Vietnam Work Visa: LĐ1, LĐ2 and What Employers Need to Prepare
A Vietnam work visa addresses a foreign employee’s immigration status. LĐ1 relates to a work-permit exemption; LĐ2 relates to work for which a permit is required. Neither visa category replaces the need to establish the person’s right to work. Employers should assess the actual job, labour documents, sponsor, and length of stay before preparing a visa application.
What Is a Vietnam Work Visa?
Three different documents answer different questions:
Document | Main question it answers | What the employer must still check |
Work visa | What is the person’s immigration category for entering or staying in Vietnam? | Whether the proposed work meets the labour rules |
Work permit or applicable exemption | On what basis can the person perform the proposed work? | Whether any certificate, notification, or other labour step is required |
Temporary residence card (TRC) | Is the person eligible for a separate residence document for a longer stay? | Whether the labour basis and sponsorship remain appropriate |
The employer should plan these documents as connected parts of one assignment. A visa or TRC does not independently establish that every proposed job is permitted.
What Is the Difference Between LĐ1 and LĐ2?
Visa category | Labour position | Employer should verify |
LĐ1 | The worker falls under a work-permit exemption. The immigration-law description refers to confirmation of that exemption, subject to applicable treaty provisions. | The worker falls under a work-permit exemption. The immigration-law description refers to confirmation of that exemption, subject to applicable treaty provisions. |
LĐ2 | The worker falls under a work-permit exemption. The immigration-law description refers to confirmation of that exemption, subject to applicable treaty provisions. | The work permit, named employer, position, location, and consistency with the proposed immigration application |
The important distinction: Some work-permit exemptions involve a confirmation certificate; others involve a notification procedure. Do not treat “exempt” as “no documents needed” or assume that every exempt worker follows an identical LĐ1 application. See VINEX’s work permit exemption guide for the labour-side review.
For employees who need a permit, use VINEX’s Vietnam work permit guide for the detailed labour application.
Which Route Applies to Your Employee?
Situation | First question for the employer | Next route to assess |
Hired for a Vietnam-based job | Is a work permit required for the actual role? | Permit and LĐ2 if required; exemption route if the conditions are met |
Transferred within a corporate group | Does this particular transfer satisfy an exemption, or does it require a permit? | Review the assignment, host entity, duties, and evidence before selecting the visa |
Specialist described as an “expert” | Do the person’s qualifications and assignment meet a specific legal category? | Assess the permit or exemption requirements; do not rely on the title alone |
Visiting for meetings or negotiations | Will the person only conduct the stated business activities, or also perform work in Vietnam? | Check the appropriate business-entry category and any separate labour obligation |
Staying for a longer assignment | Is the worker eligible for a TRC under the applicable category? | Plan the residence application alongside the labour and visa documents |
VINEX’s Vietnam business visa guide is relevant when the proposed visit involves meetings or commercial discussions rather than an employment assignment.
VINEX’s view: Start with the assignment letter or contract and describe what the person will do each day. Then match the employer or host, work location, dates, and sponsor to the labour and immigration documents. A job title or requested visa symbol alone does not give enough information to choose the route.
What Should the Employer Prepare Before Applying?
Prepare three groups of information:
Employee: Passport details, nationality, current location, current Vietnam visa or residence status if applicable, expected entry date, and intended length of stay.
Sponsor: Vietnamese entity details, authorised signatory information, and documents supporting its role in the proposed assignment.
Labour basis: The work permit for a permit-required case, or documents supporting the specific exemption and its required confirmation or notification procedure.
Before filing, check that names, passport numbers, job descriptions, employer or sponsor details, work locations, and dates agree across the documents. The exact application form and supporting dossier depend on the procedure being used; verify the current requirements for that route.
How Do the Work Permit and Work Visa Steps Fit Together?
Define the assignment. Confirm duties, Vietnam work location, employer or host, and proposed start date.
Choose the labour branch.
Work permit required: Complete the applicable permit procedure and prepare the documents supporting an LĐ2 application.
Exemption may apply: Establish the specific ground, complete the required confirmation or notification step, and verify the evidence accepted for the proposed immigration category.
Choose the immigration route. Review the passport, current status, sponsor, intended entry, and period of stay. Prepare the appropriate visa application or assess TRC eligibility.
Check before work begins. Confirm that the labour and immigration documents support the actual arrangement, not merely the job title in the application.
The exact order of immigration steps may differ between an employee applying from Singapore and one already in Vietnam. Employers should establish the route before promising a start date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a business visa enough to work in Vietnam?
It may suit the stated purpose of a meeting or negotiation. It does not automatically cover an employment role or ongoing operational work. Review the activities the visitor will perform.
Can an employee apply for LĐ1 without a work permit?
LĐ1 concerns a work-permit exemption rather than a standard permit. The employer must still establish the exemption and check the required labour procedure and immigration evidence for that person.
When might a TRC be relevant?
A temporary residence card may be relevant for an eligible longer-term assignment. It requires a separate assessment of category, sponsor, passport, and supporting documents.
What should be reviewed when employment or the sponsor changes?
Check whether the existing labour document and visa or TRC still match the employer, duties, and sponsor. Resolve any required changes before relying on the old documents for the new arrangement.
Common mistake to avoid: Applying for a visa based on the employee’s title while the contract, actual duties, labour documents, and sponsor describe different arrangements.
Our Services
How VINEX Can Help Employers Plan the Right Route
VINEX can help review the employee’s proposed role, assess the work-permit or exemption route, check document consistency, and coordinate the immigration plan. Send VINEX the worker’s nationality, current location and status, duties, Vietnamese sponsor, work location, and intended start date for an initial review.
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