IMMIGRATION
The administrative procedures, particularly those relating to immigration from a country, and the process of obtaining documents can be tedious. Vietnam is no exception to this rule.
Relocation Vietnam assists you in these administrative steps in Vietnam with authorized and qualified local experts with whom we work in order to assure you an efficient and flawless process of legal documents, and we also help your family and pets in the administrative steps in Vietnam.
Administrative procedures in Vietnam - overview
The objective of this program is to help you obtain all the necessary documents in a minimum amount of time.
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Relocation and immigration: Needs Analysis
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Individual pre-arrival consultation*
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Comprehensive questionnaire detailing specific immigration needs and inquires
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Pre-arrival assistance with administrative procedures in Vietnam
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In-depth assessment of the immigration profile
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Preparation of all required legal documents
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Advice, information and support*
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Immigration: assistance and support in your administrative procedures in Vietnam
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Business Visa
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Work Permits
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Temporary Resident Card
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Assistance and support for the resettlement of your pets in the administrative procedures in Vietnam
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Import permits and other necessary administrative and legal formalities
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Recommendations and advice for the transport of animals
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Any additional information or assistance regarding your pet (see our Pet Relocation Services)
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Stay in touch
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Consultation: follow-up*
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*Consultation and support services are provided by mail, telephone and/or video call.
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Immigration Processes in Vietnam for citizens from abroad
Immigration Process in Vietnam
Depending on your nationality and your needs, several options are available:
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45-day visa exemption (depending on your nationality),
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90-day e-Visa (single or multiple entry, available to all),
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Specific visas (work, business, investment, study), issued through embassies/consulates or upon approval from the immigration authorities.
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We are pleased to inform you that since August 15, 2025, Vietnam has expanded its visa exemption program. Twelve new European countries – Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland – now benefit from the 45-day visa exemption.
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This measure comes in addition to the exemptions already in place for many countries in Europe and Asia, further enhancing Vietnam’s appeal for short-term stays.
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Countries benefiting from visa exemption:
In parallel, the Vietnamese government has implemented a major reform: since August 2023, the electronic visa (e-Visa) application has been available to all nationalities. This e-Visa is valid for stays of up to 90 days, with the option of single or multiple entry.
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General conditions:
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The passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended date of entry.
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The e-Visa cannot be extended within Vietnam: to prolong your stay, you must leave the country and apply for a new one.
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To apply, applicants must complete the online form available on the official government website (https://thithucdientu.gov.vn), upload a passport-style photo and a copy of the passport information page, and pay a non-refundable fee of 25 USD (single entry) or 50 USD (multiple entries) online.
New work permit regulations for expats in Vietnam
Immigration process in Vietnam - Who is exempt?
The regulations stipulate that expatriates who hold a bachelor’s degree and have at least three years of experience in a related field may work in Vietnam without a work permit, provided they stay in the country for no more than a cumulative total of 90 days within one year.
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In addition, employees transferred to Vietnam by their foreign company may be exempt from a work permit if they hold a managerial, expert, or technical position and have at least 12 months of prior employment with the company before the transfer. This exemption applies only when they are assigned to a Vietnamese entity operating in one of the 11 service sectors covered by Vietnam’s WTO commitments: business, communication, construction, distribution, education, environment, finance, health, tourism, culture/entertainment, and transport.
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Working without a permit, regardless of duration, also applies to teachers employed by international schools under the management of foreign embassies or international organizations. If they are employed by local schools, they must obtain authorization from the Ministry of Education and Training in order to qualify for an exemption from work permits.
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Furthermore, authorized volunteers of international organizations, foreign students working as interns in Vietnamese enterprises, and experts supporting or implementing official development assistance (ODA) projects are also not required to obtain a work permit in Vietnam.
Immigration process in Vietnam - How to get an exemption?
The employer must submit the required documents to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (DoLISA) in order to obtain a work permit exemption for their employees at least ten working days before the commencement of their employment.
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The documents must include:
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An application for confirmation that a foreign worker is eligible for a work permit exemption.
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The employee’s personal information (name, age, gender, nationality, passport number, duration of employment, and job description).
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Copies of documents proving that the employee qualifies for a work permit exemption, translated into Vietnamese. If copies of the aforementioned documents are submitted, they must be notarized or accompanied by the originals for comparison.
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Within five working days, the DoLISA will confirm the work permit exemption or provide reasons why the employee is not eligible.
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A work permit exemption is valid for a maximum of two years and may be renewed.
Immigration process in Vietnam - Who needs a work permit?
Any foreigner working in Vietnam (except in exemption cases) will need a work permit provided by the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.
Immigration process in Vietnam - How to get a work permit?
The necessary documents must be submitted to the competent Department at least 15 days before the start of employment.
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The required documents include:
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A written request from the employer for a work permit for the employee, or an official form
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A medical certificate valid for 12 months, issued in Vietnam or abroad with a Vietnamese translation
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A criminal record issued within the last 6 months from the country of origin, translated into Vietnamese. If the employee has resided in Vietnam, it can be obtained from the Vietnamese authorities
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A notarized copy of the employee’s passport
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Two color photos (size 4cm x 6cm, white background, front-facing, bareheaded, without tinted glasses), taken within the last six months
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Documents proving the employee’s qualifications as a manager, executive, professional, or technical worker (degrees, experience, etc.). In other cases, these documents can be replaced by:
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A certificate for traditional craftsmanship
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Proof of experience for a football player
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A flight license issued by authorized agencies in Vietnam for foreign pilots
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An aircraft maintenance license issued by authorized agencies in Vietnam for foreign aircraft maintenance technicians
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A certificate of approval for employing a foreign worker
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All documents provided by foreign companies and organizations must undergo consular legalization before being submitted to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.
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Within five working days, the Ministry will issue the work permit or state the reasons why the employee is not eligible.
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After obtaining a work permit, the foreign employee and the employer must sign a labor contract and submit a copy of the contract to the Ministry.
Immigration process in Vietnam - What happens if a foreign employee works in Vietnam without a work permit?
Expats working in Vietnam without a work permit (unless exempted by the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs) are subject to a fine and may also be expelled from the country.
Immigration process in Vietnam - Good news for your Children's Resident Card
If your child’s passport expires before their temporary residence card (TRC), you no longer have to pay for a completely new card as before. Current regulations provide for a reduced-fee visa of 25 USD for children under 14, regardless of its duration.
If your child already holds a residence card, its validity can be transferred to the new passport for only 5 USD.
However, if you need to apply for an entirely new card, the fees start at 145 USD for a validity of one to two years.
Immigration process in Vietnam - Losing your passport in Vietnam
Lose his passport is a tragedy and is among the worst nightmares when you live or travel abroad, but the process is now clearly regulated. If it happens, you must first report the loss to the local police to obtain an official loss report. Then, you should contact your embassy or consulate in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to request either a replacement passport or an emergency travel document.
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If you need to travel within Vietnam (for example, by plane) before receiving your new passport, the authorities allow you to do so using the police loss report together with a confirmation letter issued by your embassy or consulate. These documents temporarily serve as valid proof for airlines and security checks.
New work permit application classification for intragroup transfers
Intra-group transfers apply to employees classified as managers, executive directors, experts, or technical workerswho are assigned to Vietnam by their company or another entity within the same corporate group. For these categories, Vietnamese law provides specific rules that ease administrative procedures and, in some cases, allow employees to work without the need for a traditional work permit.
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Intra-Group Transfers in Vietnam – What is the impact for businesses?
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For multinational companies, this procedure is especially valuable. It allows employees to be transferred from a foreign entity to a Vietnamese subsidiary without requiring a local labor contract. The employee can remain on the payroll of the sending company, which significantly simplifies administrative processes for international assignments.
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Intra-Group Transfers in Vietnam – What are the eligibility conditions?
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A key requirement is that the employee must have at least 12 months of experience within the corporate group before being transferred to Vietnam. Unlike earlier practices, this experience no longer needs to come directly from the foreign investor entity registered in Vietnam. The assignment letter simply needs to state which group entity the employee is transferred from, along with confirmation of the length of their experience with the company.
Authorities may also request proof of the relationship between the companies within the group, especially when the entities do not share a common name. This ensures the legitimacy of the intra-group transfer and the continuity of the employee’s professional background.
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Intra-Group Transfers in Vietnam – Why was this procedure introduced?
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The goal is to facilitate staff mobility within multinational corporations operating in Vietnam. Under the previous system, many companies struggled to meet the strict requirement that the employee must have worked directly for the registered investor entity. By broadening the eligibility to include any entity within the group, the process is now more flexible and better aligned with the way international companies operate.
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Intra-Group Transfers in Vietnam – How does it work in practice?
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When a company applies for an intra-group transfer, it must provide an assignment letter from the foreign entity, including details of the employee’s role and length of service. Once validated by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the employee is authorized to work in Vietnam under the appropriate professional classification.