LD1 visa
For foreign workers exempt from a work permit, issued with an exemption certificate.
- Visa valid up to 2 years
- Residence card up to 2 years
- For exempt roles and treaty cases
Work Visa · Vietnam
Vietnam Work Visa (LD)
The LD visa is for foreigners employed in Vietnam. It comes in two types, LD1 for those exempt from a work permit and LD2 for those who need one, and a Vietnamese employer has to sponsor it. No company in Vietnam? Emerhub can be the employer.
LD1 and LD2Up to 2 yearsWork permit for LD2Residence card to 2 years
Overview
What is the Vietnam work visa?
The work visa, the LD visa, is for foreign nationals employed by a company in Vietnam. It comes in two types: LD1 for workers who are exempt from a work permit, and LD2 for those who must hold one. The Vietnamese employer sponsors the visa, it runs up to two years, and it leads to a residence card for longer stays.
It is tied to the employer who sponsors you and the role you are hired for. Working for anyone else, or outside that role, needs a separate authorization.
The work permit comes first. For most employees the visa is the last step, not the first. You secure a work permit, or an exemption certificate, then apply for the LD visa on the strength of it, then a residence card once you are in the country. The detail is below.
The two types
LD1 and LD2 — which type of LD work visa you need
Both run up to two years and lead to a residence card. The difference is whether your role needs a work permit or is exempt from one.
LD2 visa
For foreign workers who must hold a work permit. The standard employment visa.
- Visa valid up to 2 years
- Residence card up to 2 years
- Work permit obtained first
What it does not cover. The LD visa is tied to the employer that sponsors it. It does not let you work for, or earn from, another company, and the work permit behind it cannot be carried to a different employer. A change of employer means a new permit and visa.
The gatekeeper
The work permit comes first
Most foreign employees need a work permit before the visa. The permit is issued by the labor authorities and confirms that you may work for a named employer in a named role. The LD2 visa is granted on the strength of it, while the LD1 visa is for the cases where a permit is not required and an exemption certificate is issued instead.
Work permits go to managers, executives, experts, and technical workers who meet set thresholds for qualifications and experience. The employer applies, supported by your degree, evidence of experience, a police clearance, and a health check. A permit is tied to that employer and role, and cannot be carried to another company.
The order holds throughout: the permit first, then the LD visa, then a residence card for stays beyond three months, usually within 30 days of the permit being approved. The employer sponsors each step, which is why having an entity in Vietnam, or an employer of record, is the starting point.
The public-sector category
Working with a state agency or organization — the LV visa
The LV visa is a separate category, for foreigners working with Vietnamese public bodies rather than private employers. It is not the same as the diplomatic NG visas, and it does not cover private-sector jobs, which run on the LD visa above. Both LV types are valid up to one year.
LV1 visa
For working with Vietnamese government, Party, and state agencies.
- Visa valid up to 1 year
- Sponsored by the state body
- Eligible for a residence card
LV2 visa
For working with socio-political and social organizations, and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
- Visa valid up to 1 year
- Sponsored by the organization
- Eligible for a residence card
How Emerhub helps
How to apply for the Vietnam LD work visa
The visa rests on a work permit and a sponsor, so the process starts there. We can sponsor through an entity or our Employer of Record, and handle each step.
1
Secure the work permit
The employer files for your work permit, or an exemption certificate for LD1, with the labor authorities, supported by your qualifications, experience, police clearance, and health check.
2
Apply for the LD visa
With the permit or exemption in hand, you apply for the LD2 or LD1 visa at a Vietnamese mission abroad or on arrival.
3
Apply for the residence card
For stays beyond three months, convert to a residence card valid up to two years, usually within 30 days of the work permit being approved.
4
Register the employment
The employer registers the labor contract and social insurance, and tracks the renewal dates for the permit, visa, and card.
No company in Vietnam? Emerhub can be the employer
Hiring in Vietnam normally needs a local entity to sponsor the work permit and visa. With our Employer of Record, we become the legal employer, sponsor the work permit, the LD2 visa, and the residence card, and run payroll and compliance — so you can place someone in Vietnam without setting up a company.
Common questions
Vietnam work visa FAQs
The questions employers and foreign hires ask most about the LD visa.
What is the Vietnam work visa?
It is the LD visa, for foreigners employed by a company in Vietnam. LD1 is for workers exempt from a work permit; LD2 is for those who must hold one. A Vietnamese employer sponsors it, and it runs up to two years.
LD1 or LD2, which applies?
LD2 is the common one, for employees who need a work permit. LD1 is for those whose role is exempt, who are issued an exemption certificate instead. The work permit step is what separates them.
Do I need a work permit for the LD visa?
For LD2, yes, and it comes first: the employer obtains the work permit, then you apply for the visa. Some roles are exempt and take an exemption certificate instead, which leads to the LD1 visa.
How long is the LD work visa valid?
Up to two years, though if the work permit is valid for less than a year, the visa matches it. With a residence card on top, valid up to two years, you stay without renewing the visa separately.
Who sponsors the LD work visa?
The Vietnamese employer, which must be a legal entity. If you do not have a company in Vietnam, an Employer of Record can act as the legal employer and sponsor the permit, visa, and residence card on your behalf.
Can Emerhub employ my worker without my own company?
Yes. Through our Employer of Record, Emerhub becomes the legal employer in Vietnam, sponsors the work permit and LD2 visa, arranges the residence card, and runs payroll and compliance, so you can place someone there without setting up an entity.
Can I change employers on the same LD work visa?
No. The work permit and visa are tied to the employer that sponsored them, and the permit cannot be transferred. Moving to a new employer means a fresh work permit and a new visa.
What is the LV visa?
A separate category for foreigners working with Vietnamese public bodies: LV1 with government, Party, and state agencies, and LV2 with socio-political and social organizations and the VCCI. It is not for private-sector jobs, which use the LD visa.
Hiring in Vietnam?
Talk to our Ho Chi Minh City team
A free, no-obligation call: thirty minutes with our Vietnam team to confirm whether the role needs LD1 or LD2, walk through the work permit, and decide whether your own entity or our Employer of Record is the cleaner sponsor.