Vietnam’s new regulation on work permits for foreigners expected to attract experts

The Vietnamese government issued Decree 219/2025 on August 7, outlining updated regulations for foreign workers. Businesses have welcomed the decree for simplifying and speeding up the work permit process.

Under the new rules, if a work permit request is denied, authorities must provide a written explanation within three working days. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier proposed reducing the maximum processing time for applications to 10 from 36 days.

Decree 219 also broadens the categories of foreign professionals who are exempt from work permits. These include investors and highly skilled experts with strong financial capacity in key sectors such as AI, semiconductors, and digital transformation.

To qualify for exemption, foreign workers must be confirmed by a ministry, ministerial-level agency, or provincial People's Committee as working in priority areas like finance, science, technology, innovation, or national digital transformation.

Dang Ngoc Thu Thao, operations manager for staffing and outsourcing at Manpower Vietnam, said the new decree eliminates several hurdles for companies. 

Previously, all foreign experts needed at least three years of experience. Now, a foreign expert with a university degree or equivalent only needs two years of relevant experience. 

In science, technology, or innovation fields, just one year is required if the expert holds a relevant university degree.

"This reflects the growing demand for specialized technical labor in Vietnam, particularly in AI, semiconductors, and renewable energy, and makes it easier for international professionals to work here," Thao said.

She also supported the merger of the labor demand justification procedure with the work permit application, which reduces administrative burdens and cuts total processing time to 10 working days.

Lawyer Tran Ngoc Thich, managing partner at Thich Law Firm, called the decree a breakthrough. It allows businesses to consolidate labor demand documentation, work permit applications, and criminal background checks into a single process.

"Forms have been simplified with clear guidelines. The requirements for proving qualifications for managers, executives, experts, and technical workers are now more transparent and easier to follow," he said.

The decree also shortens the time required to issue, renew, and extend work permits. Previously separate steps like recruitment announcements and labor demand confirmation have been removed, saving businesses roughly 30 days.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, nearly 162,000 foreigners were working in Vietnam as of the end of 2024. 

Of these, more than 149,000 required work permits. The largest groups came from China at nearly 31 percent, South Korea at over 18 percent, and Japan at 9.5 percent.