VIETNAM: HCMC COVID-19 Concessions Repealed

January 13, 2023


Vietnamese authorities issued resolution 105 in 2021 that provided concessions to businesses during the pandemic in relation to the issuance and renewal of work permits. On 9 January 2023, the HCMC Department of Labor formally announced the concessions are to be discontinued with immediate effect.

How will this affect the work permit application and renewal process?

  • During the pandemic, authorities accepted previous work permits as evidence in lieu of a Working Experience Certificate, which is a mandatory document for a new work permit application.
  • The applicant’s educational degree will be reviewed more completely against the role being applied for in Vietnam.
  • Previously, authorities allowed the working location notification for work permit holders working in another province/city for up to six months. Removing the relaxation of rules would now require all foreign nationals intending to work in another city/province to obtain a new work permit within that location.
  • Scanned passport copies will no longer be accepted. This means a notarized copy of the work permit applicant’s passport is required if work permit filing will be done while the applicant is in the country, or a legalized copy will have to be submitted if the work permit filing will be done while the applicant is overseas.

Newland Chase Insights

Companies should now expect a more stringent review process of applications and renewals in HCMC as a result of the lifting of the relaxation of requirements. It should be expected that some other jurisdictions in Vietnam will follow suit but Hanoi authorities, at the time of writing, have not released any update with regard to the repealing of resolution 105. Newland Chase will continue to monitor any new information in regards to this matter.

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Newland Chase dedicated contact or submit an inquiry here should you have any specific questions regarding this announcement.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.