good health that satisfies the job requirements;
- Not currently serving a sentence; does not have an unspent conviction; is not undergoing criminal prosecution under his/her home country’s law or Vietnam’s law;
- Be an executive officer or a manager, specialist or technical worker with qualifications and occupational skills;
- Have their employment approved in writing by a competent state agency;
Not enter Vietnam on a tourist visa, except for some special cases permitted by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs on a case-by-case basis.
What you will need to apply for Vietnam work permit
- Request form;
- Health certificate;
- Criminal records which issued within 6 months;
- Labor contract;
- Certified copy of your certificate or degree;
- Working experience confirmation document from former employers;
- A copy of passport and valid visa;
- Approval certificate which allows the employer to use foreign workers from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs or the People’s Committee where the employer resides. This certificate should be applied for at least 30 days before the expected date of recruitment of foreign workers by the employer;
- Certified copy of the Employer’s Business Registration Certificate;
- 02 4x6cm photos with white background;
Foreign workers exempt from work permits
A foreign worker is exempt if:
- He/she is the owner or capital contributor of a limited liability company with a capital contribution value of at least 3 billion dong.
- He/she is the Chairperson or a member of the Board of Directors of a joint-stock company with a capital contribution value of at least 3 billion dong.
- He/she is an intra-company transferee within 11 sectors in the schedule of commitments in services between Vietnam and WTO.
- He/she enters Vietnam to hold the position of a manager, executive, expert or technical worker for a period of work of less than 30 days and up to 3 times a year.
- Others
Contact
It’s advisable to consult with Vinasc’s professional services for accurate and up-to-date information on work permit services in Vietnam. Please send us an email with summary require information and our consultants will get in touch with you.