Work Permit Exemption in Vietnam: The Main Cases

This page covers the exemption categories. Service and pricing: work permit service.

Main categories

• Capital-contributing members or owners of a limited liability company, above the statutory capital threshold
• Chairperson or members of the board of a joint stock company, above the threshold
• Heads of representative offices and projects of international organisations and NGOs in Vietnam
• Intra-company transferees within the committed service sectors
• Foreigners entering for short assignments — sales support, emergency technical work, service after sale — within the permitted days
• Lawyers licensed in Vietnam, and holders of an official diplomatic or service assignment
• Students and interns working under an agreement with a Vietnamese institution
• Married to a Vietnamese citizen and residing in Vietnam, in the cases the regulation lists

Exemption still needs paperwork

Except for a small number of automatic cases, the employer must obtain a written confirmation of exemption from the provincial labour authority before the person starts work. The confirmation is what immigration relies on when issuing an LD1 visa or a residence card.

Common mistake

Treating a small capital contribution as an exemption. Below the threshold, the investor is treated like any employee and needs a full permit — see who needs a permit.

Filing the exemption: documents and procedure.