Work Permit Check for foreigners in Vietnam.
IVLF’s free work permit check helps employers see in a few minutes whether a foreign hire in Vietnam is exempt from a work permit, eligible to apply, or not yet eligible. The work permit check reflects Decree 393/2026/ND-CP, which takes effect on 5 December 2026.
Check a foreign hire in a few minutes
Answer a few short questions about the employee and the role to see whether the hire is exempt, eligible or not yet eligible for a work permit.
How the work permit check works
Choose your filing date
Before or after 5 December 2026, because the conditions differ.
Describe the role
Manager or executive director, expert, technical worker, or owner or board member.
Add qualifications and time in Vietnam
Training level, relevant experience, capital contributed and working time per year.
See the result
Exempt, eligible or not yet eligible, with notes on the documents that matter.
Read the full explanation
The work permit check asks a few short questions about the foreign employee and the role: when you plan to file, the intended position (manager or executive director, expert, technical worker, or owner, capital contributor or board member), the capital contributed to the Vietnamese company, the person’s training level, relevant work experience, total working time in Vietnam per year, and any special circumstances. Based on your answers, the work permit check shows one of three outcomes: exempt, eligible, or not yet eligible. It also adds notes on the supporting documents that usually matter for the role.
Who needs a work permit in Vietnam?
Managers and executive directors
Assessed on their role in the company. Documents proving the management position are usually needed.
Experts
Assessed mainly on qualifications and relevant experience. Conditions differ before and after 5 December 2026.
Technical workers
Assessed on training and practical experience. The check shows whether the profile is likely to meet the conditions.
Owners and capital contributors
Capital contributed to the company decides whether an exemption applies, using a VND 3 billion threshold.
Read the full explanation
Foreign nationals who work in Vietnam generally need a work permit unless an exemption applies. Which category fits depends on the role (manager or executive director, expert or technical worker), the person’s qualifications and experience, and how long they will work in Vietnam. Owners, capital contributors and board members are treated differently: whether they qualify for an exemption depends on the capital they have contributed to the Vietnamese company, and the work permit check uses a VND 3 billion threshold for that question.
Work permit check for managers and executive directors
Managers and executive directors are assessed on their role in the company. Employers usually need documents that prove the management position, such as the company charter or an appointment decision, together with the standard application documents. The checker flags this requirement when you select the manager or executive director category, so you can prepare the right paperwork before you file.
Work permit check for experts
Experts are assessed mainly on their qualifications and relevant experience. The conditions for experts differ between the rules that apply before 5 December 2026 and the new decree that applies from that date, which is why the checker asks about training level and years of experience as well as your filing date. For specialised areas such as strategic technology, culture, arts, sport, teaching or research, special conditions may apply.
Work permit check for technical workers
Technical workers are assessed on their training and practical experience. In the checker you enter the person’s training level and the number of years of relevant work experience, and the result shows whether the profile is likely to meet the conditions. If the profile falls short, the result is “not yet eligible”, which helps you decide whether to wait, strengthen the evidence or consider another category.
Work permit check for owners and capital contributors
Owners, capital contributors and board members are treated differently from employees. The checker asks how much capital the person has contributed to the Vietnamese company and uses a VND 3 billion threshold. Below that level the person does not qualify for the exemption and is generally handled as a manager or executive director who applies for a work permit.
Exemptions and special cases
Short-term work
Under 90 days a year.
Intra-company transfer
After at least 12 months of service with the foreign parent company.
Married to a Vietnamese citizen
And living in Vietnam.
Strategic technology
And other priority fields.
Culture, arts and sport
Plus teaching or research roles at educational institutions.
Whether a case actually qualifies depends on the documents and on the authority’s assessment, so treat the result as guidance.
Read the full explanation
Some foreign workers do not need a work permit. The work permit check covers the cases employers ask about most often:
- short-term work of under 90 days a year;
- intra-company transfers from a foreign parent company after at least 12 months of service;
- foreign nationals married to a Vietnamese citizen and living in Vietnam;
- people working in strategic technology or other priority fields;
- culture, arts and sport roles, and teaching or research roles at educational institutions.
Whether a case actually qualifies depends on the documents and on the authority’s assessment, so treat the result as guidance and confirm it before you rely on it.
What changes on 5 December 2026?
The new decree on foreign workers takes effect on this date.
Conditions for experts and some other categories differ between the old and new rules.
The tool asks whether you will file before or after the changeover.
Read the full explanation
Decree 393/2026/ND-CP was issued on 20 October 2026 and takes effect on 5 December 2026. Because the conditions for experts and some other categories differ between the old and new rules, the work permit check asks whether you will file before or after that date. Employers whose applications fall close to the changeover should check which rules will apply to their file.
Documents and timing
Qualifications and experience
Proof of the person’s training and relevant work experience.
Health certificate
Required with the application.
Criminal record check
Part of the standard document set.
Role documents
For managers: the company charter or an appointment decision.
Document requirements and processing times vary from case to case, so confirm them before you start.
Read the full explanation
A work permit application typically needs proof of the person’s qualifications and experience, a health certificate, a criminal record check, the employer’s request and documents showing the role, such as the company charter or an appointment decision for a manager or executive director. Document requirements and processing times vary from case to case, so confirm them before you start, especially for experts and managers.
Planning a foreign hire in Vietnam
Plan the full route
Visa or temporary residence, labour contract, social insurance and tax registration all take time.
Decide the category first
A manager, an expert and a technical worker are assessed on different grounds.
Start renewals early
Keep a calendar of expiry dates. A new position, employer or location may need an updated permit.
Read the full explanation
A work permit is only one part of bringing a foreign employee to Vietnam. Employers also need to plan the visa or temporary residence route, the labour contract, social insurance and tax registration, and the date the person is expected to start. Starting early matters, because collecting and translating documents from abroad can take longer than the application itself.
It also helps to decide the category before you hire. A manager, an expert and a technical worker are assessed on different grounds, so the same person may qualify under one category and not under another. Comparing the options early can save time and avoid having to reapply later.
Work permit renewal and changes
Work permits are issued for a limited period, and changes such as a new position, a new employer or a different work location may require an updated or new permit. Employers should keep a calendar of expiry dates and start renewal early. If a foreign employee’s situation changes, for example a promotion into a management role, review whether the existing permit still covers the work actually being done.
Common mistakes when preparing a work permit file
Mismatched job titles
Titles that differ between the employer’s request and the supporting documents.
Unclear experience letters
Letters that do not clearly cover the required period.
Documents not legalised
Qualifications that are not legalised or translated where needed.
Wrong category
For example a technical worker filing when the role fits the manager category.
Read the full explanation
Most delays come from avoidable problems rather than from the rules themselves. Typical examples include job titles that differ between the employer’s request and the supporting documents, experience letters that do not clearly cover the required period, qualifications that have not been legalised or translated where needed, and applications filed under the wrong category, for example as a technical worker when the role fits the manager category. Running the work permit check first helps you choose the right category and plan the documents before you file.
Work permit check: frequently asked questions
Does every foreign employee in Vietnam need a work permit?
No. Some foreign workers are exempt, for example for short stays or intra-company transfers, but exemptions depend on the facts and the documents. The work permit check shows which outcome is most likely for your case.
Can I use the work permit check for a hire who starts after 5 December 2026?
Yes. Choose “From 5 Dec 2026” in the first question and the work permit check will apply the conditions that take effect on that date.
Is the result of the work permit check a legal opinion?
No. The result is general guidance based on the information you enter. Actual outcomes depend on the documents you submit and the authority’s assessment, so ask a qualified professional to confirm important decisions.
Need help with a work permit?
IVLF Advisors supports employers with work permit applications, exemption confirmations and the immigration steps around them. See our work permit service and our immigration and work permit practice, or contact our team for a review of your case. If you are still setting up a Vietnamese entity, see our company incorporation service and our corporate and commercial practice. You can also look up Vietnamese legal texts in the national legal documents database and follow official announcements on the Vietnamese Government portal.
