Vietnam’s current work permit rules are set by Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, effective 7 August 2025, replacing Decrees 152/2020 and 70/2023. Work permits are issued by the provincial People’s Committee (through the Department of Home Affairs); the separate labour-demand approval step was abolished and folded into the application; new permits take 10 working days; permits last up to 2 years and can be renewed once; experts in finance, science, technology, innovation and digital transformation need only 1 year of experience; and 15 groups are exempt.
Updated October 2026 under Decree 219/2025/ND-CP (effective 7 August 2025), which replaced Decrees 152/2020/ND-CP and 70/2023/ND-CP.
Key changes under Decree 219/2025
- Issuing authority: provincial People’s Committee where the employee will work.
- No separate demand approval: the justification goes into the application (Form 03).
- Experts: degree plus 2 years’ experience, or 1 year in priority fields.
- Processing: 10 working days for new permits and renewals, 3 for re-issue, 5 for exemptions.
- Validity: up to 2 years, renewable once for up to 2 years.
- Wider exemptions, many by notification only.
- Online, in-person or postal filing.
Position requirements
| Position | Requirement (Art. 3, Decree 219/2025) |
|---|---|
| Manager | Company manager under the Law on Enterprises, or head/deputy head of an agency or organisation |
| Executive director | Head of a branch or representative office, or head directly running a field, with at least 3 years of experience |
| Expert | University degree and at least 2 years of relevant experience; 1 year is enough in finance, science, technology, innovation, digital transformation or priority sectors |
| Technical worker | At least 1 year of training plus 2 years of experience, or 3 years of relevant experience |
Documents for a new work permit
- Application with labour-demand justification (Form 03).
- Health certificate valid 12 months.
- Criminal record certificate issued within 6 months (Vietnam or abroad).
- Two 4×6 cm colour photos.
- Valid passport.
- Proof of the form of work (contract, assignment letter).
- Proof of position (degrees, experience letters, appointment).
Foreign documents must be legalised (unless exempt) and translated into Vietnamese with certification.
Processing times and filing windows
| Procedure | Processing | When to file |
|---|---|---|
| New work permit | 10 working days | 60 to at least 10 days before the start date |
| Renewal | 10 working days | When 10–45 days of validity remain |
| Re-issue | 3 working days | Lost, damaged or changed details |
| Exemption certificate | 5 working days | 60 to at least 10 days before the start date |
Fees are set by each province; exemption certificates are free.
Draft amendment in 2026
In 2026 the Ministry of Home Affairs consulted on a draft amending Decree 219 (accepting foreign health certificates, 2 years’ experience for executive directors, re-issue on change of workplace). As of October 2026 it is still a draft.
Related: who needs a work permit, exemption cases, renewal.
Need it handled?
We prepare work permits, exemptions, renewals, criminal records, health checks and residence cards. See our work permit service or call Zalo/WhatsApp: +84327828822.
Legal basis: Decree 219/2025/ND-CP; Labour Code 2019 (Art. 154); Decision 346/QD-BNV (2026) on administrative procedures.
If you do not have time to prepare the file yourself, Info Travel – a Vietnam visa and immigration services company for foreigners – can check your documents and file on your behalf. Free advice on Zalo/WhatsApp: +84327828822 (phone, Zalo, WhatsApp).
