Vietnam Decentralizes Work Permit Issuance for Foreign Nationals from July 1, 2025

HANOI — Beginning July 1, 2025, Vietnam will officially transfer the authority to issue work permits for foreign nationals from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to the Chairpersons of provincial People’s Committees. This change is part of Government Decree No. 128/2025/NĐ-CP, which aims to decentralize state management in the field of home affairs and streamline administrative procedures for foreign labor in the country.

Under this new regulation, provincial Chairpersons will have full authority to approve employers’ requests to hire foreign workers, grant exemptions from work permit requirements, and issue, reissue, extend, or revoke work permits. The decree also revises the language used in existing regulations, replacing references to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs with the relevant provincial People’s Committees or Departments of Home Affairs.

Foreign workers and their employers will now deal directly with provincial authorities when applying for or renewing work permits. The required application documents remain extensive and include a written request from the employer, a valid health certificate issued within the past 12 months, a criminal background check issued within the last six months, proof of professional qualifications, recent passport-sized photographs, and a certified copy of the applicant’s passport. Additional documentation may be required depending on the specific nature of the employment or exemption status.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Vietnam had 161,992 foreign workers by the end of 2024. Of these, 12,797 were exempt from work permit requirements, while 149,195 were required to hold valid permits. The majority of these foreign workers came from China, South Korea, Taiwan (China), and Japan. Workers from other countries accounted for just over 28 percent of the total. Most foreign employees in Vietnam are male, with around 86 percent aged 30 or older.

This regulatory shift marks a significant step toward localized governance and is expected to improve responsiveness and efficiency in the management of foreign labor across Vietnam’s provinces.

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Source: Vietnam Insider