Streamlining Work Permits for Foreigners in Vietnam
Contemplating Shortening Issue Duration for Foreigner Work Permits by Ministry
Vietnam is eyeing a more efficient workforce as the Ministry of Home Affairs plans to slash the time to issue work permits for foreigners from a lengthy 36 days to a brisk 10 days, and promote online applications.
This change is outlined in the draft decree regulating foreign workers, compiled and being reviewed by the Ministry of Justice.
Focus on Technological Advancements
In the era of the fourth industrial revolution, Vietnam has been promoting new, knowledge-intensive industries, building key national projects, and expanding work in fields such as green energy. To meet the demands of these sectors, certain industries and occupations are undergoing regulation amendments to attract external talent.
The MoHA draft decree introduces a regulation allowing university graduates to work in Vietnam without prior experience, provided they are employed in sectors like finance, science, technology, innovation, national digital transformation, or other priority fields for development. Furthermore, graduates may qualify under cooperation agreements with the government.
Broader Exemptions and Flexible Procedures
The draft decree also expands the list of cases not requiring work permits, covering experts in fields like finance, science, technology, innovation, national digital transformation, and priority development areas. It also covers lecturers recognized as experts by specialized ministries, such as the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education and Training.
The MoHA defined "special cases decided by the government upon the MoHA's proposal" as a mechanism to address emerging issues in the country's socio-economic development.
Decentralization and Convenience
The draft decree outlines the decentralization of authority in granting work permits to foreign workers, with the MoHA issuing permits only for specific cases. Employers now have the flexibility to complete procedures at the MoHA or through competent provincial authorities, making the application process more convenient.
Efficient and Connected Systems
The draft decree emphasizes the promotion of work permit application reception and processing via electronic networks, and the construction of a unified database of foreign workers in Vietnam. This database will be connected to foreign citizen management systems, ensuring more convenient and accurate management.
Acceptable health certificates will be issued both by foreign and Vietnamese medical facilities, as long as they are valid for 12 months from the date of application submission. Adhering to the Ministry of Health's guidelines is essential to ensure the worker does not have any infectious diseases.
Statistics and Demographics
As of the end of last year, roughly 161,992 foreign workers were employed in Vietnam, with 12,797 exempt from work permit requirements. The remaining 149,195 required permits, with over 108,000 newly issued, 18,000 extended, 12,000 re-granted, and nearly 10,000 still in the application process. Vietnam's international workforce encompasses approximately 110 nationalities, with Chinese workers making up the largest share (30.9%), followed by South Korean (18.3%) and Japanese (9.5%) nationals.
In summary, the proposed changes aim to streamline the process of issuing work permits to foreigners in Vietnam, making it more attractive for foreign professionals, particularly in technology-related industries. The new regulations focus on reducing bureaucracy, facilitating online applications, and expanding exemptions for certain professionals, all with the goal of fostering a more competitive and skilled workforce in the country.
Foreigners working in Việt Nam. A draft decree considers to reduce the time to issue work permits to foreign workers. - Illustrative Photo laodongthudo.vn
- The draft decree, being reviewed by the Ministry of Justice, aims to reduce the time for issuing work permits for foreigners working in Vietnam from 36 days to 10 days, promoting online applications, and adhering to the fourth industrial revolution.
- To attract external talent in new, knowledge-intensive industries like finance, science, technology, and innovation, the MoHA draft decree allows university graduates to work without prior experience in these sectors.
- The draft decree expands the list of cases not requiring work permits, including experts in fields like finance, science, technology, innovation, national digital transformation, and priority areas for development, as well as lecturers recognized as experts by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education and Training.
- The MoHA draft decree outlines the decentralization of authority in granting work permits to foreign workers, with employers having the flexibility to complete procedures at the MoHA or through competent provincial authorities.
- The construction of a unified database of foreign workers in Vietnam will be connected to foreign citizen management systems, ensuring more convenient and accurate management, and adhering to the Ministry of Health's guidelines for acceptable health certificates.
