Work Permit for Foreign Teachers in Vietnam 2026

Foreign teachers in Vietnam, including English teachers, need a work permit or a work permit exemption confirmation before they start teaching, apart from a few special cases. Under Decree 219/2025/ND-CP (in force since 7 August 2025), teachers normally apply as “experts”. That means a bachelor’s degree or higher, at least 2 years of relevant experience and proof that they meet the qualification standards in Vietnam’s education laws. The provincial People’s Committee issues the permit within 10 working days, and it is valid for up to 2 years. Info Travel handles work permits for foreign teachers from start to finish. Message us on WhatsApp at +84327828822.

Contents

Do foreign teachers need a work permit?

Yes. You need a work permit or an exemption confirmation whether you teach at an international school, a bilingual school, a language centre, a university or a corporate training company. A tourist visa or e-visa does not allow you to teach. From 10 September 2026, a foreign worker without a permit can be fined VND 15–25 million and may be deported. The employer can be fined too.

Decree 219/2025/ND-CP exempts some teachers. Examples are teachers sent by a competent foreign authority to teach at certain institutions, and people confirmed by the Ministry of Education and Training to teach, do research or transfer international curricula. Most English teachers hired directly by a school or centre still need a full permit. See our summary of the 2026 work permit rules.

Degree and experience requirements

Article 3 of Decree 219 defines an expert as someone with a bachelor’s degree or higher (or equivalent) and at least 2 years of experience relevant to the job. Article 19 adds these requirements for teachers:

Proof of qualification standards under the Law on Education, the Law on Higher Education or the Law on Vocational Education for experts working in education and training.
Teachers at foreign language or IT centres must also meet the centre’s operating regulations.
Experience letter: a letter from a previous overseas employer confirming your years of experience. If you have held a Vietnamese work permit or exemption confirmation before, you can use that document instead.

Is TEFL, CELTA or TESOL mandatory?

Decree 219 does not mention TEFL or CELTA by name. However, the licensing office checks teaching “qualification standards” under education law and the school’s or centre’s regulations. In practice, language centres usually ask native-speaker teachers for a degree plus a recognised English teaching certificate (TEFL, TESOL, CELTA or equivalent). Requirements vary by type of institution and by province, so check with your employer and the receiving office first. Info Travel reviews your credentials before filing so the application is not returned.

Short online certificates that do not show course hours, or that come from a provider that cannot be verified, are often hard to legalise and may be rejected.

Documents for a teacher work permit

Document	Notes
Application form (Form 03) with the employer’s explanation of need	Prepared by the school or centre. The separate demand-approval step no longer exists
Health certificate	Must come from a licensed clinic. A foreign certificate is accepted only under a recognition agreement and must be no more than 12 months old. See the work permit health check
Criminal record certificate	Issued no more than 6 months before filing. See criminal record certificates
Degree and teaching certificate	Legalised (or apostilled where accepted) and translated with notarisation
Teaching experience letter	Must state your position and employment dates. Legalised and translated
Passport and two 4×6 photos	Valid passport. Photos on a white background

Article 5 of Decree 219 requires foreign documents to be consularly legalised unless they are exempt. They must then be translated into Vietnamese and certified. See our guide on how to legalise your degree for a Vietnam work permit, or use our consular legalisation and notarised translation services.

Types of employers

International, bilingual and public schools: teachers must meet the standards in the Law on Education. A teaching qualification that matches the subject is usually expected.
Universities and colleges: assessed under the higher or vocational education laws. Lecturers often need a master’s degree or higher, depending on the role.
Language and IT centres: teachers must meet the centre’s regulations, and the centre itself must hold a valid operating licence.
Corporate English providers and teacher agencies: be clear about which entity is your legal employer and sponsor. A work permit is valid only for the employer and position printed on it.

If you teach for more than one organisation, each one needs a proper legal basis. Do not take extra classes with another organisation that your permit does not cover.

Common reasons applications are returned

The degree or certificate is not legalised, or the translation is not certified.
The experience letter is vague, has no dates or position, or describes work unrelated to teaching.
The criminal record certificate is more than 6 months old or comes from the wrong country.
The degree subject does not match the teaching role, or the teaching certificate the institution requires is missing.
The employer is not licensed for education, or the details in Form 03 are inconsistent.
The teacher started work before the permit was issued. This brings fines and makes the application harder.

After the permit: visa and residence card

A work permit lasts up to 2 years and can be extended once, for up to another 2 years. Once your permit is issued, switch to a work visa (LD2) and apply for a temporary residence card so you do not have to keep extending visas. See our temporary residence card service and remember to complete your temporary residence declaration. The government fee for a residence card valid for up to 2 years is USD 145.

Info Travel’s work permit service for teachers

Free check of your degree, TEFL/CELTA certificate and experience before filing.
Help getting a criminal record certificate and an experience letter with the right content.
Consular legalisation or apostille, plus notarised translation of your documents.
We prepare Form 03, file the application and follow it until the permit is issued.
Follow-up services: LD visa, residence card, permit extension and reissue.

Our service fee depends on your case. Message us on WhatsApp at +84327828822 for a quote. You can also read about our Vietnam work permit service.

FAQ

Can I teach English in Vietnam without a degree?

The expert category requires a bachelor’s degree or higher, or an equivalent qualification. Without a degree, getting a work permit as a teacher is very difficult, so get advice before you accept a job.

How long does a teacher work permit take?

The permit is issued within 10 working days of filing a complete application. Getting a criminal record certificate and legalising documents often takes longer, so start early.

Are native speakers exempt from the experience requirement?

No. Being a native speaker does not exempt you from the experience requirement. If you have held a Vietnamese work permit before, it can replace the experience letter.