From job offer to temporary residence card, a foreign employee goes through four stages of paperwork. Here is the order and what to do at each one.
Many applications are delayed not because the applicant is ineligible, but because steps are done in the wrong order. Work and residence documents in Vietnam depend on one another: each step needs the result of the one before.
Stage 1: Prepare documents in your home country
This is the slowest stage and the one to start first.
- Degrees and professional certificates.
- Letters confirming work experience, stating position and dates.
- A criminal record certificate from your home country.
- Consular legalisation of the above, followed by certified Vietnamese translation.
Stage 2: Work permit
The employer in Vietnam is the applicant. The employee also needs a health certificate. If you are exempt from a work permit, in most cases you still need to complete an exemption confirmation.
Stage 3: Enter on the right visa
The visa you enter on directly affects whether you can apply for a temporary residence card. Settle the right visa type before you book flights.
Stage 4: Temporary residence card
With a work permit and the right entry status, you can apply for a temporary residence card to stay long term and travel freely. Your spouse and children can then apply for family cards.
Our advice
- List every document and its expiry date from the start.
- Do not apply for a criminal record certificate too early, as it is usually accepted only for a limited period.
- Ask a specialist before you enter Vietnam, not after.
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