Attorney Vu Manh Quynh is the Managing Partner of ECOVIS Vietnam Law, advising international investors on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), corporate governance, and regulatory compliance in Vietnam.

Summary: Foreign teachers and education experts working in Vietnam require a work permit under Decree 152/2020/ND-CP as amended by Decree 70/2023/ND-CP, aligned with a labor contract and temporary residence card. ECOVIS Vietnam Law supports schools, training centers, and employers with work permit applications, TRC coordination, and employment compliance in Ho Chi Minh City and nationwide.

Legal Basis at a Glance

1. Why Foreign Teacher Compliance Matters

Under Decree 152/2020/ND-CP as amended by Decree 70/2023/ND-CP, foreign nationals who conduct regular teaching work in Vietnam are subject to work permit requirements — regardless of the contract type or commercial structure. The obligation is triggered by the nature of the work, not by frequency, label, or whether a service contract is used instead of an employment contract.

The most consequential compliance error is not the failure to apply for permits, but the failure to maintain alignment between the work permit, the labor contract, and the actual working arrangement. A permit issued for one employer, location, and job title is invalid if any of those elements differ in practice.

2. The Three-Document Alignment Rule

Foreign teachers working in Vietnam require three documents to be legally aligned at all times:

• Work permit (Giay phep lao dong): issued by DOLISA, specifies employer entity, job title, work location(s), and validity — typically up to 2 years
• Visa or entry permit: must reflect the purpose of entry. A tourist or business visa does not authorise work in Vietnam under any circumstances
• Temporary residence card (TRC): issued by Immigration Department based on the work permit; must align with the employer entity and validity period

“The documentation alignment issue is the most common compliance gap we see in education businesses. Permits are obtained, but they do not reflect the current working arrangement — whether because the teacher’s role has evolved, a new campus has been added, or employment was transferred to a new entity. Each of these is a non-compliance event.” — Attorney Vu Manh Quynh, Managing Partner, ECOVIS Vietnam Law

3. Work Permit Exemptions: Narrow and Procedural

Exemptions from the work permit requirement under Decree 152/2020/ND-CP as amended are narrow and procedurally defined — not a general exception for flexible, part-time, or informally structured teaching:

• Short-term assignments: fewer than 30 consecutive days, not exceeding 90 cumulative days per calendar year, under prescribed conditions. Not applicable to recurring teaching arrangements structured to fall under the threshold.
• Intra-company transfers: foreign managers, executives, experts, or technical workers transferred from an overseas entity to its Vietnamese subsidiary or branch may qualify for a Certificate of Exemption. Conditions apply.

Employers must confirm the specific conditions with legal counsel before relying on any exemption. The exemption from a work permit does not automatically remove visa and TRC requirements.

4. Common Compliance Risks

• Engaging foreign teachers through service contracts rather than labor contracts — this does not remove the work permit requirement
• Work permit issued for one campus used at additional campuses without amendment
• Job title in the labor contract does not exactly match the title on the work permit
• Work permit expired without initiating renewal at least 30 to 45 days in advance
• Foreign teacher begins teaching on a business or tourist visa before the work permit is issued
• Employer fails to notify DOLISA within the prescribed timeframe after a foreign worker begins employment

5. Documents Required for a Work Permit Application

1. Written explanation of the need to employ a foreign worker (substantive requirement — not merely formal)
2. Degree certificates (notarized and apostilled in the country of issue) and teaching certifications
3. Criminal background check from the country of nationality; Vietnam criminal record if residing in Vietnam 6+ consecutive months
4. Health certificate issued within the preceding 12 months by a recognized medical facility
5. Draft labor contract or notice of proposed employment terms
6. Photographs and passport copies
7. Business licence of the employing entity

All foreign-language documents must be apostilled and translated into Vietnamese by a certified translation service. DOLISA HCMC processes a complete file in approximately 5 working days. Document preparation commonly takes 3 to 6 weeks — employers should build this into hiring timelines.

6. Labor Contract: Key Consistency Requirements

• Job title must exactly match the approved title on the work permit
• Work location must match the permitted location — multi-site deployments require the additional sites to be reflected on the permit
• Salary must meet the Region I minimum wage: VND 5,310,000/month or VND 25,500/hour (Decree 293/2025/ND-CP, effective 1 January 2026)
• Contracts for foreign workers must be in Vietnamese, or bilingual
• Probation: maximum 30 working days for professional roles; prohibited for contracts under one month

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Does every foreign teacher need a work permit in Vietnam?

Yes, with narrow, procedurally defined exceptions under Decree 152/2020/ND-CP as amended by Decree 70/2023/ND-CP. These are not general exceptions for part-time or flexible teaching. Conditions must be confirmed with legal counsel before any exemption is relied upon.

How long does it take to get a work permit?

DOLISA’s statutory processing time is 5 working days from receipt of a complete file. Document preparation takes 3 to 6 weeks in practice. Employers should initiate the process at least 6 weeks before the intended start date and must not allow teaching to begin before the permit is issued.

Can a foreign teacher work while their permit is being processed?

No. Conducting teaching activities before a valid work permit is issued exposes both the employer and the foreign national to administrative penalties under Decree 12/2022/ND-CP and risks to the foreign national’s immigration status.

What is the employer-level penalty for employing a foreign teacher without a valid work permit?

Under Decree 12/2022/ND-CP, the fine is VND 75 million to VND 100 million per violation, assessed at the employer entity level. Multiple simultaneous violations may each be subject to separate assessment. The foreign employee may face departure proceedings.

What happens if a work permit expires?

The foreign teacher is no longer authorised to work in Vietnam. The employer faces immediate administrative exposure. Renewal should begin 30 to 45 days before expiry to allow for document preparation.

Can one work permit cover teaching at multiple campuses?

A work permit specifies a primary work location. Teaching at locations not listed creates a non-compliance event. Multi-site deployments should be structured with legal advice to reflect all relevant locations on the permit.

8. Work Permit Compliance Checklist

• ☐ Confirm whether the role requires a full work permit or a procedurally-defined exemption — confirm with legal counsel
• ☐ Initiate work permit preparation at least 6 weeks before the intended start date
• ☐ Obtain degree notarization and apostille from the country of issue
• ☐ Obtain criminal background check (country of nationality; Vietnam if 6+ consecutive months’ residence)
• ☐ Obtain health certificate (issued within preceding 12 months)
• ☐ Draft labor contract with job title and location matching intended work permit specifications
• ☐ Confirm salary meets Region I minimum: VND 5,310,000/month or VND 25,500/hour (Decree 293/2025/ND-CP)
• ☐ Submit complete file to DOLISA; notify DOLISA after worker begins employment
• ☐ Apply for TRC upon receipt of work permit
• ☐ Track permit expiry dates; initiate renewals 30 to 45 days in advance

Book a work permit and employment compliance review. Contact Attorney Vu Manh Quynh: vietnam@ecovislaw.vn | www.ecovislaw.vn

Attorney Vu Manh Quynh is the Managing Partner of ECOVIS Vietnam Law, advising international investors on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), corporate governance, and regulatory compliance in Vietnam.

This material is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax or professional advice. Investors should seek specific advice based on their business sector, ownership structure and investment location in Vietnam. Legal and regulatory references reflect the position as of June 2026 and are subject to change.

Last reviewed: June 2026 | ECOVIS Vietnam Law