TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. WHAT IS A VIETNAM WORK VISA?
Work visa is not an official designation in Vietnam legislation. This is used to refer to visas with the designation LĐ1 and LĐ2. This refers to visas used by foreign workers coming to work in Vietnam. This type of visa allow foreign workers to legally work in Vietnam during a certain time.
Work visa which consist of LĐ1 and LĐ2 has the following meanings:
- Visa LĐ1: This work visa has a maximum duration of 2 years for foreign workers coming to work in Vietnam, individuals using this visa is from a country that is not subject to a work permit, unless other international treaties in which Vietnam is a member of state otherwise.
- Visa LĐ2: This work visa has a maximum duration of 2 years for foreign workers coming to work in Vietnam and from a country that is subjected to a work permit.
2. INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED TO APPLY TO A WORK VISA IN VIETNAM
Individuals who need to apply for a Vietnam work visa include: foreign workers coming to work in Vietnam with a work contract with a business, organization or individuals with a business permit or working in production, or other services in Vietnam.
Individuals that can apply for a Vietnam work visa is as follow:
- Official workers: Contract foreign workers or foreign workers with work agreement with companies, organizations or individuals in Vietnam.
- Mobilized workers: Foreign workers mobilized to Vietnam in order to work different plans, foreign invested projects according to different international treaties or due to order from organizations, businesses, companies and individuals in Vietnam.
- Foreign experts, technicians: Work visa is issued so individuals can participate in investment, scientific and technology development in Vietnam.
- Foreign trainers for Vietnamese workers: Foreigners coming to Vietnam to train, help Vietnamese workers or to support technical staff during a certain duration.
3. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR WORK VISA APPLICATION IN VIETNAM
Individuals or companies, organizations employing foreign workers and foreign workers need to cooperate closely to ensure all required documents are prepared, following the procedures to smoothly go through the visa application process.
3.1. DOCUMENTS THE EMPLOYER NEED TO PREPARE
In order to apply for a work visa for foreign workers, Vietnamese employer will need to prepare the following documents:
- Certificate of business registration, investment permit or Operating license of the company/branch/representative office in Vietnam.
- Seal sample certificate or confirmation of the use of the company’s seal.
- Form NA16 – Registration application of seal sample and the signature of the legal representative operating in Vietnam.
- Form NA5 – Visa application, visa extension, temporary residence extension form for foreigners in Vietnam.
- 1 portrait photo, 4x6cm, white background, face shown clearly and no older than 6 months.
- Work permit or work permit exemption papers.
- A valid copy of the worker passport
3.2. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS THE FOREIGN EMPLOYEE MUST PREPARE
The foreign employee must prepare the following:
- Form NA1 – Visa application form for foreigners in Vietnam.
- 2 portrait photos.
- A valid passport and have at least 1 blank page.
- A copy of entry documents issued by Immigration Department of Vietnam.
4. HOW TO APPLY FOR A WORK VISA IN VIETNAM
The step by step process of applying for a work visa in Vietnam for foreigners is as follow:
Step 1: The employer need to prepare and apply for visa application documents
The employer will need to prepare the required documents listed in section 3 of this article and then apply at the local Immigration office or the Immigration department of the local police station.
After applying for the documents, the employer will be given a result return date. In case you need to receive the visa at an Embassy or Consulate, the employer will have to pay the fax fee to send the entry papers.
Step 2: The employer receive the work visa acceptance paper
On the result return date, the employer goes to the Immigration department to receive the result.
If it is accepted, the Immigration Department will issue the Immigration paper. The employer will receive the work visa application paper for foreign workers.
Step 3: The employer send the all papers to the employee
After receiving the visa application paper, a representative of the employer will send the result to their employee. At the same time, the employer will also send a copy of the Immigration paper to the employee to complete the visa process at the Embassy/Consulate.
Step 4: The employee must prepare all required documents and receive their visa
Foreign workers must prepare all required documents listed in section 3 of this article, then go to the nearest Embassy/Consulate to submit their visa acceptance form.
After submitting all required documents and paying the fees, the employee will receive their work visa and it will be stamped in their passport.
5. WORK VISA PROCESSING TIME FOR FOREIGN WORKERS IN VIETNAM
The total amount of time needed to complete your visa application process is around 1-3 weeks, depending on the process time of individual papers.
- Time to process the work permit (if needed): 5 – 7 working days from the day all required documents are submitted to the Department of Employment, Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.
- Time to process the work visa for foreign workers: 5 – 7 working days since the day all required documents are submitted to the Immigration Department.
- Time to process the work visa at an Embassy/Consulate: 3 – 5 working days since the day all required documents are submitted to the Embassy/Consulate.
6. FEES OF APPLYING FOR A WORK VISA IN VIETNAM
When applying for a work visa in Vietnam, the employer don’t need to pay any fee but the employee will need to pay the visa stamping fee.
According to Circular 25/2021/TT– BTC of the Ministry of Finance, work visa application fee for foreign worker is as follow:
7. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WORK PERMIT AND WORK VISA IN VIETNAM
Below is a comparison between work permit and work visa:
8. COMPARISON BETWEEN WORK VISA AND BUSINESS VISA
Work visa and business visa are 2 different types of visa. Below are the comparison between them:
Above are all important information about work visa application in Vietnam. By owning a work visa, you can legally seek employment in Vietnam