Can any Vietnamese company sponsor a foreign employee's work permit?

Yes. Any legally registered Vietnamese company — LLC, JSC, household business converted to LLC, or representative office — can sponsor a work permit for a qualified foreign employee, provided it has first obtained approval of foreign labour demand from the provincial DOLISA.

What is the employer fine for hiring a foreigner without a valid work permit?

Under Decree 12/2022/NĐ-CP, employers who use foreign workers without a valid work permit or exemption certificate face fines of VND 50–75 million per violation. The foreign employee may also be deported.

What is a work permit exemption certificate, and does my hire need one?

Foreign workers in certain categories — including capital contributors (investors) who directly manage the company, chief representatives of representative offices, and intra-company transferees from a group company — may be exempt from the standard work permit but still need a work permit exemption certificate (giấy xác nhận không thuộc diện cấp giấy phép lao động). Vietpard confirms eligibility and handles the certificate application.

Can Vietpard handle the Temporary Residence Card (TRC) for my foreign employee?

Yes. Once the work permit is issued, Vietpard can apply for a Temporary Residence Card linked to the work permit, typically valid for up to 2 years. The TRC replaces the need for repeated visa runs and allows multi-entry stays throughout its validity.

For Vietnamese Employers — Doanh nghiệp Việt Nam

Hire & Sponsor Foreign Employees the Right Way

Q: How long does a work permit take in Vietnam?

The processing time from application submission to issuance is 40–45 working days (approximately 8–9 weeks). Add 3–5 working days for document preparation. Vietpard manages the entire process and tracks progress on your behalf.

Your Vietnamese company wants to bring in an expert from abroad. We handle every step — from foreign labour demand approval to work permit, visa sponsorship, and Temporary Residence Card — so your hire starts work fully compliant.

Employer Fine Alert

Employing a foreigner without a valid work permit risks fines of up to VND 75 million per violation plus deportation of the worker (Decree 12/2022).

WhatsApp / Zalo See Process

Foreign and Vietnamese professionals working together in a Ho Chi Minh City office

40–45

Working days processing

VND 0

Govt fee waived in HCMC

10+

Years experience

100%

Compliance focus

What We Handle for You

End-to-end employer sponsorship — from the first step at the labour authority to the employee's residence card.

Labour Demand Approval

Before you recruit, your company must obtain a foreign labour demand approval from DOLISA. We prepare and lodge this mandatory first step.

Work Permit Application

Full preparation, submission and follow-up of the work permit application. Processing takes 40–45 working days. We track every step.

Exemption Certificates

Investors, intra-company transferees and certain chief representatives may be exempt. We confirm eligibility and obtain the exemption certificate.

Business Visa Sponsorship

We issue the invitation letter for a business visa (DN visa) so your new hire can enter Vietnam legally while the work permit is processed.

Temporary Residence Card (TRC)

After the work permit is issued, we apply for the TRC — valid up to 2 years, allowing multi-entry stays without further visa runs.

Renewals & Ongoing Compliance

Timely renewal reminders, permit amendments, labour contract compliance checks and authority reporting — we keep your records current.

The Sponsorship Process

From your hiring decision to your employee's first compliant working day.

Eligibility & document check — 1–2 days

We review the candidate's qualifications, confirm work permit category (or exemption), and give you a complete document checklist.

Foreign labour demand approval — 3–5 days

We prepare and lodge the employer's declaration of foreign labour demand with the provincial DOLISA — the mandatory prerequisite before any work permit application.

Business visa sponsorship — concurrent

We issue the DN visa invitation letter so your hire can legally enter Vietnam while the work permit is being processed.

Work permit application & processing — 40–45 working days

We submit the full dossier to DOLISA on behalf of the employer. We track progress and notify you of approval or any requests for supplementary information.

TRC & ongoing compliance — post-issuance

We collect the work permit, apply for the Temporary Residence Card, and set renewal reminders. Your labour contract and reporting obligations are reviewed for ongoing compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Any legally registered Vietnamese company — LLC, JSC, or converted household business — can sponsor a work permit, provided it has first obtained foreign labour demand approval from the provincial DOLISA.

Under Decree 12/2022/NĐ-CP, employers face fines of VND 50–75 million per violation. The foreign employee may also be deported. Vietpard ensures you are fully compliant before your hire starts work.

From application submission to issuance: 40–45 working days (approximately 8–9 weeks). Add 3–5 working days for document preparation. In Ho Chi Minh City, the government fee is currently waived.

Investors who directly manage the company, chief representatives of representative offices, and intra-company transferees within a corporate group may qualify for a work permit exemption certificate instead of a standard work permit. We confirm eligibility and handle whichever applies.

Yes. Once the work permit is issued, we apply for the Temporary Residence Card (valid up to 2 years), which allows multi-entry stays throughout its validity without requiring further visa runs.