Work visas
Vietnamese Work Permit (Giấy phép lao động)
The employment authorisation a foreign national needs before they can legally work for an employer in Vietnam, issued by the provincial labour authority.
Expert reviewed Official guidance referenced
Under review — check current rules
Work-permit validity (up to 2 years), single-renewal rule and exemption categories are drawn from Decree 152/2020/ND-CP; the issuing ministry changed in the 2025 government restructure. Confirm current validity, renewal limits and the responsible authority against the official source before publishing.
Important information
Immigration rules and fees can change. This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the latest requirements on the official Vietnam government website before you apply.
- Official name
- Work Permit for foreign employees (Giấy phép lao động)
- Route type
- Employment authorisation (prerequisite for the LD visa / TRC)
- Governing law
- Decree No. 152/2020/ND-CP on foreign employees working in Vietnam
- Issuing body
- Provincial Department of Labour (DoLISA) / the national labour ministry
- Vietnam restructured its labour ministry in 2025; confirm the current issuing authority
- Maximum validity
- Up to 2 years
- Per Decree 152/2020; verify against the current official source
Who it is for
- Foreign nationals with a confirmed job or assignment with an employer, host or contractor in Vietnam
- Managers, executives, experts and technical workers being placed with a Vietnamese entity
- Not required for foreigners who qualify for a work-permit exemption confirmation
Requirements
- The employer must first obtain approval of its demand to use foreign workers before the start date
- Evidence the role is a manager, executive, expert or technical worker as defined in law
- Documents evidencing qualifications and experience, a health certificate and a criminal-record / judicial check
- A valid passport and the intended position, workplace and duration
What you can do
- Work legally for the sponsoring employer in the approved position
- Use the permit to obtain the LD labour visa and, where eligible, a Temporary Residence Card
- Renew the permit once, subject to the conditions in the decree
How to apply
- Employer registers and obtains approval of its demand to use foreign labour
- Employer submits the work-permit application to the provincial labour authority ahead of the start date
- Collect the issued Work Permit
- Use it to apply for the LD visa / Temporary Residence Card through the Immigration Department
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official gov.uk sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.