Vietnam Work Visa – All you need to know

Foreigners intending to work in Vietnam must obtain a Vietnam Work Visa, classified as LD1 or LD2 depending on their employment status and work permit requirement.

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📌 Types of Vietnam Work Visas

📅 Validity: Up to 2 years, aligned with the validity of the work permit. If the work permit is valid for less than a year, the visa duration will match.

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⚖️ Legal Basis for Vietnam Work Visas

Vietnam Work Visa issuance is based on:

• Law No. 47/2014/QH13: Entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam

• Law No. 51/2019/QH14: Amendments to the above law

• Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BCA: Specimen papers for foreigners in Vietnam

• Decree No. 11/2016/ND-CP: Regulations on work permits for foreign workers

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✅ How to Apply for a Vietnam Work Visa (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Company Prepares Required Documents

The Vietnamese company (acting as sponsor) must submit:

• Business Registration Certificate / Investment License / Branch Office License

• Seal specimen certificate or declaration of seal use

• Form NA16 – Company representative signature/seal registration

• Form NA5 – Visa application/extension form

• One 3×4 cm photo of the foreigner

• Valid Work Permit or Work Permit Exemption Certificate

• Copy of the foreigner’s passport

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Step 2: Submit Documents to Immigration Office

• Submit at the Vietnam Immigration Department or Provincial Immigration Office

• Pay visa processing and optional fax fee (if stamping at embassy abroad)

• Receive an appointment slip for result collection
  🕐 Submission Days: Monday to Friday & Saturday morning

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Step 3: Receive the Visa Approval Letter

• On the appointment date, the sponsor collects the visa letter from Immigration Office.

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Step 4: Notify the Foreigner

• The company emails, faxes, or posts the visa approval letter to the foreign employee.

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Step 5: Foreign Employee Gets Visa Stamped

At the Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate in their country, the foreigner submits:

• Form NA1 – Visa application form + photo

• Original passport (valid ≥ 6 months)

• Copy of the visa approval letter

• Visa stamping fee (as required by embassy)

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⏱️ Processing Time

• 5 working days from the date full documents are submitted to the Immigration Office.

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🔍 Work Visa vs. Business Visa – What’s the Difference?

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🛂 Need Help With Your Vietnam Work Visa?

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