I. Main Visa and Work Permit Types

These are the main routes covered in this guide. Dependant, investment, study, transit, permanent-residence, and other specialized categories should be confirmed according to the person’s status and actual arrangements.

1. Visa-Exemption Policy

Vietnam currently has two unilateral 45-day visa-exemption arrangements covering citizens of 24 countries, but their permitted purposes differ:

1. 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland.
2. 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028, tourism only: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

The second group’s exemption is limited to tourism and cannot be used directly for ordinary business visits. All visa-exempt travellers must still meet the statutory entry conditions.

Vietnam also has bilateral visa-exemption arrangements with several countries, some limited to diplomatic, official, special, or designated-purpose passports. Applicants should check the arrangement applicable to their nationality and passport type.

China is not included in the 24-country unilateral exemption for ordinary passports. Unless another specific exemption applies, Chinese ordinary-passport holders generally need an e-Visa or another visa matching their purpose. Diplomatic, service, public-affairs, border-pass, and other special documents should be checked separately.

Visa exemption addresses entry and stay only and does not grant work authorization. Travellers must meet passport-validity, purpose, and other legal conditions. The stay period, eligibility to change status, and possible extension should be reconfirmed before travel, and repeated entries must not be used to avoid work-permit or long-term residence requirements.

Eligible foreign-passport holders entering Phu Quoc from overseas and remaining within the permitted area may qualify for the special visa exemption of up to 30 days. Travellers transiting through another Vietnamese international port must also meet the transit-zone, itinerary, and port conditions. Anyone travelling elsewhere in Vietnam, changing the itinerary, or working should not rely only on the Phu Quoc exemption.

2. Vietnam Electronic Visa (e-Visa)

Vietnam’s e-Visa is issued electronically by the Ministry of Public Security’s immigration authority and may be applied for online through the official platform.

The e-Visa is valid for up to 90 days, may allow single or multiple entry, and normally has an official processing time of three working days after the application and payment are completed. The authority may issue a shorter period. After approval, check the name, passport number, validity, number of entries, and permitted ports.

An e-Visa is an entry visa, not an independent work permit. Stating a business purpose on the application does not by itself authorize employment, a long-term client-site assignment, production management, or ongoing service delivery.

3. Business Visits Versus Actual Work

Activities that may initially be assessed as short-term business visits include meetings, negotiations, contract signing, visits to customers or suppliers, market research, exhibitions, conferences, and brief business contact that does not create a Vietnamese employment relationship.

Activities that may constitute work include employment by or salary from a Vietnamese entity, ongoing day-to-day management by a Vietnamese entity, repeated client-site services, installation, repair, production supervision, operations, project delivery, assuming a local Vietnamese role, or successive short entries used instead of proper work authorization.

The boundary depends on actual activities, not an internal job title. Technical services, client-site work, training delivery, installation and commissioning, or long projects should be assessed before travel for work-permit or exemption requirements.

4. Vietnam Work Permit

Foreign nationals working in Vietnam generally need to address three separate issues: whether a work permit or exemption is required; which visa is appropriate for entry; and whether a temporary residence card matching the work status is needed for a longer stay. None of these documents automatically replaces the others.

The principal work-permit categories are managers, executive directors, experts, and technical workers. Eligibility depends on the statutory definition, duties, appointment evidence, education or equivalent qualifications, professional training, relevant experience, and the proposed position. A job title alone does not prove eligibility, and regulated professions may require additional licensing.

A work-permit application normally includes a valid passport, compliant photographs, health certificate, criminal-record document, evidence of education, training, professional qualifications and experience, employment contract or appointment/transfer evidence, the Vietnamese employer’s filing documents, and details of the role, workplace, term, and duties.

Some documents have issuance and form requirements. A criminal record is generally used within six months of issue. Whether an overseas health certificate is accepted depends on applicable mutual-recognition arrangements and current Vietnamese rules. Translation, notarization, and consular legalization must be checked for each document based on its type, place of issue, applicable treaty, and filing authority.

The work-permit period is limited by the employment contract, appointment, transfer, project, passport, and supporting documents and is normally no more than two years. Renewal may be available when conditions are met; continued employment beyond the renewable period may require a new application. Renewal is not automatic.

5. Work Permit Exemption Confirmation or Notification

Vietnamese law provides exemptions for certain investors, intracompany transferees, qualifying professional or technical service personnel, foreign spouses of Vietnamese citizens, and other statutory categories.

An exemption does not mean that no procedure is required. Depending on the case, the person may need an exemption confirmation or a notification submitted before work begins.

Under Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, a person who qualifies as a manager, executive director, expert, or technical worker and works in Vietnam for a cumulative period of less than 90 days in a calendar year may fall within an exemption, but notice must still be given to the competent authority at least three working days before the expected start date.

This is not a general 90-day work exemption for every foreign national. The person must satisfy the relevant worker category and complete the applicable notification and entry procedures.

6. LĐ1/LĐ2 Work Visas and Temporary Residence Cards

LĐ1 applies to foreign workers legally exempt from a work permit, except where a treaty provides otherwise. LĐ2 applies to foreign workers who legally require and hold a work permit.

The statutory maximum for a work visa is generally two years, but the actual validity may be shorter because of the passport, work permit or exemption document, employer sponsorship, or other supporting documents.

Eligible work-visa holders may assess applying for the corresponding temporary residence card. A temporary residence card is not permanent residence, and its validity depends on the work basis and passport status. A passport replacement, change in working conditions, or end of employment requires review of whether the visa and card must be amended, reissued, or cancelled.

II. Dependants, Investment, Study, and Other Arrangements

1. Accompanying Dependants

An eligible principal applicant’s spouse and children under 18 may apply for the corresponding dependant visa or temporary residence card based on the principal applicant’s visa or residence status.

Dependant-document validity is generally limited by the principal applicant’s status and passport. Changes to the principal applicant’s work permit, visa, or employment may affect dependant status. A dependant visa or card does not normally grant work authorization; a dependant planning to work must separately assess the work-permit or exemption requirements.

2. Investors

Foreign investors may assess the appropriate investment visa or temporary residence card based on the investment entity and investment amount. Investment status does not automatically cover every form of day-to-day employment. An investor working in the business should assess whether the position and actual duties require a work permit or qualify for an exemption.

3. Study and Internships

A foreign national entering Vietnam to study generally needs the appropriate study visa supported by the school or educational institution. An internship, paid training, or arrangement involving work duties must be assessed separately and cannot be assumed lawful solely because the person holds student status.

4. Transit

Transit-visa requirements depend on nationality, the port of entry, whether the traveller leaves the international transit area, connection time, and airline arrangements. Anyone entering Vietnam, collecting baggage, changing airports, or staying in Vietnam should confirm entry eligibility in advance.

5. Permanent Residence

Permanent residence is available only to specific persons and under conditions defined by law. It is not an automatic result of repeatedly renewing a work visa or temporary residence card, and long-term work in Vietnam alone does not create eligibility.

III. Extensions, Changes, Employment Termination, and Status Maintenance

While working in Vietnam, the actual employer, position, work arrangement, workplace, and permission documents should remain consistent.

Vietnam has not published one uniform grace period for every employment termination or status change. Do not assume that the previous status remains valid before the new work, visa, or residence status takes effect, and do not continue working after the existing work permit expires while waiting for a replacement.

IV. Support Available From sailglobal

If your company plans to send employees to Vietnam for business visits, intracompany transfers, local employment, or accompanying-family arrangements, sailglobal can assist with route assessment, document preparation, timeline planning, and local compliance support.

A formal assessment usually requires the applicant’s nationality, passport type and current location; purpose, actual duties, and intended stay; employer, contract, payroll and management arrangements; role, education, qualifications and experience; workplace, planned start date, and dependant arrangements.

Visa, work-permit, and residence applications are decided independently by the Vietnamese authorities. sailglobal does not guarantee an approval outcome or fixed issuance date.