Vietnam: Transition of Processing to Ministry of Home Affairs Causes Delays
March 21, 2025
At a Glance
- The responsibility for managing foreign nationals working in Vietnam has been transferred from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs to the Ministry of Home Affairs. As part of the transition:
- The submission and collection points for work permit-related applications have shifted to municipal Public Administration Service Centers;
- Applications for both Job Position Approval and Work Permit Exemption Certificates no longer require physical submission after online filing; and
- Police clearance certificate processing and issuance has been moved to the Ministry of Public Security.
- As a result of these changes, there will be processing delays of up to a few weeks as new departments get accustomed to the new processes.
The situation
Further to the decree issued in February 2025 that transferred the responsibility for managing foreign nationals working in Vietnam from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MOLISA) (and their provincial Departments of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (DOLISA) offices) to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), there are further impacts resulting from this shift, some which bring process changes and processing delays.
A closer look
CHANGE |
IMPACT |
Transfer of Work Permit processing to MOHA
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Changes to Job Position Approval (JPA) and Work Permit Exemption Certificate (WPEC) process
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Judicial Record and Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) Processing Shifted to the Ministry of Public Security (MPS)
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Background
The changes follow the implementation of a government resolution that seeks to improve administrative efficiency. This effort included significant restructuring of five government ministries and other government bodies, including the merging of certain agencies and the transfer of key functions between existing bodies.
Looking ahead
The Vietnamese government continues to implement strategic initiatives to attract foreign investment, particularly in high-tech sectors, infrastructure development, and international trade relations, reflecting Vietnam's commitment to creating a conducive environment for foreign investors. As these initiatives continue to roll out, we will likely see both opportunities and challenges for employers and foreign nationals. Key challenges will include some of the more restrictionist policies of the current labour decrees, which can make the process of hiring foreign talent lengthy and unpredictable.
While there have been no official announcements or indications from the Vietnamese government regarding further amendments to the decrees, further operational changes are expected as the MOHA takes over the management of foreign workers. Since the authorities have been known to make policy changes (or even cease application processing) without notice, employers should stay aware of application process changes.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email [email protected]. Also access the Vietnam spotlight page on Fragomen’s website.