Decree 219: Vietnam Opens Door Wider For Foreign Expats With New Work Permit Rules

On 7 August 2025, the Government issued Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP (“Decree 219”) on foreign employees working in Vietnam, replacing Decree No. 152/2020/ND-CP. The new Decree 219 is aimed at streamlining procedures and attracting more foreign experts, while maintaining stricter standards in certain areas.

A key reform under Decree 219 is the relaxation of experience requirements for expert positions. Foreign employees with a university degree or higher are now required to have only two years of relevant experience, instead of three as previously mandated. For degree holders in government-prioritized fields—such as finance, technology, innovation, and digital transformation—the requirement is further reduced to just one year.

Decree 219 also broadens the scope of exemptions from work permit requirements. Foreigners working in priority sectors, once confirmed by the relevant ministry or provincial authority, are no longer required to obtain a work permit but only need to file for confirmation of exemption eligibility.

Another major change is the integration of procedures for determining the demand for foreign workers and applying for a work permit. Previously, employers had to complete these steps separately, resulting in a statutory timeline of 15 working days. Under Decree 219, the process has been consolidated into a single step with a total processing time of 10 working days.

In contrast to these simplifications, Decree 219 introduces stricter rules on health certificates. Only certificates issued by medical institutions in countries or territories that have mutual recognition agreements with Vietnam will be accepted for work permit applications, replacing the previous general recognition of foreign certificates issued within 12 months.

Overall, Decree 219 reflects Vietnam’s effort to make its labor market more open and competitive for foreign professionals, while ensuring higher standards in health and compliance. The changes are expected to ease administrative burdens for businesses, shorten timelines, and create more favorable conditions for highly skilled foreigners to work in Vietnam.