Vietnam’s rapid integration into the global market has sparked a growing demand for specialized skills and foreign expertise. In this guide, we cover the key requirements and procedures for hiring foreign workers in Vietnam for your local company, including work visa regulations, and industry insights for employers.
Eligibility Criteria for Foreign Workers
Vietnam’s labor laws prioritize local talent, allowing foreign workers to be hired only when skill gaps exist. To legally employ foreign workers in Vietnam, you must comply with several requirements outlined in the Labor Code:
- Justification for Hiring: Employers must demonstrate that the position requires skills which are not available locally. This often applies to roles needing specific language proficiency or international experience.
- Approval Process: Your company must submit a foreign labor use report at least 15 days before hiring and prove that you unsuccessfully attempted to fill the position locally.
- Labor Laws Compliance: You must adhere to Vietnamese labor laws in terms of minimum wage regulations, standard working hours, mandatory social insurance contributions and other employee rights.
How to Hire Foreigners in Vietnam
Securing Work Permits for Foreign Workers
The work permit must be obtained from the Vietnam Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (DoLISA) and is valid for 24 months. It is mandatory for foreign hires employed in Vietnam for over three months unless they qualify for exemptions (i.e. certain executive or technical roles covered under international agreements).
First, you must submit a request for approval to hire foreign workers at least 15 days before the intended start date. This includes providing justification for hiring a foreign national over a local candidate. You may proceed with the permit application upon approval and provide the following employee documentation:
- Medical examination certificate (with validation in 12 months).
- Criminal record certificate for the past six months.
- Work experience certificate.
- Certified copies of the employee’s passport.
Keep in mind that you must legalize all certificates in the issuing country and translate them into Vietnamese. Emerhub experts in Vietnam can assist or facilitate the entire process on your behalf, ensuring compliance with local regulations and reducing risks of delays or rejections.
Work Visa Options for Foreign Workers in Vietnam
Whether you are bringing in experts for short-term consultancy or hiring long-term employees– securing the correct visa requires careful attention to their specific purposes. Emerhub’s relocation experts can assist you throughout your visa application, ensuring that you have secured the correct visa that aligns with your intended business activities in Vietnam.
Our experts can also certify and translate all mandatory documents, ensuring all paperwork is in order. Below is a detailed breakdown of the most common visa options for foreign professionals working with a sponsor company in the country:
| Visa Type | Purpose | Requirements | Duration and Validity | |
| Short-Term Work Visa (Business Visa) For employment under 3 months. | DN1 | – Suitable for short-term assignments, consultancy roles, meetings. – Work with legally registered businesses in Vietnam. | – Valid passport – Application form – Sponsor letter – Proof of funds – Return ticket | Up to 12 months, with single and multiple-entry options. |
| DN2 | – For offering services, establishing a commercial presence, or activities under international agreements. | |||
| Long-Term Work Visas For employment longer than 3 months. | LD1 | – For foreigners exempt from work permits. | – Work permit (or exemption certificate) – Proof of funds – Health and criminal record certificates | Up to 2 years, with single-entry and multiple-entry options. |
| LD 2 | – For foreigners requiring work permits. | |||
Both long term work visas (LD 1 and LD 2) can be extended and converted to a temporary resident card. This can also be obtained after receiving the work permit and remains valid for the same duration as the work permit. If you’re unsure which visa type best suits your employee’s credentials, our experts can help you in determining the most suitable option.
For a deeper dive into working and relocating to Vietnam, take a look at our related guide on how to work in Vietnam.
How to Sponsor Foreign Managers in Vietnam
In some cases, it may be necessary to bring in a foreign manager to help with local operations in Vietnam. For such situations, a Delegation (NN) Visa is commonly used, particularly for heads of representative or branch offices, and foreign trade organizations. This visa type is specifically designed to facilitate the entry and stay of foreign managers and executives who play crucial roles in international organizations operating in Vietnam.
There are three types of delegation visa– the NN1, NN2, and NN3, that cater to different levels of management and organizational roles:
- NN1 visa– valid for up to 11 years, issued to managers of representative offices, branches of foreign traders, and representative offices of other foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Vietnam.
- NN2 visa– with validity of 1 year, it is for heads of representative offices, branches of foreign traders, and representative offices of other foreign economic, cultural, and professional organizations.
- N3 visa– also valid for 1 year, for employees of the above organizations.
To obtain a Delegation Visa, you must provide several employee documents such as a valid passport, an invitation letter from the sponsoring organization, and proof of job scope within the company. For NN1 visas, you must provide documents proving investment in Vietnam. NN2 visas, however, require evidence of the employee position as head of representative office or branch.
Navigating Payroll and Tax Services for Foreign Workers in Vietnam
Hiring foreign workers in Vietnam comes with unique challenges, particularly when it comes to navigating the country’s payroll and tax requirements. Beyond securing work permits and ensuring eligibility, you must comply with detailed regulations that govern wages, insurance contributions, leave entitlements, and tax filings.
These are essential for maintaining a lawful and transparent employment process and safeguarding employee rights under the country’s Labor Code. Emerhub’s local experts can help you through our end-to-end corporate compliance solutions to help companies stay compliant and operate smoothly. Our support include:
- Comprehensive Payroll Management– accurate salary calculations, including computations for overtime, bonuses, and statutory deductions.
- Social and Health Insurance Contributions– management of mandatory social health, and unemployment insurance.
- Personal Income Tax Filing and Reporting– assistance with monthly, quarterly, and annual tax submissions, as well as calculating tax liabilities for employees.
- Corporate tax compliance– advisory and filing services for tax obligations such as registration and reporting.
- Regulatory Compliance Update– guidance and notifications on changes to labor or tax laws, ensuring payroll systems remain up-to-date.
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