Decree 219/2025: Major Reforms for Hiring Foreign Workers in Vietnam Effective August 7, 2025

Starting from August 7, 2025, Decree 219/2025/ND-CP officially takes effect, replacing Decree 152/2020/ND-CP (amended by Decree 70/2023/ND-CP). The new decree introduces significant reforms, making it easier for both businesses and foreign workers to work in Vietnam.

Key Changes:

• No mandatory job posting on the national employment portal before hiring foreign workers.

• Faster work permit application – reduced from 15 working days to only 10 working days.

• Extended exemption for short-term work permits from 30 days to 90 days per year for managers, executives, experts, and technical workers.

• Lower experience requirements for experts and technical workers, enabling businesses to hire skilled foreigners more easily.

• Combined application process for work permits and criminal record certificates in one electronic procedure.

• Clearer requirements for managers and executives.

• Simplified reporting when foreign employees work in multiple provinces.

• No requirement to submit the signed labor contract to the Department of Home Affairs unless requested.

• Provincial People’s Committees now serve as the licensing authority instead of the Department of Home Affairs.

These changes help companies save time, reduce administrative burdens, and increase transparency when hiring foreign workers. Businesses should proactively update their procedures, prepare unified application files, and leverage electronic systems to cut costs and speed up processing.

At Lexsol, our experienced legal team provides end-to-end support – from legal consultation to application submission and results collection – ensuring compliance and on-time approvals. Contact us today for a comprehensive and optimized solution for hiring foreign workers in Vietnam.