Last updated: 30/06/2026
Work Permit consulting services in Vietnam
Applying for a work permit for foreigners in Vietnam is often challenging due to complex procedures, strict documentation requirements and long processing times. Saigon Vibe provides an all-inclusive work permit consulting service, helping businesses and foreign employees complete the process quickly and lawfully:
- Complex procedures with many documents requiring consular legalization
- Extended processing times when the dossier is incomplete or incorrect
- Frequently changing regulations on foreign labor
- Difficulty identifying the correct permit type for each case
📌 From 15/6/2026: Work permits and confirmations of work permit exemption in Ho Chi Minh City will be issued as digitally signed electronic documents, replacing paper versions. A valid digitally signed document has the same legal value as the paper version.
Table of contents
Common work permit types in Vietnam under the 2026 regulations
Depending on the worker and the form of employment in Vietnam, foreigners are issued the corresponding work permit type. Below are the most common work permit categories today:
By worker category
| Type | Who it applies to | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Labor contract employment | Signs a contract directly with a Vietnamese company | Up to 2 years. Renewable |
| Intra-company transferee | Employee of a foreign parent company working without a direct contract with a Vietnamese entity | Up to 2 years. Renewable |
| Service contract work | Performs a service contract between a foreign company and a Vietnamese company (e.g. specialists, engineers, consultants). | Up to 2 years. Renewable |
| Managers & executive directors | Holds a senior management role with authority to make decisions or approve company policy | Up to 2 years. Renewable |
Special work permit categories
| Type | Who it applies to | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term | Workers staying under 3 months | Up to 90 days |
| Volunteers | Joining projects or volunteer activities at NGOs and charities | Up to 90 days |
| Service offering | Entering Vietnam to introduce products or offer services | Up to 2 years. Renewable |
| Contract/project implementation | Joining projects or bids approved by competent authorities | Up to 2 years. Renewable |
| Relatives of foreign representative offices | Spouse or children of members of representative offices or international organizations (embassies, consulates). | Up to 2 years. Renewable |
| Long-term | Working in Vietnam for 12 months or more | Up to 2 years. Renewable |
Work Permit eligibility requirements for foreigners
Under Decree 152/2020/ND-CP (amended by Decree 70/2023/ND-CP), to be granted a work permit in Vietnam, a foreign employee must meet the following requirements:
- At least 18 years old with full civil act capacity as prescribed by law.
- Holds professional, technical qualifications, skills and work experience suitable for the intended position in Vietnam.
- Fit for work as required by the Ministry of Health (health certificate valid within 12 months).
- Not currently serving a criminal sentence, has an unexpunged criminal record, or is under criminal prosecution under Vietnamese or foreign law.
- Falls into one of these categories: manager, executive director, specialist, or technical worker, or other jobs prescribed by law.
- Has approval for the demand for foreign workers from the competent authority (except exempted cases).
Work permit application dossier, updated 2026
Foreigners need to prepare the following documents:
| No. | Document | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Employer's request for a work permit | Form No. 11/PLI, Appendix I, issued with Decree 152/2020/ND-CP. |
| 2 | Work permit application form for foreigners | Using the current form prescribed by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. |
| 3 | Health certificate | Must be valid within 12 months (from the health conclusion date to the submission date). Must meet Ministry of Health requirements and be issued by a competent medical authority. |
| 4 | Criminal record certificate | Issued no more than 6 months before the submission date. |
| 5 | 2 color ID photos | 4×6 cm, white background, taken within 6 months of submission. |
| 6 | Documents proving the foreigner is a manager, executive director, specialist or technical worker | Detailed requirements for each case are listed in the section above; intra-company transferees additionally need a written assignment to work in Vietnam. |
| 7 | Approval of demand for foreign workers | Except cases exempted from determining foreign-labor demand under regulations. |
| 8 | Certified copy of the foreigner's passport | Certified copy |
| 9 | Other documents related to the foreign employee as prescribed by law | E.g.: appointment decision of the parent company, labor contract, company charter,… |
Note: Documents issued abroad must be consularly legalized and translated into Vietnamese with notarization before submission. Saigon Vibe breaks down every dossier in detail and proposes the right solutions so your application is as strong as possible.
Benefits of Saigon Vibe's work permit consulting service
✅ High success rate, guaranteed results
Saigon Vibe optimizes your dossier and the process to maximize the approval rate, helping clients obtain their Vietnam work permit quickly.
- Save time – The entire procedure is handled end-to-end; no repeated trips for you.
- Right the first time – Documents are thoroughly checked to avoid return-for-amendment.
- Up-to-date regulations – Continuous tracking of foreign-labor law changes.
- Transparent pricing – Clear quotes, no hidden fees.
- Bilingual support – Consulting in Vietnamese and English for both employers and employees.
- Post-issuance support – Renewals, temporary residence cards and related procedures.
Why choose Saigon Vibe for work permit consulting
Saigon Vibe is a reputable provider with a team and partners with years of experience, specializing in quality work permit services in Vietnam. In addition, our partner network has deep expertise in labor and immigration law:
- Consultants who understand the review process at provincial Departments of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.
- Experience handling thousands of dossiers for FDI enterprises, foreign parent companies and specialists.
- Transparent workflow with regular progress updates for clients.
- Strict data confidentiality to international standards.
Work permit consulting services for foreigners at Saigon Vibe
At Saigon Vibe we provide a full range of work permit services, including:
- New work permit consulting: Dossier preparation, submission and tracking until first issuance.
- Work permit renewal: Renew before expiry so employees keep working legally without interruption.
- Work permit re-issuance: For lost, damaged permits or changed information.
- Work permit exemption confirmation: Consulting and paperwork for exempted cases.
- Temporary residence card (TRC) consulting for employees and their dependents after the permit is issued.
Work permit consulting process at Saigon Vibe
Saigon Vibe is proud to provide an all-inclusive, fast and professional work permit service for foreigners. We accompany clients through every step:
Step 1: Consultation & initial assessment
- Receive the company's and the employee's information via hotline, email or at our office.
- Assess the case, identify the right permit type and any exemptions.
Step 2: Prepare and complete the dossier
- Guide and support drafting forms and preparing documents to regulation.
- Carefully verify each document to avoid return-for-amendment.
Step 3: Submit and track progress
- Submit the dossier to the competent labor authority on your behalf.
- Track the review status and resolve any supplementary requests immediately.
Step 4: Collect the result and hand over
- Collect the work permit (digitally signed e-document from 15/6/2026) and hand it to the client.
- Advise on next steps such as the temporary residence card and residence registration.
Work permit turnaround time at Saigon Vibe
Within about 5–7 working days, applicants receive their work permit result through Saigon Vibe. Note the timeline can extend depending on the submission period and any supplementary requests from the reviewing authority.
The timeline above counts from the day a complete and valid dossier is submitted to the competent authority, excluding consular legalization time.
Case study: work permit success stories at Saigon Vibe
A Russian national who is a senior education specialist needed a work permit for a company in Thu Duc — quickly and lawfully. Saigon Vibe analyzed the dossier, prepared the qualifications evidence and completed the procedure on schedule.
Ms Uyen – Work permit consultant at Saigon Vibe
Work permit and residence card for a Long An company
A foreign deputy director completed the work permit procedure smoothly within 8 weeks, then faced difficulties applying for a temporary residence card. Saigon Vibe continued to support the dossier and explained it to the immigration authority until the client received the card.
A 3-year residence card for a manufacturing director in Binh Duong
The director of a manufacturing company in Binh Duong struggled to obtain a 3-year residence card for himself and to sponsor his wife and children in Vietnam. Although he held a reputable APEC card, his dossier was repeatedly questioned. Saigon Vibe broke down the file, prepared explanatory letters and completed the procedure successfully.
Work permit regulations under Decree 70/2023/ND-CP
On 18/09/2023, Decree 70/2023/ND-CP took effect, amending and supplementing several articles of Decree 152/2020/ND-CP on the management of foreign workers in Vietnam and the recruitment of foreign labor. Key points:
- Clearer definitions of specialist and technical worker, requiring qualifications and experience matching the job position.
- The determination of demand for foreign workers is now made via an explanatory report at least 15 days in advance, instead of a separate approval in many cases.
- Expanded exemptions from the foreign-labor demand determination.
- Acceptance of certified copies with originals for comparison or digitally signed e-documents for some papers.
- Clearer rules on issuance, renewal, re-issuance and revocation of work permits.
Legal basis for work permit applications for foreigners
- Labor Code No. 45/2019/QH14, issued 20 November 2019, effective 01/01/2021
- Decree No. 152/2020/ND-CP on foreign workers in Vietnam
- Decree 70/2023/ND-CP amending and supplementing Decree 152/2020/ND-CP
- Circulars, joint circulars and implementation guidance of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs
*** Note: Quoted legal documents are always the latest version in force. Saigon Vibe regularly reviews and updates them when the law changes.
We hope the information Saigon Vibe provided above has helped you better understand the work permit (Work Permit) procedure for foreigners — the dossier, fees and related notes. If you still have questions, don't hesitate to contact Saigon Vibe via Email, Zalo, phone, Telegram or Whatsapp 0969.325.054 for immediate support!
