Key Takeaways
• Vietnam decentralizes immigration and work permit processes to provincial authorities from July 1, 2025.
• Provincial People’s Committees will approve job positions, issue work permits, and decide expert exemptions locally.
• This reform aims to speed processing, reduce paperwork, and improve responsiveness for employers and foreign professionals.
Vietnam to Decentralize Immigration and Work Permit Processes for Foreign Professionals: What Changes on July 1, 2025?
Vietnam 🇻🇳 is preparing for a major change in how it handles immigration and work permit processes for foreign professionals. Starting July 1, 2025, the country will shift key responsibilities from the central government to local provincial authorities. This move is designed to make things faster, simpler, and more responsive for both foreign workers and the companies that hire them.
Who is affected?
Foreign professionals seeking to work in Vietnam 🇻🇳, their employers (especially multinational companies), and local government officials will all see changes in how work permits and immigration matters are handled.
What is changing?
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), which used to manage most work permit applications and approvals for foreign workers, will hand over these duties to the Chairpersons of Provincial People’s Committees or their designated departments. This means decisions about hiring foreign workers, issuing work permits, and granting exemptions will be made at the local level, not by the central government.
When does this happen?
The new rules take effect on July 1, 2025.
Where does this apply?
Every province in Vietnam 🇻🇳 will follow the new decentralized system.
Why is this happening?
The government wants to reduce delays, cut down on paperwork, and give more power to local officials who understand the needs of their communities and businesses.
How will it work?
Employers will submit applications and requests to their local provincial authorities instead of the central MOHA. Provincial officials will review, approve, or deny these requests, often in a much shorter time frame.
Let’s look at the details, what this means for different groups, and how the new system will work in practice.
Background: Why Vietnam 🇻🇳 Is Changing Its Immigration and Work Permit System
Vietnam 🇻🇳 has been working to modernize its public administration for several years. The old system, where the central government handled most work permit and immigration matters, often led to long delays and confusion. Multinational companies and foreign professionals complained about slow processing times, unclear rules, and too much paperwork.
To address these problems, the government has been restructuring its ministries and departments. Earlier in 2025, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) was dissolved, and its employment-related functions were transferred to MOHA. Now, with the new decentralization reform, MOHA will also step back from direct involvement in work permit and immigration decisions for foreign professionals.
This change is part of a larger plan to make government services faster, more efficient, and closer to the people and businesses they serve.
What Does Decentralization Mean for Immigration and Work Permits?
Decentralization means moving decision-making power from the central government to local authorities. In the context of Vietnam’s immigration and work permit system, this means:
- Provincial People’s Committees (the main local government bodies in each province) will now be in charge of:
- Approving job positions for foreign hires
- Issuing and renewing work permits for foreign professionals
- Deciding on exemptions for expert-level foreign workers
- MOHA will no longer handle these tasks for foreign workers starting July 1, 2025.
- Employers must now work directly with their local provincial authorities for all work permit and exemption matters.
This shift is expected to make the process faster and more flexible, as local officials can respond more quickly to the needs of businesses and foreign professionals in their area.
Step-by-Step: How the New System Will Work
Here’s a simple breakdown of the new process for employers and foreign professionals in Vietnam 🇻🇳:
1. Job Position Approval
- Employers who want to hire a foreign professional must first get approval for the job position.
- Instead of sending this request to MOHA, employers will now submit it to the Provincial People’s Committee or a designated local department.
2. Work Permit Application
- Once the job position is approved, the employer can apply for a work permit for the foreign professional.
- The application is filed with the provincial authorities (not MOHA).
- The provincial office reviews the application, checks the documents, and decides whether to issue the work permit.
3. Expert Exemption Requests
- Some foreign professionals, especially those considered “experts,” may qualify for a work permit exemption.
- If an employer believes a foreign worker qualifies for this exemption, they submit a request to the provincial Department of Home Affairs.
- The department must consult the Chairperson of the Provincial People’s Committee within three business days.
- The Chairperson reviews the case and issues a written decision.
4. Exceptional Transfers
- If a foreign expert needs to be transferred between locations or projects under special circumstances, the provincial authorities have the final say on exemptions and approvals.
5. Final Decision
- The Chairperson of the Provincial People’s Committee makes the final decision on all job position approvals, work permits, and exemptions.
Key Point: All these steps are now handled locally, which should mean less waiting and more direct communication.
What Stays the Same and What Changes?
What Stays the Same:
- Foreign professionals still need a valid work permit to work legally in Vietnam 🇻🇳, unless they qualify for an exemption.
- Employers must still provide supporting documents and follow the legal requirements for hiring foreign workers.
What Changes:
- Where to Apply: All applications and requests go to the local provincial authorities, not the central MOHA.
- Who Decides: Local officials, especially the Chairperson of the Provincial People’s Committee, have the final say.
- Processing Time: The government expects decisions to be made faster, especially for expert exemptions (within three business days).
- Local Oversight: Provincial officials have more responsibility and discretion, which could lead to more tailored decisions for local needs.
Why Is This Reform Important?
For Foreign Professionals:
The new system should make it easier and faster to get a work permit or exemption. Local officials can respond more quickly to questions and problems, and foreign professionals may spend less time waiting for approvals.
For Employers:
Companies, especially those operating in multiple provinces or sectors, will benefit from a simpler, more direct process. They can work with local authorities who understand their business needs and can make decisions without waiting for central government approval.
For Provincial Authorities:
Local officials will have more power and responsibility. They will need to be well-trained and follow clear guidelines to ensure fair and consistent decisions.
For the Central Government:
MOHA can focus on setting policies and monitoring the system, rather than handling every individual case.
What Are the Risks and Challenges?
While most experts agree that decentralization is a positive step, there are some potential challenges:
- Consistency: With each province making its own decisions, there is a risk that rules and standards could vary from place to place. This could create confusion for employers and foreign professionals who work in more than one province.
- Training: Local officials will need proper training and clear guidelines to handle their new responsibilities fairly and efficiently.
- Oversight: The central government will need to monitor the system to make sure local decisions are transparent and follow national laws.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, immigration law experts say that while decentralization should reduce delays and improve transparency, it is important for the government to provide strong oversight and support to provincial authorities.
How Will This Affect Multinational Companies?
Multinational companies often face extra challenges when hiring foreign professionals in Vietnam 🇻🇳. Under the old system, they had to deal with the central MOHA, which could be slow and sometimes unclear.
With the new system:
- Applications will be handled locally, which should speed up the process.
- Compliance will be simpler, as companies can work directly with local officials who understand their business.
- Expert exemptions should be decided more quickly, making it easier to bring in top talent.
However, companies will need to keep track of local rules and practices in each province where they operate, as there may be some differences.
What About Foreign Professionals Already Working in Vietnam 🇻🇳?
If you are a foreign professional already working in Vietnam 🇻🇳, here’s what you need to know:
- Current work permits will remain valid until they expire.
- Renewals and new applications after July 1, 2025, must be submitted to the local provincial authorities.
- Expert exemptions will be handled by the local Chairperson, not MOHA.
It’s a good idea to contact your employer or the local Department of Home Affairs to find out how the new rules will affect your specific situation.
What Should Employers and Foreign Professionals Do Now?
Employers:
- Review your current processes for hiring foreign professionals and prepare to work with local authorities.
- Train your HR staff on the new procedures and requirements.
- Build relationships with local government offices in the provinces where you operate.
- Stay updated by checking official government websites and consulting with immigration law firms or global mobility consultants.
Foreign Professionals:
- Talk to your employer about how the new rules will affect your work permit or exemption.
- Keep your documents up to date and be ready to provide any new information required by local authorities.
- Contact the local Department of Home Affairs if you have questions about your status or application.
Where to Find Official Information and Forms
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, you should visit the official Vietnam Ministry of Home Affairs website. This site will provide guidelines, forms, and contact details for provincial offices as the July 1, 2025, implementation date approaches.
If you need to apply for a work permit or exemption, your local Department of Home Affairs or the Provincial People’s Committee office is the best place to start. They can provide the correct forms and explain the new procedures.
If you are looking for the official work permit application form, you can usually find it on the Ministry of Home Affairs website or by asking your local provincial office. If an official link is not available yet, check back closer to July 2025, as new forms and instructions will be posted.
What’s Next? Future Outlook for Vietnam’s Immigration System
Vietnam 🇻🇳 is likely to continue making changes to improve its immigration and work permit system. The government may expand decentralization to other areas and introduce more digital tools to make applications even faster and easier.
Monitoring and evaluation systems will probably be set up to check how well provincial authorities are handling their new responsibilities. This will help ensure fairness and consistency across the country.
Employers and foreign professionals should expect more updates and improvements as Vietnam 🇻🇳 works to become a more attractive place for international talent and investment.
Key Takeaways
- Starting July 1, 2025, Vietnam 🇻🇳 will decentralize immigration and work permit processes for foreign professionals.
- Provincial People’s Committees will handle job approvals, work permits, and expert exemptions.
- Employers and foreign professionals should prepare to work with local authorities and stay informed about new procedures.
- The reform aims to make the process faster, simpler, and more responsive to local needs.
- Official information and forms will be available on the Ministry of Home Affairs website and at local provincial offices.
By understanding these changes and preparing ahead of time, employers and foreign professionals can make the most of Vietnam’s new, more efficient immigration and work permit system.
Learn Today
Decentralization → The transfer of decision-making powers from central government to local provincial authorities in immigration matters.
Work Permit → An official authorization allowing a foreign professional to legally work in Vietnam.
Provincial People’s Committee → The main local government body in each province responsible for immigration approvals after July 2025.
Expert Exemption → A special authorization exempting certain qualified foreign workers from needing a work permit.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) → Vietnam’s central government agency formerly managing work permits, now shifting authority to provinces.
This Article in a Nutshell
Vietnam’s July 2025 immigration reform decentralizes work permit approvals to provincial officials, aiming for faster, simpler processing and better local responsiveness for foreign professionals and employers.
— By VisaVerge.com
