The Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP was issued and came into force on 07 August 2025, replacing Decree 152/2020/ND-CP and Decree 70/2023/ND-CP. This new regulation provides comprehensive guidance on the conditions, procedures, and management of foreign nationals working in Vietnam.

Key Highlights:

  1. Online submission of Work Permit Application

Employers submit applications for issuance, re-issuance, extension of work permits and certificates of work permit exemptions for foreign workers online at the National Public Service Portal (https://dichvucong.gov.vn/p/home/dvc-trang-chu.html).

  1. Recruitment notice to seek Vietnamese workers

In case of working under the form of “Conducting labor contract”, the employer shall first publicly post a job announcement to seek Vietnamese candidates for the position that intends to hire foreign worker. This notice shall be published at least 5 days prior to submitting the application for issuance or extension of work permits for the foreign workers, and only after no suitable Vietnamese candidates have been recruited.

  1. Intergration of Work Permit and Criminal Record Procedures

Employers can submit intergrated application for work permit issuance and criminal record issuance via the National Public Service Portal.

  1. Consolidation of Procedure for Explanation on demand of hiring foreign worker and Work Permit Procedure

The employer shall submit only one dossier for explanation on demand of hiring foreign worker and work permit issuance no earlier than 60 days and no later than 10 days prior to the intended start working date. Similarly, for work permit extension procedure, only one dossier shall be submitted between 45 to 10 days before the current work permit expires.

  1. Expansion of Work Permit Exemptions

15 cases of foreign workers are exempt from work permits, in which some popular cases include:

  • Foreign workers who are married to Vietnamese citizen and reside in the territory of Vietnam;
  • Enter Vietnam for working for less than 90 days per calendar year (from January 1st to the last day of the year), regardless of how many entries;
  • Temporary intra-corporate transferees within a foreign company that has established a commercial presence in Vietnamoperating in the scope of 11 service sectors listed in Vietnam’s WTO services commitments. The transferred employee must have worked for the parent company for at least 12 consecutive months right before entering Vietnam;
  • Working in prioritized sectors including finance, science, technology, innovation, national digital transformation, priority areas for socio-economic development.

  1. Validity Term of Work Permit/ Certificates of Work Permit Exemption

The duration of a work permit or a certificate of work permit exemption is granted according to the validity period of thedocument which is the basis of work (e.g. the labor contract intended to execute, the appointment decision, etc.) but in any cases shall not exceed 02 years.

  1. Criterias for Experts and Technical Labors Qualification

    • For Experts: Possess a university degree or higher or an equivalent qualification, and have at least 2 years of relevant professional experience that aligns with the job role the foreign worker is expected to undertake in Vietnam. Especially, experts working in the fields of finance, science, technology, innovation, national digital transformation or priority fields for socio-economic development must hold a university degree or higher in the trained major and have at least 1 year of work experience suitable for the job role that the foreign workers expect to work in Vietnam.
    • For Technical Labors: Have been trained for at least 1 year and possess at least 2 years of work experience relevant to the job position that the foreign workers are expected to undertake in Vietnam; or have at least 3 years of work experience that is suitable for the job position the foreign workers are expected to perform in Vietnam.

  2. Multi-location Employment

In cases where a foreign worker who has been granted a work permit intends to work for the same employer in multiple provinces or centrally-governed cities, the employer is required to notify the competent labor authority in the location where the foreign worker is expected to work at least 3 days before the foreign worker begins working in each new location.

  1. Removal of Reporting Requirement for Foreign Labor Employment

The employers are no longer obligated to submit the semi-annual reports on status of employment of foreign workers to the labor management authority as previously stipulated under the Decree 152/2020/ND-CP and Decree 70/2023/ND-CP.

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Disclaimer

This newsletter contains only brief notes on legal documents effective as of September 2025. The information herein is general in nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any specific individual or organization. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, there is no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date received or will remain accurate in the future. We are not responsible for any organization or individual using this information for any purpose without appropriate professional advice after thoroughly reviewing the specific situation.