Vietnam Immigration Guide for HR Teams Hiring Foreign Staff
Most compliance problems with foreign staff in Vietnam come from doing the right steps in the wrong order. This is the sequence that works, and the deadlines worth putting in a calendar.
Step by step
- Register the demand for foreign labour with the provincial labour authority before recruiting, unless the role is exempt.
- Collect the employee documents early: criminal record, degree and experience confirmation, health check. These are the long lead items — legalisation abroad can take weeks (details).
- Apply for the work permit — 10–15 working days once the file is complete.
- Convert the visa to LD, or issue an approval letter if the employee is still abroad.
- Apply for the temporary residence card once the permit is valid for a year or more.
- Keep the temporary residence declaration current every time the employee moves address.
Company file: the one-time items
- Form NA16 — seal and signature specimen, refiled whenever the seal, legal representative or registered address changes
- Business registration certificate — the copy you file must be the current version
Deadlines to calendar
| Item | Start before expiry |
|---|---|
| Work permit renewal | 45 days |
| Residence card (new card, not an extension) | 30 days |
| Visa extension | 10–15 days |
Costs to budget
See the fee table for government fees and service fees per file. Companies sponsoring five or more foreign staff, or signing an annual agreement, receive volume pricing.
We work with HR teams across Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang and the industrial provinces of Bac Ninh, Dong Nai, Hai Phong and Hung Yen.
