Vietnam Work Permit: Complete Guide 2026
Everything you need to know about the work permit in Vietnam in 2026: conditions (degree + 2 years of experience), required documents, 2-step process, possible exemptions, renewable 2-year duration. Detailed guide to working legally in Vietnam.
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Working in Vietnam: a work permit is mandatory
Have you landed a job in Vietnam, or is your company sending you on a long-term assignment to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City? Before signing anything, there is an essential step: the work permit (or "Giấy phép lao động" in Vietnamese).
Without this document, working in Vietnam is illegal, period. And the Vietnamese authorities are taking the subject more and more seriously: reinforced controls, hefty fines, even expulsion. This is not something to be taken lightly.
The good news? The procedure is well-defined, and with a good employer and the right documents, you can obtain your permit in a few weeks. We guide you step by step.
Who needs a work permit?
Any foreigner who works for an entity based in Vietnam needs a work permit. This includes:
- Employees of Vietnamese or foreign companies based in Vietnam
- Managers and directors of local subsidiaries
- Experts and consultants on assignments of more than 30 days
- Teachers and trainers (schools, universities, language centers)
- Employees seconded by a foreign company
Exemptions: who can work without a work permit?
Certain categories of foreign workers are exempt from the work permit, but must still obtain a confirmation of exemption from the DOLISA (Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs). The main cases:
- Intra-group managers: directors, CEOs and managers transferred within the same international group
- Missions of less than 30 days cumulative per year
- Foreign experts invited by government agencies
- Trainees under international agreements
- Representatives of representative offices (chief representative)
- Volunteers from accredited NGOs
Important: even if you are exempt, you must obtain an official document confirming this. Do not just assume that you are exempt without paper in hand.
Conditions for obtaining the work permit
Conditions related to the worker
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Health: medical certificate confirming that you are fit to work (issued by an approved hospital in Vietnam or in your country, less than 12 months old)
- Clean criminal record: criminal record extract less than 6 months old, apostilled and translated
- Professional qualifications: this is the crucial point:
You must justify at least one of these conditions:
- University degree (minimum bachelor's degree) + at least 3 years of experience in the field of the position
- Professional or technical certificate + at least 3 years of experience
- Expert status: at least 5 years of experience in the field, with letters of recommendation from your previous employers
On-the-ground advice: the 3-year experience condition is strictly verified. Letters from your former employers must be detailed, dated, signed and on letterhead. Vague attestations do not pass.
Conditions related to the employer
The Vietnamese employer must:
- Be legally registered in Vietnam
- Have submitted a report on the need for foreign labor to the DOLISA at least 15 days before the permit application
- Justify why the position cannot be filled by a Vietnamese (in theory)
Required documents
The list of documents is long and precise. Here's what you need:
Worker's documents
- Passport valid for at least 12 months (notarized copy)
- Passport photos (4x6 cm, white background, recent)
- Criminal record from your country of origin or residence, less than 6 months old, apostilled and translated into Vietnamese by a sworn translator
- Medical certificate less than 12 months old (issued by an approved hospital — in Vietnam, international hospitals like FV Hospital in HCMC or Hanoi French Hospital do this very well, around 50-100 USD)
- Diplomas (bachelor's, master's, professional certificates) apostilled and translated into Vietnamese
- Letters of professional experience from your former employers, detailing the positions held, dates, and responsibilities
- Detailed CV
Employer's documents
- Business license (Investment Certificate or Business Registration Certificate)
- Report on the need for foreign labor approved by the DOLISA
- Work permit application letter
- Employment contract (or letter of commitment)
The 2-step process
Step 1: Obtain the work permit
It is the employer who submits the complete file to the DOLISA of the province where the company is registered.
- Processing time: 7 working days after receipt of the complete file
- Result: the work permit is issued in the form of a small booklet (format ca...