Vietnam mulls easier work permit rules to attract skilled foreign workers

The draft decree would amend and supplement Government Decree No. 219/2025 issued on August 7, 2025, which sets out regulations on foreign employees working in Vietnam.

According to the ministry, the decree has helped attract investors, experts, and scientists, particularly in science and technology, innovation, national digital transformation, and other priority sectors.

However, the agency said implementation has exposed several provisions that do not fully align with practical needs, resulting in additional costs and administrative burdens for both foreign workers and employers, according to Dau Tu (Investment) online newspaper.

One of the key proposed changes to address these issues involves health certificate requirements.

The draft would allow health certificates or medical examination certificates issued by competent foreign medical institutions to be accepted for foreign workers’ applications for work permits or for certificates confirming exemption from work permits.

Under current regulations, only health certificates issued by medical facilities in Vietnam are accepted for such applications.

The ministry said the change would enable companies to prepare application documents earlier, including before foreign workers enter Vietnam, thereby shortening processing times and reducing administrative burdens.

The draft further proposes simplifying application requirements by removing the need to resubmit documents already available in shared databases.

It sets out documentation requirements for the issuance, reissuance, and extension of work permits, as well as certificates confirming exemption from work permits.

Regarding consular legalization, the draft stipulates that foreign-issued documents in application files would still require such legalization, except for passports and cases exempted under international treaties, reciprocal arrangements, or other legal provisions.

The ministry also proposes integrating criminal record certificate procedures with work permit applications.

As per the proposal, employers would be allowed to submit work permit applications together with criminal record certificate applications on behalf of foreign workers via the National Public Service Portal.

Results would be issued electronically, reducing intermediate steps in the application process.

The draft further clarifies several concepts, including intra-company transfers, commercial presence, volunteers, contractual service providers, and foreign workers entering Vietnam for short-term employment.

The ministry said the proposal continues to prioritize attracting high-quality talent in strategic sectors.

The agency has proposed removing experience requirements for specialists working in fields such as finance, science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, saying current rules may not fully reflect practical conditions and could create barriers to attracting foreign experts.

The draft sets out conditions for experts involved in strategic technologies, strategic technology products, and certain specialized fields such as culture, arts, sports, education, and training.

In education, the draft further clarifies categories of foreigners exempt from work permit requirements.

These include individuals participating in teaching, research, or the transfer of international education programs, as well as those involved in educational cooperation programs and projects.

The categories would include individuals holding a master’s degree or higher credentials in STEM, digital transformation, finance, economics and business administration who participate in teaching or research activities at educational institutions, as well as those with advanced academic titles or degrees involved in teaching, research or academic exchanges.

Provincial-level authorities would be responsible for updating, connecting, and sharing databases on foreign workers in Vietnam, as well as reporting on the use of foreign labor.

Employers would also be required to strengthen their responsibilities in recruitment and employment management, as well as reporting workplace changes and updating information related to work permits.