Company formation
Choose the right legal form: LLC, joint stock company, joint venture, representative office or branch.
- Comparison of every legal form
- Business-line and capital check
- Vietnamese-owned companies too
Work permit & residence
Work permits and residence cards for you and your team
Foreigners working in Vietnam need a work permit or a confirmed exemption, followed by a matching visa or temporary residence card. We plan the order of steps so that nobody's stay runs out in between.
Who needs what
| Person | Work permit | Visa / residence card |
|---|---|---|
| Owner or capital contributor of an LLC | Exempt above the legal capital threshold – we confirm under the current rules | Investor visa (DT) or residence card |
| General director or manager | Required, or exemption if also a qualifying owner | Work visa (LD) or residence card |
| Expert or technical specialist | Required: degree and experience in the field | Work visa (LD) or residence card |
| Short business trip | Exempt for short-term work under conditions | Business visa (DN) or e-visa |
The work permit process
- 01
Approval of the need for foreign workers
The company explains why the job needs a foreigner. Done online through the labour authority.
- 02
Documents from your home country
Health check (taken in the last 12 months), criminal record check (issued in the last 6 months), degree and experience letters – legalised and translated.
2–6 weeks, depending on the country
- 03
Filing and issue
We file with the provincial labour authority. A work permit is valid for up to 2 years and can be extended once for up to 2 years.
about 2 weeks
Temporary residence card (TRC)
Once you hold a work permit or an exemption, you can apply for a temporary residence card. It replaces repeated visas and lets you enter and leave Vietnam freely. For employees it is valid for up to 2 years, matching the work permit. Investors can receive longer cards depending on the capital invested – up to 10 years for the largest investments.
Family members (spouse and children) can receive dependent residence cards linked to yours.
Visas in the meantime
Before the licence and permits are ready, most founders enter on an e-visa (up to 90 days, single or multiple entry). We plan the dates so that the work permit and residence card are filed before the e-visa expires, and our sister service vietnamlegalsupport.com handles express visas when timing is tight.
Questions about this service
Can I start working while the work permit is being processed?
No. Working without a permit or a confirmed exemption can lead to fines for the company and deportation for the worker. Plan 6 to 10 weeks before the start date.
My degree is not in the same field as the job. Is that a problem?
It can be. The authority checks that your qualifications and experience match the job title. We help choose a job title and gather experience letters that support the application.
Do investors also need a work permit?
Owners who contribute capital above the legal threshold are usually exempt, but they still need a written exemption confirmation if they also manage the company. We check which applies to you.
Other services
FDI company setup
Investment and enterprise registration, the capital account and every post-licence step.
- IRC and ERC filing
- Document legalisation guide
- Seal, bank, tax and e-invoice setup
Accounting & tax
Bookkeeping, VAT, corporate tax, annual finalisation and audit support.
- Monthly or quarterly tax returns
- Reports in your language
- Chief accountant service
Payroll, insurance & bank
Monthly payroll, PIT, social insurance and the direct investment capital account.
- Payslips and PIT
- Social, health and unemployment insurance
- DICA and profit remittance
Tell us what you want to do in Vietnam.
Send your business activity, the city and your nationality. Within one working day you get a written plan: the right company type, the documents, the timeline and a fixed quote.