🇻🇳 Vietnam · Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Quick answer
Foreigners generally need a work permit plus a temporary residence card to work in Vietnam; the labour authorities issue work permits, usually via the employer. Some experts and intra-company transferees can be work-permit exempt with confirmation.
Vietnam work authorisation normally starts with employer-side foreign-labour approval and a work permit, then aligns the worker’s visa or Temporary Residence Card with the approved role.
- The National Public Service Portal lists work-permit filing steps and a 10-working-day handling period after a complete dossier is received.
- MOLISA public services include foreign-labour demand reports, work-permit issuance, reissuance, extension and exemption confirmation.
- A tourist or e-visa should not be treated as permission to work locally.
Step-by-step
- 1
Secure a job and confirm eligibility
Secure a job with a Vietnamese employer for a position that meets the foreign-worker criteria (manager, executive, expert or technical worker).
- 2
Employer gets approval to use foreign labour
The employer obtains approval of the demand to use foreign workers from the provincial labour authority.
- 3
Apply for the work permit
The employer applies for your work permit from the Department of Labour (DoLISA), with your qualifications, health check and criminal record.
- 4
Get the entry visa
Obtain the appropriate visa to enter Vietnam, sponsored by the employer.
- 5
Apply for a Temporary Residence Card
With the work permit, apply for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) so you can stay without repeated entry visas.
- 6
Renew and comply
Renew the work permit and TRC before expiry and keep to the sponsored role.
Checklist
- Job with a Vietnamese employer (qualifying category)
- Approval to use foreign labour (provincial authority)
- Work permit from DoLISA (qualifications, health, criminal record)
- Entry visa sponsored by the employer
- Temporary Residence Card (TRC)
- Health check + document legalisation
- Work permit + TRC renewals tracked
- Compliance with the sponsored role
Official authorities
- MOLISA online public services
Official labour public services including foreign-worker procedures.
- National Public Service Portal — work permit
Official work-permit procedure.
- Vietnam Immigration Department
Immigration and stay administration.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a work permit in Vietnam?
Most foreign employees do; the employer applies to the labour authorities, and exemption confirmation is available for some categories.
How long is a Vietnamese work permit valid?
Work permits are typically valid up to two years and renewable, tied to the employer and role.
What is a temporary residence card?
A card allowing longer legal stay linked to your work permit, avoiding repeated visa renewals.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.