Vietnam, especially Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, is the up-and-coming commercial hub of South East Asia. The country’s remarkable growth created a thirst for highly-skilled workers and a wave of expats. Coupled with affordable living costs and enjoyable entertainments, we are sure that you will have an amazing time working and living in Vietnam.
In order to stay and work legally in Vietnam, a valid work permit (or Giấy Phép Lao Động) is required.
An example of a Vietnam work permit
Eligibilities
Procedures
Application package:
Notes:
Eligibilities
Work permits are usually granted to professionals
Procedures
Step 1: Employers (other than contractors) must file a report explaining the demand for foreign workers 30 days before the recruitment. Processing time: 15-20 working days.
Step 2: Prepare an application package:
Notes:
Eligibilities
Procedures: The re-issuance procedure is similar to applying for a new work permit, with similar required documents and progress.
Notes:
After Applying for a Work Permit in Vietnam:
- Change your visa status (if you've already been in Vietnam prior to receiving the work permit): Normally when you enter Vietnam, you'll receive the DL visa stamp which stands for a tourist visa. In order to work and stay legally in Vietnam, you must change the status to work visa, marked as LĐ1, LĐ2, LS, etc. depending on your occupation and other conditions. Since July 1st, 2020, foreigners no longer have to exit and then re-enter the country to change the visa purpose, but only have to apply to the Immigration office instead.
More on How to Obtain a Vietnam Visa
- Apply for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC): To legally stay in Vietnam, you have to register yourself, and for expats, it is the TRC. The duration for a TRC varies from 2 - 10 years depending on your visa type. Generally, a temporary residence card for LĐ visa (work visa) can last up to 2 years. According to the No. 47/2014/QH13 Law, a TRC's validity will be 30 days shorter than the remaining validity of the applicant's passport.
- When the work permit is expired
- When the labor contract with the company registered in the permit is terminated
- The labor contract is not aligned with the work permit
- The operation of the company is terminated
What Happened if You Work in Vietnam Without a Work Permit:
- Foreigners working in Vietnam without a work permit (except for the permit exemption cases) will be deported from the country.
- Companies employing foreign employees without work permits will face a fine between VND 30,000,000 - 75,000,000 depending on how many employees are working without valid permits. The manager also faces suspension of his/her operation.
Other Notes on Applying for a Vietnam Work Permit:
- You should always keep your original passport.
- Most of the documents submitted to the authority are in Vietnamese or must be translated into Vietnamese, so having a local friend may help you navigate through the application process better.
Ho Chi Minh City is a commercial hotspot in South Vietnam, with the highest population of expats in the country
It will generally take a month to acquire a work permit before you can officially start working in Vietnam. However, the process has been greatly simplified over the years, and chances are your company will aid you along the way, or you can find a trustworthy agency to help you with the paperwork process. Get the needed documents ready to save you some time and you should be able to acquire the permit effortlessly.
Related articles:
- Information for Expats in Ho Chi Minh City
© Written by Chau Tran for itourvn.com
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Comments
The only place I can find clear information, thanks a lot