A Complete Guide to Vietnam Work Visas for Foreign Nationals
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Driven by Vietnam’s economic growth and promising opportunities, foreign investors and workers are increasingly seeking employment in the country. However, expatriates are confronted with numerous challenges in legal procedures, particularly when it comes to Vietnam work visa applications. In this article, let’s delve into the conditions and procedures to acquire a Vietnam work visa.
What is a Vietnam work visa?
A Vietnam work visa is granted to foreign workers who plan to work legally in the country. Issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department, Vietnam work visas are usually valid for up to 2 years, facilitating long-term employment and residence of foreign nationals in Vietnam.
Visa processing typically takes approximately 5 working days (excluding Saturdays and Sundays) once all necessary documents are duly submitted to the relevant authority. The estimated wait time to receive results will be clearly indicated on the visa processing fee receipt.
The process of obtaining a Vietnam work visa involves quite complicated steps and requires applicants to strictly comply with the regulations and procedures of the Vietnamese government. Moreover, the applications for different visa categories will involve different supporting documents and procedures. Negligent document preparation can obstruct visa approval or prolong the visa acquisition process for foreign employees.
Categories of Vietnam work visas
Under the latest regulations, foreign employees in Vietnam are eligible for two types of work visas: temporary and permanent work visas. To be more specific,
● Business or commercial visas, denoted as DN1 and DN2, valid for up to 1 year will be issued to foreign workers entering Vietnam to work for businesses or perform legal commercial activities.
● Permanent visas or work visas, denoted as LD1 and LD2, valid for up to 2 years will be issued to foreign workers in Vietnam with work permit exemption certificates (for the LD1 visa) or work permits (for the LD2 visa).
● Investment visas, indicated as DT, are granted to foreign investors or representatives of foreign enterprises investing in Vietnam. Investment visas are available in various symbols of DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4, valid for 10 years, 5 years, 3 years and 1 year, respectively.
Conditions for foreign workers to obtain Vietnam work visas
Expats seeking employment in Vietnam must meet the following prerequisites before initiating their visa application process.
● Have valid passports and IDs.
● Secure a job offer and be sponsored by a business or organization in Vietnam.
● Not banned or refused entry under Vietnamese regulations and laws.
“Can I work in Vietnam with a tourist visa?” is a question that has garnered considerable interest among expatriates. To legally work in Vietnam and receive the benefits outlined by Vietnamese law, you must convert your tourist visa into a work visa. This intricate process necessitates careful attention to multiple steps and requires the active involvement of your employer. Let’s check out for more details below.
Work visa application procedure for alien workers
The following documents shall be arranged to obtain a work visa for a foreign national:
● The declaration form for visa issuance or stay extension (form NA5 will be used if foreign employees have entered Vietnam and form NA2 if they have not)
● The seal specimen registration certificate or seal specimen notification of the enterprise to the Business registration authority
● As for organizations and enterprises with first-time applications at the immigration department, declaration forms of the seal and signature specimen of their duly authorized persons (form NA2) shall be furnished
● Foreign worker’s valid passport
● A certified copy of the Vietnam work permit or the work permit exemption certificate
● Temporary residence card or confirmation of temporary residence of foreigners who are in Vietnam
● Other documents required by the Vietnam Immigration Department
For documents that are not in Vietnamese or in foreign languages, you must obtain consular legalization and notary translation before submission to the relevant authorities for approval.
Vietnam Work Visa Example
Once you’ve gathered all the necessary documents, you can initiate your Vietnam work visa application by following these steps:
● Step 2: The employing company prepares the complete sets of official letters and related documents to submit to the Immigration Department and pays the visa processing fee.
● Step 3: The Immigration Department will receive the application directly from the agency, organization, or business and respond within 5 working days. You can track the status of the application on the National Portal. If the application is approved, a visa approval letter will be issued. Otherwise, a justification in writing for rejection will be provided by the Immigration Department.
● Step 4: On the indicated appointment date, the employing company shall go to the Immigration Department for results and sends the visa approval letter to the foreign worker afterward.
● Step 5: The foreign worker shall print out the official letter to submit to the local Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate for stamp affixing (with fees) and complete the visa application procedure. Alternatively, foreign workers may also obtain visa stamps at international airports, but at a higher cost.
Upon arrival in Vietnam, you may need to complete additional procedures to obtain a temporary residence card, transfer your driver’s license, or extend your Vietnamese visa.
Tips for Vietnam work visa application
Vietnam work visa application is a complex process that necessitates careful attention to numerous steps and documentation requirements, which vary depending on the applicant’s purpose. Documents in languages other than Vietnamese must be translated into Vietnamese and legalized by the Consulate before being submitted to the relevant authority. In addition, foreign workers should opt to obtain medical certificates and notarized translations in Vietnam to ensure that the dossier is eligible for approval by the authority.
Important notes to bear in mind before getting your visa documents translated.
● Translators have exceptional linguistic expertise: Given the critical nature of this process, the translation agency or translators should possess a deep understanding of legal terminology and nuances to effectively handle legal document translation. Moreover, engaging a reliable translation service provider can significantly enhance the likelihood of approval by the relevant authority.
● Guaranteed confidentiality: Visa applications typically contain a wealth of important personal and legal information. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the translation agency adheres to a rigorous policy to protect the confidentiality of the applicant’s personal and legal information.
● Certified translation: Certification of Translation Accuracy will be issued by the translation agency to verify the faithfulness of the translation. Upon your request, Thao & Co. can provide our Certification of Translation Accuracy completely free of charge to boost the credibility of your application.
● Consular authentication: This is a relatively arduous process that is commonly required by state agencies, specifically for foreign applications. At Thao & Co., this process will be professionally handled so that your documents are recognized for legal use in Vietnam.
Navigating the Vietnam work visa application process for foreign nationals is a complex undertaking that demands strict compliance with Vietnamese legal requirements. Failure to properly follow these procedures will directly hinder the work visa approval process for foreign nationals.
Translation also plays a vital role in the visa application process. Prior to official submission to the relevant authority, ensure that all supporting documents have been validated, provided with consular authentication, and accompanied by notarized translations. A subpar translation may even lead to an immediate rejection of the work visa application. Therefore, you should opt for a reliable translation agency to receive qualified translations that fulfill legal requirements.
Our team of translators possesses extensive legal translation experience. Thao & Co. also provides consular legalization services to ensure your application meets all requirements and gains approval from the relevant authority.
● Our team of translators has excellent linguistic expertise, extensive knowledge, and ample experience in legal translation.
● Provide certified and notarized translation services for various legal documents.
● Professional and prompt consular authentication service.
● A free Certification of Translation Accuracy from Thao & Co. upon request.
● Strict confidentiality policies help ensure the utmost security of client data.
● Thao & Co.’s proprietary platform makes it easy for you to track your progress.
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