🇻🇳 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.
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.