Vietnam720: Jon from Connections Vietnam gives us a break down on how to apply for a Vietnam work permit. As you’ll learn later from Jon, for a long time, staying in Vietnam was never an issue. One just needs to pay to get a tourist visa for up to 6 months at a time. But thanks to those foreigners conducting vices here (drugs, prostitution, counterfeiting…), the Vietnamese government recently got serious cracking downing on issuing visa on the go. Instead, one will need a proper work permit in order to work in Vietnam. And for those looking to live for long in Vietnam, there’s the temporary and permanent residence card which I’ll cover later on.
Jon: Making photocopies, notarizing and translating documents and badgering people in your home country to help you make photocopies, notaries and translate more documents. Welcome to Vietnam.
I haven’t read much online regarding the new visa crackdown, one which seems deadly serious this time around.
Gone are the heady days of the 6 month business visa, which used to be available to any and all. When approaching the end of the validity of those visas, your passport would be submitted and a new 6 month multiple re-entry visa pasted in there. I myself did this for the nearly five years I have been based in Vietnam.
A restructuring of the system, basically to try and account for all the foreigners working in the country (and the tax they should be paying more importantly) means that no more 6 month business visas will be issued. Those remaining in country on such a visa (such as myself) will be offered one 3 month visa extension (single entry) in which period of time it is expected that the applicant will have (or be applying for) a work permit. My understanding is that as long as the application is in the process of being done then there will be no problems.
To get a Vietnam work permit, according to a work email, you need:
1. Letter of application (Form No. 3)
2. CV (Form No. 4)
3. Copy of bachelors degree (or higher diploma): the copy must be certified by Consulate General + consular legalized in expat’s country, then translated to Vietnamese by Notary Public
4. Health Check-up Certificate. Note: Validation of Health Check-up certificate: 06 months
5. Criminal Records.
Note: + Criminal Records issued in foreign countries must be certified by Consulate General + consular legalized in Expatriate country + translated to Vietnamese by Notary Public + Validation of Criminal record: 06 months since the date of issue
In case out of date, apply the LY LICH TU PHAP at So Tu Phap (Department of Justice) for the expat. To do this, the expat must provide:
a- 2 certified Passport & visa
b- Attestation of provisional residence, issued by local police
c- Application form (Form No.2/TP/LLTP1)
6. Four (4) color photos, 3*4cm (bareheaded, front side, clear face & ears, without eye-glasses, & taken not more than 01 year ago)
So, for those with no degree certificate or ‘recognized’ qualifications in what they are doing, a work permit is hard to come by.
You have a problem getting a Vietnam work permit? Drop us a comment below.
“But thanks to those foreigners conducting vices here (drugs, prostitution, counterfeiting…)”
Which kind of foreigners are concerned by such behaviours?
According to reports, it’s the Nigerians and Chinese.
I do think most of the Nigerian problem has been dealt withie deported…..good ridence!
Thanks for the information. Too bad that all the foreigners have to pay for that…
Drifter, they seem to be back again. Recent reports about them being caught in big raids lately.
Julien, yeah, end up the good guys have to suffer
Hi,
I am soon to leave for VN, from the UK, to teach English. I would be delighted if you could confirm the following;
(i) my degree transcript needs to be notarized by a solicitor in the UK, then legalised by the UK Embassy in Hanoi, or Consulate General in HCMC
(ii) likewise my Police Clearance from the UK
(iii) I must bring my “Cambridge CELTA” certificate, but this does NOT need notarized etc.
(iv) my reference letters do NOT need notarized etc., either
(v) After arrival, I need to get a health check
Please help me, and many others, by confirming these; most notably parts (iv) and (v). It costs a lot of money to notarise documents, and I can’t afford to get doscuments done that do not need it.
Many thanks in advance,
Bruno (scotland)
Hi Bruno,
I’m afraid I can’t help you with these. I suggest you can’t with the school that you are going to teach instead. They should given u better advise.
Hello,
I have been offered and accepted a teaching job in Vietnam. My concern is that I have a misdemeanor on my record from 17 years ago. I am aware that this will be tricky. What are my options? Can I appeal IF my work permit is denied? Like I said, it was from 17 years ago. I have already sought out legal consultation.
Thank you.
Hi Bill, check with your Vietnam school. I’m sure they’ll give you much better advice than me
Hi, Can Business visa convert in to work permit, if we can convert what is the process and requirements. and where can we download the application forms related to work permit.
Cheers,
Raghu Gummadi.
Hi Raghu, I’m quite sure it can’t be converted this way.
Hi all,
A quick question about police clearance for a work permit.I have record from 1992.Will this stop them granting my work permit.How long does it take to obtain police clearance when in vietnam for the uk.
Thanks,
Al
Sorry AI, no idea about this. The company who is sponsoring you with the work permit should know better.
Hi,
how do people retire in VN with all these visa issues?
I’m a 53 yr old Canadian and i’ve visited VN many times, fell in love with it and would love to retire there, specifically to Ca Mau city. I have heard PR cards are almost impossible to get so i’m not sure how to go about it. Any help with this would be great.
Thanks.
Dear Snowbound,
Yeah, it’s VERY difficult to want to retire in Vietnam. To be able to stay here for long, some of the ways will be to marry a local, run a business or get a job follow by a work permit.
Thanks for the info V720.
Hopefully(maybe wishful thinking) the immigration laws will loosen up someday soon once again.
I wish it was as easy as it is in Cambodia where you can get a business visa for a year for about $300US with no questions asked. Probably the most liberal immigration laws in SEA.
Dear Snow, thank you for dropping by.
Good and bad about a tight control. While there are many expats who can contribute to Vietnam and an easier visa will help them, there are also lots of bad eggs coming to Vietnam to do bad things. A stricter immigration law can weed out these fellows in this case.
Your absolutely right V720.
That is the other side of it. Finding some kind of middle ground on this will be be a tough job. It only takes a few bad apples to ruin it for everyone else. I guess i can’t blame them for tightening up the laws…
If you can, let us know if things change in the near future.
Thanks again.
Hi Alo, will be a good 5 years, at least, before I can deliever some good news
Where can I go to get Forms 1-4 for the work permit process? I went to the Department of Justice on 141-143 Pasteur, Q-3 on 26 May 2010 and they did not have the forms. And I have yet to locate a website to download the forms. Suggestions???
Don, did you check with the people in the Justice of Department?
hi all,
The work permit process is quite different for each case, from the notarization process to endorsing process from Vietnamese embassy.
As some case, you can get all notarization done in Vietnam, some case you will have to get it done outside of Vietnam
We, at http://www.expat.vn, have been providing this work permit assist and consultant services. We have helped a lot of foreigners (both living or coming to Vietnam) to get work permits.
Specially, we can help to get a work permit without university degree or 5 years experiences working.
For any further information, please feel free contact me at uyen@expat.vn. I am happy to help.
@Don: please drop me an email, I can send you those form without going anywhere
Uyên
Uyen, I need to charge u for this plug here
@Don, Uyen has been in this business for a long time. Has many contacts and relations in this dustry. I’m sure she can help.
You dont neccessarilly need a degree. 5 years in the field of work you are applying for is acceptable How do I know that ?That is how I got my work permit and residency card
Thank u BIG John