Procedures for applying for a work permit from 01 July 2025

Pursuant to Decree No. 70/2023/ND-CP dated September 18, 2023 of the Government amending and supplementing some articles of Decree No. 152/2020/ND-CP regulating foreign employees working in Vietnam, and Decision No. 636/QD-BNV dated June 20, 2025 of the Ministry of Home Affairs takes effect from July 1, 2025. procedures for applying for work permits for foreign employees is updated as follows:

1.  Report explaining the need and change in the need to use foreign employees

• Step 1: From July 1, 2025, the announcement of recruitment of Vietnamese employees for positions expected to recruit foreign employees will be made on the Electronic Information Portal of the Provincial People's Committee within at least 15 days from the expected date of reporting to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee where the foreign worker is expected to work.
• Step 2: At least 15 days before the expected date of employing foreign employees, employers (except contractors) are responsible for determining the need to employ foreign employees for each job position that Vietnamese employees cannot meet and reporting to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee where the foreign worker is expected to work.

During the implementation process, if there is a change in the need to use foreign employees in terms of position, job title, form of work, number, and location, the employer must report to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee at least 15 days in advance from the expected date of use of foreign employees.

• Step 3: The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall issue a written approval or disapproval of the use of foreign employees for each job position within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the explanatory report or the explanatory report on the change in the need to use foreign employees.

2.  Apply for a work permit

At least 15 days in advance from the date the foreign worker is expected to start working in Vietnam, the employer must submit a request for a work permit to Chairman of Provincial People's Committee where the foreign worker is expected to work.

3.  Sign a labor contract

• For the foreign worker working under a labor contract, after being granted a work permit, the employer and the foreign worker must sign a written labor contract before the expected working date.
• The employer shall send the signed labor contract upon request to the competent authority that issued the work permit. Labor contract must be an original or a certified copy.

Above are some new points on procedures for applying for work permits for foreign employees working in Vietnam takes effect from 01 July 2025. Should you have any questions or problems, please do not hesitate to contact Gia Luat for the best support.