Applying for a work permit in Hanoi is required for foreigners who want to work legally in the capital. The work permit application process in Hanoi has specific requirements for documents and processing time. VisaNow shares this detailed guide.
>> Read more: Work permit service for foreign workers if you need professional assistance with your application.
Let VisaNow handle your application from start to finish with our proven success rate and expert knowledge of local requirements.
What are the requirements for a work permit in Hanoi?
Foreign workers who want to apply for a work permit in Hanoi need to meet these 4 conditions:
- Be at least 18 years old with full legal capacity
- Have the right qualifications, skills, work experience, and good health as required by Vietnam’s health rules
- Not serving a criminal sentence or under investigation for a crime in any country
- Fit into one of these job categories:
- Experts
- Managers
- Executive Directors
- Technical Workers
- University degree or higher (notarized copy, consular legalized)
- Document confirming at least 2 years of related work experience (or 1 year for priority fields: finance, science, technology, innovation, digital transformation – confirmed by ministry/sector/provincial authority)
- Company charter or operational regulations
- Appointment or transfer document for management positions (Point 24, Article 4, Enterprise Law 2020 No. 59/2020/QH14)
- Business registration certificate or establishment certificate or equivalent legal documents
- Branch registration certificate, representative office certificate, or business location certificate
- Company charter or organizational structure document
- Confirmation document from employer about at least 3 years of relevant experience (authenticated confirmation letter or electronic document)
Special case: If you worked in Vietnam before, you can use your old work permit or work permit exemption certificate to prove experience.
- Option 1:
- At least 1 year of training in specialized field and at least 2 years of experience in that field
- Documents:
- 1-year vocational training certificate (notarized copy, accepted from legal company/organization)
- Document confirming at least 2 years of experience (authenticated confirmation letter/electronic document)
- Option 2:
- At least 3 years of experience in specialized field
- Documents:
- Document confirming at least 3 years of experience (authenticated confirmation letter)
- No training certificate needed, but can add training certificate if authorities request
Important note: If your employee has enough experience (at least 3 years) but no professional training certificate, please contact VisaNow directly via HOTLINE 1900 63 63 50 for consultation on solutions for each specific case.
>> Read more: For detailed guidance on preparing your employment experience certificate, which is one of the most critical documents in your application package.
Our experts will assess your eligibility and guide you through the requirements.
How to get a work permit in Hanoi: 3-step process
The work permit application procedure in Hanoi has 3 steps:
Step 1. Post Vietnamese recruitment notice
This important step proves that your company tried to find Vietnamese workers but no candidates met the requirements.
- Time: At least 5 working days before submitting work permit application
- Where to post:
- Department of Employment (moha.gov.vn)
- Hanoi Employment Service Center: vieclam.hanoi.gov.vn
- Notice must include:
- Position and job title needed
- Specific job description
- Number of workers needed
- Requirements for qualifications and experience
- Expected salary
- Work time and location
- How to do this: Post online on the above websites (free). Companies need to keep confirmation record to attach to Form 3 when requested.
- Cases that are exempt: Foreign contractors, foreign workers exempt from work permits (such as short-term experts under 90 days/year), or internal company transfers.
Step 2. Submit work permit application documents
Now, explaining employment needs and requesting work permit are combined in one application. This saves time for companies.
- When to submit: From 60 days to 10 days before the foreign worker’s expected start date
- Documents needed:
- Report explaining foreign employment needs and requesting work permit (Form 03 Appendix). To ensure you complete the mandatory application form for foreign worker employment and work permit correctly and avoid common mistakes that cause delays.
- Health certificate issued by authorized medical facility, valid for 12 months. Foreign workers can check the list of reputable hospitals in Hanoi for health checks to complete the procedure quickly.
- Valid passport (notarized copy, at least 6 months remaining validity)
- Criminal record certificate: Confirms no law violations, valid for 6 months (exempt if connected through Public Service Portal)
- 2 color photos, 4×6 cm, white background, formal pose, no glasses
- Documents proving work arrangement: Assignment document, contract, or experience confirmation
- Documents proving work position according to section 4 “Work permit conditions for foreigners” above
Important note about criminal record certificate: According to new regulations in Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, companies can choose to let authorities automatically retrieve criminal record certificates when applying for work permits instead of submitting separately. However, we recommend getting criminal record certificates separately before submitting documents for better time control and to avoid delays, because work permit processing usually takes longer. Foreign workers living in Vietnam can get criminal record certificates at Hanoi Police where they registered temporary residence, with processing time about 3 weeks.
- How to submit documents: Through National Public Service Portal (dichvucong.gov.vn), search “work permit for foreigners”. Register company account, upload electronic documents (including Form 03), sign digitally and submit. The system will connect with police authorities for electronic criminal record certificate.
- Processing time: 10 working days from receiving complete valid documents. If not approved, authorities will respond in writing with reasons within 3 working days.
- After submitting:
- Sign employment contract and send copy if requested
- If foreign employee already has work permit and works for same company in multiple provinces/cities (company must have branches with business registration certificates at each location and clear address on business license), send notice to competent authorities (People’s Committee/Department of Home Affairs) in Hanoi at least 3 working days before (Point 5, Article 22)
Step 3. Receive results
- How to receive: Online through dichvucong.gov.vn or directly at Hanoi Public Administration Service Center. Companies will pay fees and receive appointment slip (1-2 days after processing completion).
- Work permit validity: Maximum 2 years, based on employment contract, assignment document, international agreement, or business license.
- If documents are incomplete: Authorities will notify within 3 days for companies to add documents online or directly.
Let our specialists handle each step while you focus on your business.
- Step-by-step guidance
- Complete document preparation
- Timely submissions
- Regular status updates
How much are work permit fees in Hanoi?
Here are the current fees for work permits in Hanoi:
| Type of Procedure | Fee | Legal Basis |
| New work permit | 600.000 VND per permit | Resolution No. 06/2021/NQ-HDND |
| Re-issuing a work permit | 300.000 VND per permit | Resolution No. 06/2021/NQ-HDND |
| Extending a work permit | 450.000 VND per permit(250,000 VND when submitted online) | Resolution No. 06/2021/NQ-HDND |
Besides these official fees, employers should also budget for:
- Medical examination fees (depends on the hospital)
- Criminal record certificate fees
- Translation and certification costs
- Consular legalization fees for foreign documents, like degrees
- Service fees if you hire a consultant to help with the application
>> Read more: For a detailed breakdown of all costs involved, check our comprehensive guide on Vietnam work permit fee.
Note: By law, employers must pay the work permit fees for their foreign employees.
VisaNow’s work permit services in Hanoi
With over 10 years of experience, VisaNow has helped more than 1.000 businesses every year with work permits for foreigners. When you use our services, your business will get:
- Accurate consultation on job fields according to Vietnam’s 242 level-3 occupational categories, ensuring documents comply with regulations and minimizing errors
- Support in choosing optimal document submission timing, consulting on qualifications and experience suitable for industries, checking alignment with business licenses
- Standard form drafting according to regulations, support in posting recruitment notices correctly, saving revision time
- Professional team ready to consult and answer questions outside office hours, committed to processing documents quickly
- Support for multiple nationalities (Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan, USA, Europe,…) and many industries (import-export, FDI, international schools,…)
- Transparent all-inclusive pricing from the start (no hidden fees) and VAT invoice issuance for companies when requested
Contact us today to see how we can make your work permit application in Hanoi easier and faster.
