Vietnam Work Visa for Indians 2026: Permit, Documents & Steps
Vietnam Work Visa & Permit for Indians Step-by-Step
An Indian citizen cannot get a Vietnam work visa on their own. You need a Vietnamese employer (or sponsoring organisation), because the employer files the work permit application. Then you get a work visa, and later, usually, a temporary residence card. A tourist visa, e-visa or business visa does not give you the right to work. For documents issued in India, there is also a new rule: from 11 September 2026, an Apostille from India's Ministry of External Affairs replaces consular legalisation for covered public documents.
You have a job offer from a company in Vietnam. Congratulations. Now come the questions: Which visa? Who applies? Which papers, and from where? In what order? This guide to the vietnam work visa for Indian professionals gives you the roadmap in plain language. It is based on Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on 7 August 2025, and on the Embassy of Vietnam in India's notice on the Apostille Convention. Where a detail depends on your employer, your job or your documents, we say so and suggest you confirm it with our team before you spend money.
Visa, Work Permit and Residence Card: Three Different Documents
This is the single most common confusion. The vietnam work visa and the vietnam work permit are not the same thing.
| Document | What it does | Who applies |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit | Legal permission to be employed in a specific position for a specific employer. Valid for up to 2 years. | Your employer files it |
| Work-permit exemption certificate | Confirms you fall under an exemption, so you do not need a permit | Your employer files it, in cases that need confirmation |
| Work visa (LD1 or LD2) | Permission to enter and stay. LD1 is for workers exempt from a work permit, LD2 for workers who need one. Maximum validity is 2 years. | Arranged with your employer’s support |
| Temporary residence card (TRC) | Longer-term residence and multiple entries while the card is valid | Usually sponsored by your employer, after you arrive |
A visa on its own never authorises employment. A work permit on its own does not let you enter the country. You need the right combination.
Who Can Get a Work Permit?
Foreign workers are generally classified into four groups: managers, executive directors, experts and technical workers. Your employer must classify your role correctly, because the documents and qualifications depend on it.
- Experts: a relevant university degree plus two years of relevant experience. In priority sectors, one year may be enough.
- Technical workers: a mix of technical training and work experience. Sources describe the exact numbers differently, so your employer should confirm the threshold for your case.
- Managers and executive directors: proof of your position, usually through the company’s corporate documents. If you are not named in them, three years of relevant experience is commonly cited.
Your job title and duties should match across your contract, the company’s records and the permit application. A mismatch is an easy way to get stuck.
Your Step-by-Step Roadmap
Step 1: Secure the job offer and confirm your category
Ask the employer to confirm whether you fall under manager, executive director, expert or technical worker, and whether you need a work permit or qualify for an exemption.
Step 2: Understand the timing rules
Under Decree 219/2025, your employer files the work permit application between 60 days and 10 days before your planned start date. This means your own documents must be ready before that window opens.
Step 3: Collect your documents
See the full checklist below. Start with the ones that take longest, such as the police clearance certificate and anything needing Apostille.
Step 4: Prepare your Indian documents the new way
Read the Apostille section below carefully. Many guides online still describe the old process.
Step 5: Employer files the work permit
The employer applies online through Vietnam’s National Public Service Portal, or by other permitted filing methods. Once the dossier is complete, the authority decides within 10 working days. A refusal must be explained in writing.
Step 6: Get your work visa
With the permit (or exemption confirmation) in place, your employer arranges the visa approval, and you obtain your LD visa. This is usually done at a Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate, which for Indian applicants means New Delhi or Mumbai, though some cases are converted inside Vietnam. Your employer’s advisor confirms the route for you.
Step 7: Enter Vietnam and settle in
After arrival, the next step is usually the temporary residence card, covered below.
Step 8: Plan your extension early
A work permit can be extended once, for up to two more years. The extension application is filed between 10 and 45 days before expiry.
Documents for Work Permit Vietnam: Checklist
The standard dossier, according to Decree 219/2025, includes the following. Your employer will confirm the exact list for your role.
| Document | Key rule |
|---|---|
| Employer’s application form and statement of need | Prepared and filed by the employer |
| Valid passport | Keep at least six months of validity. If it is close to expiry, renew first with our passport assistance. |
| Health certificate | Issued no more than 12 months before filing. A foreign certificate is accepted only under a mutual-recognition treaty, so health checks are commonly done at a licensed facility in Vietnam. Confirm with your employer. |
| Criminal record certificate (police clearance) | Issued no more than 6 months before filing. From India, you can usually apply through Passport Seva. If you have lived in Vietnam, a Vietnamese certificate may be an option. |
| Two colour photos, 4 x 6 cm | Follow the size rule exactly |
| Proof of your position and qualifications | Degree certificates, experience confirmation, and similar documents |
| Proof of the form of employment | Employment contract or assignment letter |
Watch the dates. If your police clearance is older than 6 months on the day of filing, you will need a fresh one. Order it so that it is still valid when your employer files.
Indian Documents: The Apostille Rule That Changed in 2026
For years, Indian documents going to Vietnam needed multi-step consular legalisation. That has changed. According to the Embassy of Vietnam in India, the Apostille Convention entered into force for Vietnam on 11 September 2026. Here is what it means for you:
- For covered public documents, an Apostille from India’s Ministry of External Affairs replaces consular legalisation.
- A public document with a valid Apostille may be used in Vietnam without further certification.
- If the document is not in Vietnamese, you still need a Vietnamese translation, notarised or certified under Vietnamese law.
- Documents legalised through consular channels before 11 September 2026 remain valid, and so do Apostilles issued before that date.
- The Embassy has stopped accepting legalisation requests for Indian public documents covered by the Convention. It continues to legalise documents that fall outside the Convention.
Whether a specific document counts as a public document depends on the law of the country where it was issued. Police clearance certificates and degrees are common examples of documents people ask about, but private papers such as an experience letter from a company may need extra steps. Please confirm each document before you pay for attestation. Our team can help you check.
For the legal text behind the work permit rules, you can also read an English translation of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP.
The 90-Day Exemption: Short Assignments
Managers, executive directors, experts and technical workers can work in Vietnam for a total of less than 90 days in a calendar year without a work permit. The count covers the whole calendar year, not each trip. Some cases still need a formal confirmation or a notification to the authority, which your employer handles. This is not a route for ongoing employment.
Vietnam Business Visa vs Work Visa
A vietnam business visa is for business activity such as meetings and contract talks. The DN categories normally need a sponsoring organisation in Vietnam. For short meeting-type visits, the Vietnam e-visa, valid up to 90 days, is also used. Our Vietnam e-visa guide explains it, and if you need one in a hurry, read our urgent Vietnam visa guide.
The key point: neither a business visa nor an e-visa authorises employment. If your activity goes beyond meetings, ask the Vietnamese company and our team before you travel.
Vietnam Temporary Residence Card (TRC)
The vietnam temporary residence card allows longer residence and multiple entries while it is valid. For employees, it is usually linked to the work permit, and reported sources give a maximum of two years. Sources also say the card should expire well before your passport does, so a passport with short validity can shorten it. Your employer normally sponsors the application, and the exact steps and timing depend on your case. Ask your HR team, and contact us if you want help planning the travel side.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Working on the wrong visa. Tourist, e-visa and business visa holders cannot take up employment.
- Trying to apply alone. The employer files the work permit application.
- Using out-of-date attestation advice. Many websites still describe consular legalisation as the only route. Check the Apostille rule above.
- Letting the police clearance expire. It must be no more than 6 months old when filed.
- Skipping the Vietnamese translation. Documents not in Vietnamese need a certified translation.
- Assuming an Indian health certificate is enough. Foreign health certificates are accepted only under a mutual-recognition treaty.
- Mismatched job details. Titles and duties should be the same across all documents.
- Booking non-refundable flights too early. Wait until the permit and visa approvals are in hand.
How Travel On Call Can Help
We want to be clear about roles. The work permit itself is filed by your Vietnamese employer, usually with an immigration or legal advisor. Travel On Call supports the traveller’s side. Our visa consultancy team helps with document gathering, form filling, submission and follow-up for visas, and can tell you which parts of your Vietnam work case we can support. We can also help with:
- Passport renewal, so your validity is safe for the permit and card.
- Flight bookings, timed after your approvals.
- Travel insurance and foreign currency for your move.
- Hotel support for your first days.
Want the wider picture first? Read our Vietnam visa for Indians guide and our Vietnam visa requirements guide. For more checklists, browse our visa guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do Indian documents need an Apostille for a Vietnam work permit?
Tell us your job category, start date and the documents you already have, and our Gurgaon-based team will tell you which steps are yours, which are your employer’s, and where we can support you. WhatsApp us on +91-9891747566, call +91-9899241501, or email support@traveloncall.in.
Disclaimer: Immigration and labour rules are set by the Vietnamese and Indian governments and can change without notice, and details can differ by role, employer and province. This guide is for general information only, was last verified on 19 October 2026, and is not legal advice. For your exact case, please speak to your employer’s legal or immigration advisor and contact Travel On Call or the Vietnam Immigration Department before you act.
