Labour
Visa
A labour visa is a prerequisite for a foreigner to enter and work lawfully in Vietnam — divided into two types depending on whether or not a work permit is required.
Pursuant to the 2014 Law on Immigration, as amended in 2019 and 2023 — with a maximum validity of 02 years.
· Single-entry: USD 25/visa
· Multiple-entry: USD 145/visa
LD2 visa (no more than 02 years):
· Multiple-entry: USD 145/visa
that must be met
suspended entry
Advising on whether the foreign worker falls under an LD1 or LD2 visa; checking eligibility for the work-permit exemption; avoiding the wrong filing that wastes time on redoing the file.
Preparing the sponsorship-dossier notice and the visa request in the prescribed form; ensuring the content fully meets the Immigration Department's requirements.
Filing the dossier on the sponsoring body's behalf directly at the Immigration Department or via the e-portal; tracking progress and handling any request for supplementation within 05 working days.
Advising on and handling the work permit and LD2 visa procedures in parallel — ensuring the terms of the two documents match, avoiding the visa expiring before the work permit or vice versa.
Once the Immigration Department approves, guiding the foreigner to collect the visa at a Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate in the host country — preparing the correct documents for each authority.
Tracking the visa and work permit terms; reminding and assisting with the renewal procedure in good time before expiry; advising on switching visa types when the labour status in Vietnam changes.
In principle, each visa type has its own purpose and cannot be switched automatically. A foreigner on a tourist visa who wants to work in Vietnam must carry out the procedure to obtain a new labour visa (LD1 or LD2 as the case may be), which can be done at the Immigration Department domestically or at a Vietnamese embassy abroad. VLIC advises for free on the most suitable route.
No. When the visa expires, the foreigner no longer has lawful residence status in Vietnam — even if the work permit is still valid. The visa must be renewed before expiry. In practice, an LD2 visa's term is issued to match the work permit's term — if there is a discrepancy, contact VLIC for timely advice on handling it.
Any agency, organization, or individual in Vietnam may act as inviting sponsor. For an e-visa, the inviting organization must have legal personality under Vietnamese law — including businesses, foreign-trader branches, and representative offices of foreign economic organizations. An individual sponsor must clearly establish their status and follow a separate procedure.
Yes — both LD1 and LD2 can be multiple-entry. For LD1: single-entry is USD 25, multiple-entry is USD 145. For LD2: there is only the multiple-entry type at USD 145/visa. Workers who travel frequently should choose the multiple-entry type to avoid reapplying on each entry and exit.
No. Under Article 21 of the 2014 Law on Immigration, a person expelled from Vietnam within the past 03 years, or compelled to exit within the past 06 months from the date the decision took effect, is not yet permitted to enter. Only after this ban period ends may the person apply for a visa again under the ordinary procedure.
