Hue Work Permit Application Process (Updated under Decree 219/2025/ND-CP)

1. Legal Basis

• The Labor Code 2019 (No. 45/2019/QH14);

• Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP (dated August 7, 2025), regulating foreign workers in Vietnam (effective July 1, 2025);

• Decree No. 152/2020/ND-CP (dated December 30, 2020) (Provisions will be applied in accordance with Decree 219/2025/ND-CP from July 1, 2025);

• Resolution No. 26/2017/NQ-HĐND of the Thua Thien Hue Provincial People's Council, stipulating fees for work permit issuance.

2. What is a Work Permit?

While Vietnamese law does not provide a specific definition, a work permit can be understood as an official document issued by a competent Vietnamese state agency. It grants a foreign national the legal right to work in Vietnam for a specific period.

3. Authority for Issuing Work Permits in Hue (Key Update)

This is one of the most significant changes under the new regulations:

• Before July 1, 2025: The authority was the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (DOLISA).

• From July 1, 2025 (under Clause 1, Article 4, Decree 219/2025/ND-CP): The authority to issue work permits is transferred to the Provincial-level People's Committee.

Therefore, for applications in Hue, the Hue City People's Committee is the competent authority to issue work permits.

Note: If a foreign employee works for one employer across multiple provinces, the Provincial-level People's Committee where the employer's head office is located has the authority to issue the work permit.

4. Required Application Dossier

As stipulated in Article 18 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, the employer must prepare the following documents:

• A written request to issue a work permit and a report explaining the demand for foreign labor (using Form No. 03 of the Decree).

• A valid health certificate (issued within 12 months) or the medical check-up results connected to the national health database.

• A valid passport.

• A judicial record (police clearance certificate) issued within the last 6 months.

• 02 color photos (4x6cm, white background, no glasses).

• Documents proving the form of employment.

• Documents proving the foreigner's status as a manager, executive director, expert, or technical worker.

5. Work Permit Application Procedure

The procedure is detailed in Article 22 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP and includes the following steps:

Step 1: Dossier Preparation

The employer gathers all necessary documents as listed in Section 4.

Step 2: Dossier Submission

• Timeline: Submit the dossier within 60 days but no less than 10 days before the employee's expected start date.

• Submission Location:

  • In-person: At the Hue Public Administration Service Center.

  • Online: Via the National Public Service Portal or the Hue City Public Service Portal.

Step 3: Appraisal and Issuance

• The Public Administration Service Center will transfer the dossier to the competent authority (Hue City People's Committee) for appraisal under the "one-stop" mechanism.

• Within 10 working days of receiving a complete dossier, the authority will review and issue the work permit (using Form No. 04).

Step 4: Sign the Labor Contract

After the work permit is issued, the employer and the foreign employee must sign a written labor contract before the official start date. A copy of the signed contract must be sent to the issuing authority upon request.

6. Fees and Validity Period

• Fee: According to Resolution No. 26/2017/NQ-HĐND, the fee for issuing a new work permit in Hue is 600,000 VND per permit.

• Validity: As per Clause 1, Article 21 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, the maximum validity of a work permit is 02 years.

7. Conclusion and Legal Services

Compliance with the new regulations under Decree 219/2025/ND-CP is mandatory for all businesses employing foreign nationals. The change in authority and specific dossier requirements demand careful preparation to avoid delays or rejections.

Legal procedures, especially preparing documents from overseas (like judicial records and health checks), are often complex and time-consuming.

If you are facing difficulties with your application or require detailed consultation on the work permit application process in Hue, please contact us. Our team of lawyers, specializing in labor and immigration law, is ready to provide a comprehensive service to help your business complete all procedures quickly, effectively, and in full compliance with the law.

The information contained in this article is general and intended only to provide information on legal regulations. DB Legal will not be responsible for any use or application of this information for any business purpose. For in-depth advice on specific cases, please contact us.

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