Obtaining Foreign Work Permits
Work permits for foreigners in Vietnam are valid for a maximum of three years. There are currently around 60,000 foreign employees in the country with valid work permits and around 20,000 illegal employed foreigners using tourist visas. Authorities are now becoming stricter when it comes to foreigners working in the country without obtaining a proper work permit. Persons who violate the regulations will be penalized or even deported back to their home countries if they cannot meet the work permit requirements.
Foreign nationals working in the country for companies, organizations, or individuals must comply with certain conditions to qualify for a work permit. These include the following: they must be at least 18 years of age; they must be in good health as necessary to satisfy the job requirements; they must be a manager, executive director or expert with technical skills and knowledge applicable to the job; and they must not have a criminal record and currently not subject to criminal prosecution or any criminal sentence in Vietnam or overseas.
To read the full version of this article, please purchase the summer issue of Vietnam Briefing, which can be found in the Asia Briefing Bookstore. Companies requiring assistance may contact Dezan Shira & Associates at vietnam@dezshira.com for advice.
