Vietnam Work Visa from China: 2026 Guide for Foreign Employees
For companies hiring foreign employees in Vietnam, the visa process does not always start with a trip to Vietnam.
In certain cases, a foreign employee can complete the relevant visa application through a Vietnamese diplomatic mission outside Vietnam, including in China, after the required immigration approval has been obtained.
However, a visa is only one part of the process. Employers also need to consider the foreign worker’s work authorization and any post-arrival immigration or residence formalities.
Vietnam’s current foreign-worker framework is governed by Decree 219/2025/NĐ-CP, which took effect on August 7, 2025.
Can a foreign employee apply for a Vietnam work visa while in China?
In certain cases, yes.
Vietnam’s visa procedures allow foreign nationals to apply through Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad when the required visa approval has been obtained from the relevant Vietnamese authority.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that visa applications submitted to a Vietnamese mission abroad generally require:
- A completed visa application form
- A valid passport or travel document
- The relevant visa approval document issued by the competent Vietnamese authority
For many visa categories, the Vietnamese mission abroad processes the visa after receiving the required approval. The official guidance currently states that most such visas are issued within three working days after the mission receives a complete application and the required approval.
This is different from saying that every application is issued on the same day.
Processing time can depend on the visa category, completeness of the application, and the relevant authority or mission.
Visa, work permit, and residence status are not the same thing
One of the most important points for HR teams is to avoid treating these as a single document or process.
1. Work authorization
Foreign nationals working in Vietnam may need a work permit unless they fall within an applicable exemption.
Vietnam’s current foreign-worker framework is set out in Decree 219/2025/NĐ-CP, effective from August 7, 2025.
2. Visa
A visa allows the foreign national to enter Vietnam under the applicable immigration category.
Vietnam’s official visa system includes an LĐ visa category for people entering Vietnam to work, with a validity of up to two years under the relevant rules.
3. Post-arrival immigration or residence formalities
Depending on the employee’s circumstances and immigration status, additional procedures may be required after entry.
A visa does not automatically mean every work authorization or residence requirement has been completed.
What should the Vietnam employer prepare?
The exact document list depends on the employee, position, work arrangement, and applicable procedure.
At the planning stage, HR may need to prepare or verify:
Employer information
- Vietnamese company registration documents
- Information about the company’s workforce
- Information about existing foreign workers and work permits, where relevant
- Details of the position and proposed employment
Employee information
- Passport
- Criminal record documentation, where required
- Education or professional qualification documents, where required
- Evidence of relevant work experience, where required
- Health examination documentation, where required
- Supporting documents
Some foreign-issued public documents may require authentication, translation, or other formalities before they can be used in Vietnam.
Importantly, the exact document treatment should be checked for the specific case rather than applying one checklist to every foreign employee.
A 2026 update: document legalisation has changed
There is an important development for companies handling cross-border documents in 2026.
The Hague Apostille Convention entered into force for Vietnam on September 11, 2026.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that, between Vietnam and applicable Convention member states, qualifying public documents can use an Apostille certificate instead of the previous consular legalisation process.
This means older checklists that simply say “consular legalisation” or “dual authentication” should not automatically be carried forward into a 2026 workflow.
The correct document route still depends on where the document was issued, whether the Convention applies between the relevant countries, and what type of document is being used.
For HR teams managing an employee from China, this is an important point to verify before collecting and authenticating documents.
What does the process look like?
Rather than assuming that every employee follows exactly the same route, HR can think about the process in stages:
1. Confirm the employment arrangement
Who is employing the person? What role will they perform in Vietnam? Where is the employee currently located?
2. Check work authorization requirements
Determine whether the employee needs a work permit or qualifies for an applicable exemption under Vietnam’s current foreign-worker rules.
3. Prepare the supporting documents
Check qualifications, experience, criminal record, health documentation, employer documents, and applicable authentication or translation requirements.
4. Arrange the required immigration approval
Where required, the Vietnam-based sponsor or inviting entity handles the relevant approval process with the competent Vietnamese authority.
5. Apply for the visa
Once the required approval is available, the employee may proceed with the visa application through the appropriate Vietnamese diplomatic mission abroad, subject to the applicable procedure.
6. Complete post-arrival formalities
After entering Vietnam, check whether additional work authorization, residence, or other immigration procedures are required for the employee’s specific case.
Can the employee simply get the visa from China and start working in Vietnam?
Not necessarily.
The visa and work authorization serve different purposes.
An employee may be able to obtain the appropriate visa through a Vietnamese mission in China, but HR should still confirm that the employee has the necessary authorization to legally perform the intended work in Vietnam.
This is why the safest approach is to plan the work authorization and immigration process together, rather than treating the visa as the final step.
What should HR confirm before starting?
Before beginning the process, HR should check:
- Where is the employee currently located?
- Which Vietnamese entity will employ or sponsor the employee?
- What position will the employee hold?
- Does the employee need a work permit?
- Is the employee eligible for an exemption?
- Which visa category applies?
- Where will the visa application be submitted?
- Which employee documents need authentication, Apostille, translation, or notarisation?
- What post-arrival formalities will be required?
Key takeaway
The employee does not necessarily need to travel to Vietnam before starting the visa process.
In eligible cases, the Vietnam-side employer can coordinate the required approval, and the foreign employee may apply for the appropriate visa through a Vietnamese diplomatic mission abroad, including in China.
But the exact route depends on the employee’s nationality, employment arrangement, position, documents, visa category, and applicable Vietnamese requirements.
For HR and Global Mobility teams, the better question is not simply:
“Can we get the visa from China?”
It is:
“What is the correct end-to-end work authorization and immigration route for this employee?”
FAQ
Can I apply for a Vietnam work visa from China?
In certain cases, yes. A foreign national may apply through a Vietnamese diplomatic mission abroad after the required visa approval has been obtained, subject to the applicable procedure.
Is a Vietnam visa the same as a work permit?
No. A visa concerns entry and stay under an applicable immigration category, while a work permit concerns authorization to work in Vietnam.
Does every foreign employee need a work permit?
Not necessarily. Vietnamese regulations provide for certain exemptions, so eligibility should be assessed based on the employee’s specific circumstances.
Do documents from China still need consular legalisation in 2026?
Not always. Since September 11, 2026, Vietnam applies the Apostille Convention with applicable member states. The appropriate authentication route depends on the document and the countries involved.
Sources
Vietnam Government legal database — Decree 219/2025/NĐ-CP
Vietnam Immigration Department — visa categories and procedures
📌 Moving an employee from China to Vietnam?
Visa, work permit and document legalisation each follow their own route — and Apostille has changed the authentication step for 2026. Remoly’s global employment experts can help employers map the end-to-end route and avoid unnecessary cross-border trips.
📧 contact@remoly.net · Talk to our team →
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Requirements can vary by nationality, position, application location and current Vietnamese rules — verify with the competent authority before relying on this guide.
Published: October 2026
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