To work legally in Vietnam, Chinese citizens need a work permit. What documents do you need? How does the process work under Decree 219/2025/ND-CP? This guide will answer all your questions.
Requirements for work permit for Chinese citizens in Vietnam
- Be at least 18 years old and mentally capable
- Be healthy enough to work (based on Ministry of Health standards)
- Have no criminal record and not be serving any prison sentence
- Fit into one of these job types according to Decree 219/2025/ND-CP:
- Manager:
- You manage a company according to Enterprise Law
- Or you’re the head or deputy head of an organization
- Executive director:
- You run a branch, representative office, or business location
- Or you lead a department and have at least 3 years of experience in a field related to your job in Vietnam
- Expert:
- You have a university degree and at least 2 years of relevant work experience
- Or you have a university degree and at least 1 year of experience if you work in finance, science, technology, innovation, or digital transformation
- Technical worker:
- You completed at least 1 year of training and have 2 years of relevant experience
- Or you have at least 3 years of relevant work experience
- Manager:
These conditions make sure Chinese workers have the right skills for their jobs in Vietnam.
>> To properly document your professional background, you’ll need a working experience certificate that proves your qualifications for the position you’re applying for in Vietnam.
Important things to know about work permits for Chinese people
Here are the key changes in Decree 219/2025/ND-CP compared to the old rules:
- The job posting time is now shorter – just 5 working days instead of 15 days. This helps you hire Chinese workers faster.
- You now fill out just one form (Form 03) that covers both explaining why you need foreign workers and asking for the work permit. This makes everything simpler.
- Document verification: All important papers must be verified at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you send them to Vietnam. After that, you need to submit them at the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in China.
- Name rules: Vietnam accepts two types of international names: First Name – last name or last name – First Name. Names can’t have special characters and must match on all documents (passport, degree, criminal record, work experience certificate).
- Health certificate: You can use a health certificate from a foreign hospital if Vietnam and that country have an agreement, valid for up to 12 months. However, right now you still need to submit one normally. There’s no official confirmation yet that health certificates from foreign hospitals are accepted in Vietnam. So it’s better if Chinese workers come to Vietnam first, then get their health check here.
These changes mean you need to prepare your documents more carefully to follow the new rules.
Are you worried about whether graduation certificates from China are valid under the new Decree? Or not sure which hospitals can do health checks for Chinese workers? One small mistake can cost your business time and money! With experience handling hundreds of applications for Chinese workers, VisaNow understands the special requirements and is ready to help you step by step. Call +84 94 367 6226 now for detailed advice!
Documents for work permit applications for Chinese citizens
According to Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, the documents for Chinese workers’ work permits are now combined into one set. This includes both explaining why you need foreign workers and asking for the work permit. This is much simpler than the old Decree 152/2020/ND-CP, which needed many separate forms.
- Form 03 – Explanation report and work permit application: includes reasons for hiring foreign workers, confirmation of job posting, list of expected workers, and statement that you couldn’t hire Vietnamese workers
- Criminal record or confirmation that the person isn’t serving a prison sentence: valid for no more than 6 months from issue date (you can use the online system)
The new Decree lets you get the criminal record online as part of the work permit process instead of preparing it separately. However, criminal records take 3 weeks while work permits take only 10 days. This might make you wait longer for the work permit. That’s why VisaNow recommends getting the criminal record yourself first to save time and avoid unnecessary risks. Call +84 94 367 6226 now so our staff can explain everything in detail and help you start today!
- 2 color photos 4x6cm: white background, face forward, head uncovered, no glasses, taken within 6 months
- Scanned passport: must still be valid
- Health certificate: from an authorized medical facility, valid for 12 months
- Introduction letter or authorization letter: if the person submitting documents isn’t the company’s legal representative
- Documents proving qualifications depending on position:
- Manager
- Company charter or organization regulations
- Appointment or transfer document
- Business registration certificate or establishment certificate
- Executive director
- Branch registration certificate, representative office certificate, or business location certificate
- Company charter or organizational structure document
- Confirmation from previous employer about at least 3 years of relevant experience
- Expert
- University degree or higher (notarized copy, verified by consulate)
- Confirmation of at least 2 years of relevant work experience (or 1 year if in priority fields: finance, science, technology, innovation, digital transformation)
- Technical worker
- Training certificate for at least 1 year and confirmation of at least 2 years of experience
- Or confirmation of at least 3 years of work experience
- Manager
>> Note: All documents issued by Chinese authorities must be verified at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then submitted at the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in China. These documents need to be translated into Vietnamese and notarized before submission.
Chinese workers often submit graduation certificates instead of official university degrees. However, the Department of Internal Affairs can refuse if documents don’t meet validity requirements or aren’t properly verified. Is your business having trouble preparing documents for Chinese workers who lack official degrees? Contact VisaNow immediately via +84 94 367 6226 for advice on suitable alternatives and guidance on preparing valid supplementary documents. We’ll help you handle this situation smoothly and professionally, saving you both time and worry.
>> Why choose VisaNow? We can check your documents before submission to make sure everything is complete and correct. Reach out to us if you need help preparing your application package.
After you have all the documents ready, you’ll follow the steps in the work permit process according to the new procedures.
How to get work permits for Chinese employees in Vietnam?
Step 1. Post a job for Vietnamese workers
Before you apply for a work permit, you need to post a job announcement for Vietnamese workers for the position where you want to hire Chinese workers.
- Time needed: At least 5 working days before you submit the work permit application (shortened from 15 days under Decree 152/2020/ND-CP)
- What to include in the job posting:
- Job title and position
- Job description and number of workers needed
- Education and experience requirements
- Salary, working hours, and location
- Other requirements (work type, contract length)
- How to post: Online on the National Public Service Portal or the provincial Employment Service Center website (Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, etc.)
After you can’t find Vietnamese workers during the required time, you’ll write the reasons in Form 03 and move to the next step.
Step 2. Submit the work permit application (includes explanation of need for foreign workers)
This is an important change in Decree 219/2025/ND-CP: the whole process of explaining why you need foreign workers and asking for a work permit is now done with just one set of documents instead of two separate steps like before.
- When to submit: Between 60 days but no less than 10 days before the Chinese worker plans to start working
- How to submit: Online through the National Public Service Portal, procedure code 194248 or 9151. You need to register an account, upload digital documents, sign electronically, and submit online.
>> Note: For cases of intra-company transfers in 11 WTO service sectors, you don’t need to explain why you couldn’t hire Vietnamese workers.
Step 3. Get a Vietnam work permit for Chinese workers
SProcessing takes 10 working days from when they receive complete documents. The authorities will review and approve the need and issue the work permit at the same time. After approval, you’ll receive the work permit according to Form 04 in the Appendix.
- If rejected: If not approved, authorities will send a written explanation within 3 working days.
- How to receive: Results are delivered online through the National Public Service Portal or via public postal service
- Work permit validity: No more than 2 years, based on labor contract, assignment document, or business license
>> Note: Chinese workers need to sign a labor contract before starting work and submit a copy if requested. If working in multiple provinces, notify 3 days in advance.
The process is now much simpler. However, there are still many things to pay attention to, especially when getting work permits for Chinese people. The next section will share practical tips to help you avoid common problems.
The whole process can seem complicated, but VisaNow can handle it for you. Our team knows all the requirements and can help you avoid common mistakes that cause delays. Contact our HOTLINE at +84 94 367 6226 for professional support with your work permit application.
Processing time for work permits for Chinese citizens
According to Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, processing Vietnam work permits for Chinese workers takes 10 working days from when they receive complete documents.
| Stage | According to government procedure | Actual time |
| Job posting | At least 5 days (reduced from 15 days under old decree) | 5-7 days |
| Prepare and submit documents | Within 60 days but no less than 10 days before planned start date | 14-35 days |
| Issue work permit | Within 10 days | – |
| Total time | – | 28-42 days (4-6 weeks) |
However, the time might be longer if documents need to be added or if you need to verify documents from China.
>> Note: Processing time starts from when the Department of Internal Affairs officially receives documents, not from when you submit to the Public Service Portal.
Work permit fees for Chinese citizens in Vietnam
The fee for new work permits in Vietnam for Chinese workers ranges from 600,000 – 1,000,000 VND per permit. Each province sets its own specific fees, so costs vary by location.
Other costs you might have:
- Criminal record fee: 200,000 VND per person if done in Vietnam, or consular verification costs if done in China
- Health check cost: 1,500,000 – 3,000,000 VND depending on the medical facility
- Translation and notarization cost: depends on number of pages and document type
- Consular verification cost: for documents issued by China
>> Note about health check hospitals: Chinese people need health checks at hospitals designated by the provincial Health Department in Vietnam. The health certificate must conclude “Healthy enough to work” and have all doctor signatures plus the worker’s signature.
Because documents are submitted online, the Department of Internal Affairs won’t accept health certificates with incorrect information or handwritten corrections. Do you need a list of approved hospitals for health checks for Chinese workers’ work permits in your area? VisaNow will provide accurate information about medical facilities designated by the Health Department and guide you through the detailed examination process. Contact +84 94 367 6226 now to get the hospital list and advice on preparing valid health check documents.
Also, you should budget for extra costs in case you need to extend the visa if it expires while getting the work permit.
FAQs about work permits for Chinese workers
Can Chinese people work in Vietnam without a work permit?
How long is a work permit valid for Chinese workers in Vietnam?
Can I change employers with my current work permit?
Vietnam work permit services for Chinese citizens
With experience handling over 1,000 work permit applications, VisaNow is proud to be the trusted partner of more than 500 businesses nationwide. Our team is ready to meet your diverse needs and committed to providing professional work permit services for Chinese workers, following Vietnamese procedures and laws.
Advantages of work permit services for Chinese workers at VisaNow:
- Accurate advice about degree requirements: We help handle cases lacking official university degrees and advise suitable solutions for each specific case
- Staff with deep knowledge about work permit procedures for Chinese workers
- Protect client rights and keep your business information confidential, ensuring all data is handled strictly and safely
Work permit procedures for Chinese workers have been simplified but still have many complex requirements, especially regarding document verification and preparing degrees. With our deep experience, VisaNow will help your business complete procedures quickly, saving time and money. If you’re looking for a trusted work permit service for Chinese workers, don’t hesitate to contact VisaNow via +84 94 367 6226.
