Applying for a work permit for foreign teachers – Process

Work permit for foreign teachers is a mandatory condition for legal teaching in Vietnam, helping to ensure the rights of both teachers and training institutions. Applying for a license in the correct process not only helps teachers comply with legal regulations but also creates favorable conditions for them to feel secure in their long-term work. The article below will introduce a professional process and clear procedures to make applying for a work permit faster and easier.

Do foreign teachers teaching in Vietnam have to apply for a work permit?

According to Point d, Clause 1, Article 151 of the Labor Code 2019, foreigners who want to work in Vietnam need a work permit. This means that foreign teachers who want to legally teach at Vietnamese educational establishments must apply for a work permit for foreign teachers, except for cases exempted from permits according to Article 154 of the Labor Code 2019 and Article 7 of Decree 152/2020/ND-CP.

Below are some cases where foreign teachers do not need a work permit:

• Be sent to teach at educational establishments proposed by foreign diplomatic missions or intergovernmental organizations to establish in Vietnam.
• Be a volunteer working in Vietnam on a voluntary basis, without salary and with confirmation from a foreign diplomatic representative agency or international organization in Vietnam.
• Teaching according to international agreements between central or provincial agencies and organizations and foreign countries.
• Confirmed by the Ministry of Education and Training as a foreign lecturer entering Vietnam to teach and research.

If not exempt from a work permit, foreign teachers must apply for a permit before officially teaching. In the case of being exempt from a work permit, foreign teachers must carry out procedures to request confirmation that the employee is not subject to a work permit.

Conditions for foreign teachers to be granted work permits in Vietnam

For foreign teachers to be able to teach in Vietnam, one of the prerequisites is to have a work permit issued by a competent authority. In addition, foreign teachers must meet other conditions of foreign workers working in Vietnam specified in Article 151 of the Labor Code 2019, specifically as follows:

• Foreign teachers must be 18 years of age or older and have full civil capacity;
• Have professional qualifications, techniques, skills, and work experience; Have good health according to regulations of the Minister of Health;
• Not a person who is serving a sentence or has not had a criminal record erased or is being prosecuted for criminal liability according to foreign or Vietnamese law;
• Foreign teachers must have a valid Vietnamese visa and have a company or enterprise sponsoring them. In addition, foreign teachers must meet the criteria for professional qualifications and professional certificates appropriate to the teaching position.
• Enterprises wishing to employ foreign workers must be approved by a competent state agency.

Process of applying for a work permit for foreign teachers

Prepare documents

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 9 of Decree 152/2020/ND-CP, Clause 5, Article 1 of Decree 70/2023/ND-CP, work permit application documents for foreign teachers include:

1. Written request for a work permit from the employer according to Form No. 11/PLI Appendix I. In case a foreign worker works for an employer in multiple locations, the work permit application must fully list the work locations.
2. A health certificate or health examination certificate issued by a competent foreign or Vietnamese medical agency or organization is valid for a period of 12 months, from the date of signing the health conclusion to the date of submitting the application or certificate of good health according to the regulations of the Minister of Health.
3. Judicial record card or document certifying that the foreign worker is not serving a sentence or has not had a criminal record erased or is being prosecuted for criminal liability issued by a foreign country or Vietnam. A judicial record card or document certifying that the foreign worker is not a person serving a sentence or has not had a criminal record erased or is being prosecuted for criminal liability shall be issued no more than 06 months from the date of issuance to the date of application submission.
4. Document verifying that the foreigner is a teacher. Specifically, the Diploma issued by a competent authority meets the regulations on qualifications and standard qualifications according to the Law on Education, the Law on Higher Education, the Law on Vocational Education and the Regulations on organization and operation of foreign language and information technology centers issued by the Minister of Education and Training.
5. 02 color photos (size 4cm x 6cm, white background, straight face, bare head, no colored glasses), taken no more than 06 months before the date of application.
6. Document approving the need to use foreign workers, except in cases where the need to use foreign workers is not required.
7. Certified copy of passport or copy of passport certified by the employer that is still valid according to the provisions of law.

Records of foreigners must be consular legalized, except in cases where consular legalization is exempted according to international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the foreign country concerned are members or according to the principle of reciprocity or according to the provisions of law. Translated into Vietnamese and notarized or authenticated according to Vietnamese law.

Licensing procedures

The process of issuing work permit for foreign teachers is carried out according to the following steps:

Step 1: Submit application

• The employer sends the application for a work permit for foreign teachers to the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs or the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.
• The submission time is at least 15 days before the foreign worker’s expected start date.

Step 2: Process documents

• After receiving all valid documents, the competent authority will issue a work permit within 5 working days.
• In case the dossier is invalid, the competent authority will notify the reason and request additional information.
• In case a work permit is not issued, there will be a written response clearly stating the reason.

Step 3: Sign the labor contract

In case the employee comes to work in Vietnam under the form of a labor contract:

• After obtaining a permit, the employee and the employer must sign a written labor contract according to the provisions of the Vietnam Labor Code.
• Then, the employer must send the labor contract (original or certified copy) to the work permit issuing agency.

CSPL: Article 11 of Decree 152/2020/ND-CP.

Currently, the 12th Party Central Committee Conference on January 23 and 24, 2025 agreed to arrange and streamline the organizational apparatus of Ministries, Ministerial-level agencies and Government agencies. Accordingly, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs will be merged into the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also clearly stated that a particularly important task in 2025 for the entire industry is to implement the merger with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

Therefore, regulations related to authority and procedures may be amended and supplemented. You should monitor and update the latest regulations from time to time when applying for a license to ensure compliance with the law.

>>> Reference: Fast and reputable work permit application service.

Comprehensive work permit for foreign teachers services

Long Phan offers a comprehensive work permit for foreign teachers services, providing support from preparing documents, submitting applications, handling legal procedures until receiving the license. With a team of experienced experts, we ensure the process is fast, accurate, and in accordance with regulations.

Our services include:

1. Consulting on conditions and procedures for applying for a work permit for foreign teachers;
2. Support in consulting, drafting and implementing documents approving the need to use foreign workers;
3. Draft and complete work permit applications;
4. Submit application and receive work permit;
5. Support related procedures after obtaining a work permit.

Work permit for foreign teachers are an important condition to legally teach in Vietnam. With Long Phan’s services, the license application process will become simple, fast and compliant with regulations. We support from preparing documents to completing procedures, helping teachers feel secure in their long-term work. Contact the hotline 0906735386 for advice and dedicated support today!