Where to Submit Work Permit Applications for Foreign Employees and Processing Time

Professional Consulting Service for Work Permits for Foreigners in Vietnam

Work Permit Application Procedures in Hanoi

• Submission to the Department of Employment:
  In cases involving non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations, or associations, as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 3 of Circular No. 40/2016/TT-BLĐTBXH, applications for work permits for foreigners shall be submitted to the Department of Employment – Ministry of Home Affairs.
  The Department of Employment accepts and processes work permit applications nationwide for cases under its jurisdiction.
• Enterprises or organizations located in wards or communes (outside industrial zones):
  Submit the work permit application to the Hanoi Department of Home Affairs.
• Enterprises or organizations with production premises in industrial zones or export-processing zones:
  Submit the work permit application to the Management Board of Hanoi Industrial and Export-Processing Zones.

Work Permit Application Procedures in Ho Chi Minh City

• Enterprises or organizations located in wards or communes:
  Submit the work permit application to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Home Affairs.
• Enterprises or organizations with production premises in industrial or export-processing zones:
  Submit the work permit application to the Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City Industrial and Export-Processing Zones.

If the employer submits the application online, the official processing time limit is 10 working days.
The competent authority will issue the work permit if the application is valid, or will issue a notice requesting corrections if any documents are incomplete or inaccurate.
After receiving the electronic copy of the work permit via email, the employer must submit the original dossier to the licensing authority and collect the original work permit.

For enterprises located in industrial zones, applications should be submitted to the Management Board of Industrial Zones of the province or city where the enterprise is headquartered.

Work Permit Application Procedures in Other Provinces and Cities

• Enterprises located in industrial zones:
  Submit the work permit application to the Management Board of Industrial Zones of the province or city where the enterprise’s head office is located.
• Enterprises with standard (non-industrial zone) headquarters:
  Submit the application to the provincial or city Department of Home Affairs.
• For NGOs, international organizations, and associations as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 3 of Circular No. 40/2016/TT-BLĐTBXH:
  Submit the work permit application to the Department of Employment – Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Processing Time for Work Permit Issuance

Whether the employer submits the application online or directly, the theoretical processing time is 10 working days.

Within 10 working days from the date the competent authority receives a complete application, it shall:

• Review and approve the demand for employing the foreign worker; and
• Issue the work permit for the foreign employee.

If the authority does not approve the employment demand or refuses to issue the work permit, it must provide a written reply specifying the reason within 03 working days from the date of receipt of a complete application.

Note:
In practice, the actual processing time may be longer than the statutory timeframe, depending on the document preparation process and the specific circumstances of the application.
Please contact us directly for detailed consultation on each individual case to ensure timely and accurate handling.