I’m a German lecturer and have just received a job offer from a university in Vietnam. If I take the job, do I have to apply for a work permit in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Point d, Clause 1 of Article 151 of the 2019 Labor Code, foreigners intending to work in Vietnam, including teaching, must obtain a work permit.

But there are exemptions.

Under Government Decree 152/2020/ND-CP on foreign workers in Vietnam and the recruitment and management of Vietnamese workers working for foreign organizations and individuals in Vietnam, amended by Decree 70 of 2023, foreigners engaged in teaching or research activities in the country may be exempted from the requirement of a work permit under the following circumstances:

First, a foreigner is sent by a foreign authority to Vietnam to teach or work as an administrator or chief executive officer/managing director at an educational institution established in Vietnam at the proposal of a foreign diplomatic mission or an inter-governmental organization, or at an institution or organization established under a treaty that Vietnam has signed or acceded to.

Second, they are confirmed by the Ministry of Education and Training that they enter Vietnam to teach or conduct research activities, or work as an administrator, chief executive officer/managing director, principal, or vice-principal of an educational institution established in Vietnam at the proposal of a foreign diplomatic mission or an inter-governmental organization.

If they fall into one of the aforementioned categories, they will be exempted from the requirement of a work permit in Vietnam.

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