Immigration. Travel. Living.

Vietnam: job visa guide

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It can only be used with the help of their employers or a service center in Vietnam, not directly by workers or foreigners. And a work permit for Vietnam is a necessary document when applying for a temporary residency card or a working visa in Vietnam. The Labor Code No. 45/2019/QH14 and Decree No. 52/2020/ND-CP are currently in place to regulate it.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of skilled international employees seeking a job in Vietnam. If your business is expanding or outsourcing operations to Vietnam, you’ll need to be sure that all of your employees have the appropriate work visas and permissions before they begin working there.

Types of work visas

To enter the country, prospective employees will need to secure a visa from the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate, just like any other foreign national. Visas that are relevant include:

  • DL visas for tourists
  • HN visas for meetings and conferences
  • DT visas for investors
  • DN visas for employees of Vietnamese companies
  • DH visas for students and interns
  • NG1-NG4 visas for diplomatic purposes
  • LV1-LV2 visas for government employees
  • LD visas for foreign workers

Employees who desire to reside and work in Vietnam for an extended time will require an LD visa.

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Requirements to obtain Vietnam work visas

To decide who is qualified for a work visa in Vietnam, certain criteria must be met. There are three categories of foreign employees eligible to apply for work permits in Vietnam:

  • Company executives, managers, and other high-ranking employees
  • Experts and specialists
  • Technicians

Furthermore, a company in Vietnam can only hire a foreign national for one of these roles if there are no qualified Vietnamese candidates. To demonstrate that a foreign employee is required, the employer must advertise the post for recruiting on an internet site or in a Vietnamese newspaper. If no competent Vietnamese applicants apply within 30 days, the job may be offered to a foreign worker.

Proof of this announcement is one of the documents that must be given as part of the LD work visa application procedure. There are also the following requirements:

  • A fully-completed application form
  • A current passport
  • The applicant’s health certificates and medical records
  • Three passport-size photographs taken within the previous year
  • A judicial profile demonstrating that the applicant has no criminal background that would preclude them from working in Vietnam
  • Copies of any professional credentials that are relevant

Application Process

Employees should follow the steps below to apply for a work visa:

  • Obtain a letter from their employer confirming their position inside the organization.
  • Collect three recent passport photos or arrange for new ones to be taken.
  • Obtain a health certificate from a hospital in Vietnam or the employee’s home country.
  • Fill out the work visa application form and gather all of the required documentation to submit to the Vietnamese Department of Labor.

In the case of a work visa application in Vietnam, the employer plays an important role. The steps for the employer are as follows:

  • Obtaining a letter of preapproval from their local labor department for the use of foreign employees
  • Applying for a work permit with the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (DOLISA)

At least 15 days before the employee’s expected start date, applications must be filed. The procedure, however, can take a lengthy time. It is suggested that businesses apply two to three months ahead of time.

The employee will be able to travel to the country once the application has been approved. They must inform their local police authority of their status as a temporary resident. Within five days, a temporary residence permit with the same period as the work visa will be given.

 

Other important points to consider

Work permits in Vietnam are currently valid for up to three years and are not renewable. A fresh application must be made if your organization intends to keep employing a foreign worker after their permit expires.

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