Vietnam Work Permit Regulations: New Rules for Foreign Workers from August 2025 

On August 7, 2025, the Vietnamese government promulgated Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, providing updated guidance on management of work permits (WPs) for foreign workers. The new decree introduces significant changes compared to previous directives, including streamlined procedures, reduced processing time, and expanded exemptions from the requirement to obtain a WP.

Effective from the issued date, Decree 219 promulgates the annulment of the following regulations and policies: 

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• Provisions on foreign workers in Vietnam stipulated in Decree No. 152/2020/ND-CP dated December 30, 2020, amended and supplemented under Decree No. 70/2023/ND-CP dated September 18, 2023; and 
• Article 8 and Section 2 of Appendix II prescribed by Decree No. 128/2025/ND-CP dated June 11, 2025. 

The new decree establishes a new compliance regime for implementing WPs in Vietnam, consisting of 36 articles divided into five chapters: 

• Chapter I – General provisions: Articles 1 through 6, which outline the scope of application, subjects, responsibilities of competent authorities, digital application processes, and eligible job positions for foreign workers in Vietnam; 
• Chapter II – Application, renewal, and extension of WP exemption certificates (WPECs): Articles 7 through 17, detailing eligibility, required documents, procedures, and processing times for these procedures; 
• Chapter III – Application, renewal, and extension of WPs: Articles 18 through 29, detailing eligibility, required documents, procedures, and processing times; 
• Chapter IV – Revocation of WPECs: Articles 30 to 33, describing the applicable cases and procedures for revoking permits and certificates; and 
• Chapter V – Implementation: Articles 34 through 36, establishing transitional terms, effective dates, and responsibilities for enforcement. 

Transitional provisions for smooth implementation 

To facilitate quick implementation, Article 34 of Decree 219 specifies transitional provisions for valid WPs and WEPCs, as well as ongoing related application processes. 

Validity of existing permits 

According to Article 34 of Decree 219, WPs and WEPCs issued, re-issued, or extended under Decree 152 amended and supplemented in Decree 70 remain valid until expiry. Subsequent issuance, re-issuance, or extension of these documents must be in line with the provisions of Decree 219. 

Pending applications prior to August 7, 2025 

Applications for issuance, re-issuance, extension, or revocation submitted before the new decree’s effective date will continue to be processed under Decree 152 amended and supplemented in Decree 70. 

Permits for specific job categories 

Existing WPs and WEPCs for managers, executive directors, experts, technical workers, and employees of foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or international organizations permitted in Vietnam remain valid until expiry.  Renewals or re-issuances will be made under the job categories defined in Point h, Clause 1, Article 2 of Decree 219. 

Revocation cases 

WPs and WEPCs issued under Decree 152, amended and supplemented in Decree 70, that fall under revocation provisions in Articles 30 and 32 of Decree 219 must be revoked by the issuing authority in the employer’s registered location. 

New provisions on Vietnam’s WP regime: Key highlights 

Effective August 7, 2025, Decree 219 introduces significant changes to the management of WPs in Vietnam. 

Licensing authority shifts to the provincial level 

As per Article 4 of Decree 219, the power to issue, re-issue, extend, and revoke WPs and certifications of non-eligibility now rests with Provincial People’s Committees (PPCs). PPCs may further delegate these powers to specialized agencies. 

This replaces the previous framework in which the local Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs handled most cases, with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), which is now the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), responsible for special cases.  

Integrated online processing for WPs and criminal record certificates 

A new interlinked process allows employers to apply for both a WP and a criminal record certificate simultaneously via the National Public Service Portal.  

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As per Article 6 of Decree 219, the applications are processed in coordination between the PPC licensing authority and the police department, with results issued electronically at the same time. Accordingly, foreign workers who have resided temporarily in Vietnam and wish to obtain a Criminal Record Certificate in Vietnam (instead of in their home country) are entitled to either apply for it independently or request the issuance of a WP together with the issuance of the Criminal Record Certificate. 

Under prior regulations, these procedures were handled separately. 

Reduced WP processing time  

Previously, if a company aimed to acquire WP for foreign staff, it had to go through three steps: posting the job, obtaining approval for hiring foreign workers, and submitting the WP application. Since this is a step-by-step procedure, the entire process could take up to five weeks or more. 

To increase administrative efficiency in real-life practice, Decree 219 introduces a more streamlined process, specifically: 

• Abolishing job posting requirement: Employers are no longer required to post recruitment notices on the Portal of the MoLISA or the Portal of the Employment Service Center. Instead, they may directly carry out such postings on public platforms or the company’s own platform. This recruitment posting must be made at least five days prior to the date of application submission; and 
• Integrating the foreign-hiring approval and WP procedures: The employer can submit one dossier that includes both the explanation for hiring foreign workers and the WP application: 
  • The WP application dossier must be submitted between 10 and 60 days prior to the expected commencement date of work; and 
  • Within 10 working days from the date of receipt of a complete application dossier, the competent authority shall review and approve the demand and issue the WP to the foreign employee. 

The new procedure has shortened the entire process to about three weeks. 

Expanded exempt list 

Decree 219 increases the exemption categories from 14 to 15, adding “foreign workers in finance, science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, and other priority sectors recognized by central or provincial authorities”. 

Notification in cases waived from the WPEC application

Article 9 of Decree 219 stipulates that certain WP-exempt cases are no longer required to apply for a certificate. However, their employers must notify the competent authority no later than three working days before the employee starts work. 

Notifications must include key personnel, employer, and work details. Under the previous regulations, reports were sent to MoHA or DoHA without any specific advance notification requirement. 

Updated expert and technician criteria 

The three-year working experience requirement for all experts and technicians has been relaxed.  

Multi-province eligibility for a single WP 

A WP issued in one province can now be used for work in multiple provinces, as long as it aligns with the following provisions in Decree 219: 

• Initial issuance of a WP or WPEC for a foreign employee to work in multiple provinces: It is only necessary to apply for the WP at the location of the employer’s head office and list all intended workplaces in the application dossier. In this case, processing time will follow the regulations for WP issuance. 

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• If a WP has already been issued and there is a subsequent need for the employee to work in multiple provinces: At least three days before the scheduled start date, the employer must notify the local authority where the foreign employee is expected to work with the following details: full name, age, nationality, passport number, work permit number, name of the foreign employer, and the start and end dates of work, which must not exceed the validity period of the issued work permit. 
• If a WPE has already been issued and there is a subsequent need for the employee to work in multiple provinces: At least three days before the scheduled start date, the employer must notify the issuing authority of the certificate of exemption from the WP requirement in the locality where the foreign employee is expected to work. 

Under the previous regulations, some local authorities required foreign workers to reapply for WPs when they moved to a new location to work, as there were no specific provisions. 

Supplements on permit duration rules 

While the two-year maximum validity remains, Decree 219 now specifies the documents used to determine duration, such as labor contracts, assignment letters, international agreements, and business licenses. 

Unified revocation criteria 

Grounds for revoking both WPs and certifications now include expiry, misuse, criminal prosecution, business closure, or withdrawal by the sending organization. The previous regulations listed revocation grounds separately and did not include certifications of non-eligibility. 

Takeaways 

Decree 219 marks a breakthrough in managing foreign workers in Vietnam, offering updated regulations to enhance talent mobility and enrich the labor market with high-skilled workers. By understanding the changes prescribed under this new decree, businesses can better navigate the new regulatory landscape and optimize their workforce planning involving foreign employees. 

In the coming time, firms are encouraged to take proactive steps to ensure compliance with the revised legal framework, such as: 

• Review hiring criteria for experts and technicians to take advantage of relaxed experience requirements in priority sectors; 
• Adjust recruitment timelines to match the shortened processing period and the new five-day minimum posting requirement; 
• Update internal HR procedures to comply with the advance notification rules for work permit–exempt cases; 
• Monitor permit duration documentation to ensure contracts and supporting materials align with the new validity rules; and 
• Stay informed on revocation grounds to reduce compliance risks and prevent unexpected work disruptions. 

(With inputs from Tam Nguyen) 

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