Vietnam Work Permit 2026: Document Checklist

Vietnam work permit applications are governed by Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, effective since 7 August 2025. A standard file includes the employer's Form 03 request, a health certificate, a valid passport, a recent criminal record, two photos, proof of the form of work, and proof that the worker qualifies for the proposed role. The authority has 10 working days to decide after it receives a valid and complete file.

Check the exemption before preparing a permit

Not every foreign worker needs a work permit. The employer should first check whether the person falls into an exemption under Article 154 of the Labor Code or Decree 219/2025/ND-CP.

Common examples include:

an owner or capital-contributing member of a limited liability company whose contribution is at least VND 3 billion;
a chairperson or board member of a joint-stock company whose contribution is at least VND 3 billion;
a manager, executive director, expert, or technical worker who will work in Vietnam for less than 90 days in one calendar year;
an eligible intra-company transferee who has worked for the foreign enterprise for at least 12 continuous months;
a person responsible for establishing a commercial presence;
certain teachers, researchers, students, trainees, journalists, volunteers, and workers covered by an international agreement.

An exemption does not always mean that no filing is required. The employer must identify the exact exemption and check whether it needs a confirmation or notice before work starts.

Standard work permit document checklist

For an application that is not exempt, prepare the following core documents:

Employer request and explanation. Use Form 03 in the appendix to Decree 219/2025/ND-CP. The new procedure combines the explanation of foreign-labor demand with the permit request.
Health certificate. Use a certificate issued by a qualified medical provider. A foreign certificate is accepted only where a treaty or mutual-recognition arrangement applies. It must be no more than 12 months old when used.
Valid passport. Check that the name, passport number, and validity dates match every other document.
Criminal record. The record or equivalent confirmation must generally be no more than six months old on the filing date.
Two color photos. The stated format is 4 cm by 6 cm, with a white background, a front-facing uncovered head, and no glasses.
Proof of the form of work. This may be an assignment letter, service agreement, contract, or other document. The correct evidence depends on why the worker is coming to Vietnam.
Proof of position. Provide the documents that show the person qualifies as a manager, executive director, expert, or technical worker for the proposed role.

The authority may require documents that fit the exact work arrangement. Do not use one generic file for an intra-company transfer, a service contract, and a local employment contract.

Filing process and official processing time

The provincial People's Committee has authority to issue, reissue, extend, and revoke work permits and exemption confirmations. A province may delegate this task to another local authority.

If the worker will work in several provinces for the same employer, the authority at the employer's head office handles the case under Decree 219/2025/ND-CP.

The authority has 10 working days to review a valid, complete application. If it does not approve the foreign-labor need or issue the permit, it must give a written reason within three working days after receiving the complete file.

These are statutory review periods. Translation, legalization, medical checks, criminal records, corrections, and appointment availability can add time before the file becomes complete. Start the document work before the planned employment date.

Five checks before submission

Use the same spelling and order of the worker's name on every document.
Confirm that the job title and evidence match the legal worker category.
Check the issue date of the health certificate and criminal record.
Confirm which foreign documents need consular legalization and Vietnamese translation.
Check the local filing channel and delegated authority for the work location.

Official sources

This checklist is general information. The correct route depends on the worker's role, employer, work location, and entry status. MAIVN Consulting can review the case and prepare the Vietnam work permit file.