The LD2 Visa &
Work Permit — Explained
To teach legally in Vietnam you need two things: a work permit and an LD2 visa. The process is manageable when your documents are prepared correctly — but most delays happen because teachers underestimate the authentication step before they travel.
What you're actually applying for
Vietnam requires foreign English teachers to hold two separate legal documents: a work permit (issued by the Department of Labour) and an LD2 visa or Temporary Residence Card (issued by Immigration). Your employer manages the submissions — but you are responsible for arriving with the right pre-authenticated documents. Without them, nothing can be submitted.
Weeks to prepare at home
Minimum lead time for document authentication before you travel to Vietnam
Working days in Vietnam
Typical work permit processing time once all documents are submitted by your employer
Maximum validity
Work permit and LD2 visa can be issued for up to two years, matching your contract length
Employer-sponsored
You cannot apply for a Vietnamese teaching work permit independently — your employer must sponsor it
Which visa do English teachers need?
Vietnam has two visa categories relevant to working teachers. Understanding which applies to you — and why — prevents costly mistakes at the immigration stage.
The full legal process — in order
Follow these steps in sequence. Steps 1–3 happen before you travel. Steps 4–7 happen after you arrive in Vietnam. Your employer manages the government submissions; your job is to have complete, correctly authenticated documents ready.
Gather and authenticate your documents at home
Your degree certificate, TEFL/TESOL certificate, and police clearance check must all be apostilled or legalised in your home country, then officially translated into Vietnamese by a certified translator. In many cases they must also be verified by the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in your country before use in Vietnam.
This is the step most teachers underestimate. Allow a minimum of 4–6 weeks for apostilles, translation, and any embassy verification. Start before you book flights.
Secure a job offer from a licensed employer
Apply to schools, language centres, or agencies that are legally registered to employ foreign workers in Vietnam. Your employer must confirm they will sponsor and submit your work permit application — this is a legal requirement, not an option.
- Ask directly: "Are you registered to sponsor foreign work permits?"
- Request a draft employment contract before you travel
- Verify the school's business registration if you have any doubts
Enter Vietnam on a business (DN) visa
While your work permit is being processed inside Vietnam, you must enter legally on a business DN visa arranged by your employer. They will send you an approval letter which you use to obtain the visa on arrival or from your local Vietnamese embassy.
This is a temporary entry document — it is not your work authorisation. Do not begin teaching until your work permit and LD2 visa are formally issued.
Complete your medical examination in Vietnam
A health check at an approved Vietnamese hospital or clinic is legally required as part of the work permit process. This can only be done after you arrive in Vietnam — it cannot be completed in your home country.
Your employer will direct you to an approved facility. The examination is straightforward: general health check, blood pressure, basic blood work. The certificate is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
Work permit application submitted to Department of Labour
Your employer submits a complete dossier to the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (DOLISA). This includes your authenticated degree, TEFL certificate, police clearance, medical certificate, employment contract, and passport copy.
- All foreign documents must be translated into Vietnamese and notarised
- Processing typically takes 10–15 working days
- You may be asked to attend in person to provide a signature or biometric
Work permit issued — begin teaching legally
Once your work permit is approved, you are legally authorised to teach in Vietnam under the terms of your employment contract. The work permit is valid for the duration of your contract, up to a maximum of two years. Keep the original document safe — you will need it for visa and TRC applications and for any future renewals.
Convert to LD2 visa or Temporary Residence Card
Your employer converts your visa status from the temporary business DN visa to either an LD2 visa or a Temporary Residence Card (TRC). The TRC is generally preferable for stays longer than six months — it removes the need for repeated visa renewals and is valid for the full duration of your work permit.
Your employer handles the submission to the Immigration Department. Processing for an LD2 typically takes 5–7 working days; a TRC takes 10–15 working days.
Every document you need — and what to do with it
Your employer submits the work permit application, but it is your responsibility to provide correctly prepared documents. Missing, out-of-date, or un-authenticated documents are the most common reason applications are delayed or rejected.
Academic & professional credentials
- Bachelor's degree — original or certified copy, apostilled, Vietnamese-translated
- TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificate (120hrs+) — apostilled and Vietnamese-translated
- Home-country teaching licence (if applicable) — apostilled and translated
- Master's degree or higher qualification (if applying for university or international school roles)
- All academic documents must show your full legal name exactly as it appears on your passport
Identity & legal documents
- Passport — minimum 6 months validity from entry date; certified copy required
- Police clearance / criminal background check — apostilled, translated, dated within 6 months of submission
- Background check must cover all countries you have lived in for 12+ months in the past 5 years
- Passport photographs — 4×6cm, white background, bring multiple copies
- Completed application forms — provided and submitted by your employer
Medical & health documents
- Medical health certificate — completed at an approved Vietnamese hospital after arrival
- Valid for 12 months from date of issue
- Must be completed before work permit can be submitted
- HIV/AIDS test may be included — required in some provinces
- Cannot be completed outside Vietnam — do not attempt to substitute a home-country health check
Employment & sponsor documents
- Signed employment contract with licensed Vietnamese employer
- Employer's business registration certificate (provided by your school)
- Labour demand report from your employer (required under Decree 219/2025)
- Your employer submits these — but confirm they have all required registrations before you travel
- For non-native speakers: IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL iBT 100+ certificate
The step most teachers get wrong
Vietnam requires foreign-issued documents to go through a multi-stage verification process before they can be used in a work permit application. This process is mandatory and cannot be skipped or substituted. It is also the most common source of delays.
Apostille or legalisation
If your country is a Hague Convention signatory, obtain an apostille stamp on each document from the relevant government authority (usually the Foreign Office, Secretary of State, or equivalent). If your country is not a Hague signatory, you must obtain a legalisation certificate from your foreign ministry instead.
Certified Vietnamese translation
Each apostilled document must be translated into Vietnamese by a certified translator. In Vietnam, this is done at a licensed translation office and includes a notarisation stamp. Some teachers arrange translation in Vietnam after arrival; others use certified translators in their home country. Either approach is accepted.
Vietnamese Embassy verification
Some nationalities and some document types require an additional verification step at the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in your home country. Contact your nearest Vietnamese diplomatic mission before starting — requirements vary by country and can add 2–4 weeks to the process.
The in-Vietnam health check
The medical certificate is required for your work permit application and must be completed at an approved Vietnamese hospital or clinic after you arrive. It cannot be substituted with a health check from your home country. Most teachers complete this within the first 3–5 days of arrival.
What the examination includes
- General physical examination (height, weight, blood pressure, vision, hearing)
- Chest X-ray (screening for TB and respiratory conditions)
- Blood tests (including liver function, blood type)
- HIV test (required in many provinces)
- Urinalysis
- Mental health assessment (basic questionnaire)
Approved hospitals in major cities
Your employer will direct you to the correct approved facility for your city and province. Common approved hospitals for foreign workers include:
- Ho Chi Minh City: FV Hospital, Vinmec HCMC, Cho Ray Hospital
- Hanoi: Vinmec Times City, Hanoi French Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital
- Da Nang: Da Nang General Hospital, Vinmec Da Nang
Always confirm the approved list with your employer before attending — approved facilities are updated periodically by provincial authorities.
Renewing your work permit and visa
Work permits and LD2 visas are renewable. The renewal process is similar to the original application and must be initiated well before your current permit expires. Do not wait until the expiry date — this risks a gap in legal status.
What renewal requires
- Updated criminal background check (re-dated within 6 months)
- Updated medical certificate (if previous one is over 12 months old)
- New or renewed employment contract
- Updated passport (if your current one is expiring)
- Employer submits renewal application on your behalf
Key renewal timelines
- Start renewal process: At least 30–45 days before current permit expires
- Police check re-application: Allow 3–4 weeks in your home country if needed
- Processing in Vietnam: 10–15 working days after submission
- Changing employer: New work permit required — begin the process before leaving your current school
What goes wrong — and how to avoid it
Starting document authentication too late
The single most common problem. Apostille, translation, and embassy verification combined take 4–6 weeks minimum. Teachers who start 2–3 weeks before their intended departure date almost always miss it.
Accepting a job with an employer who won't sponsor a work permit
Any school that suggests working on a tourist visa, paying cash in hand, or "sorting the paperwork later" is operating illegally. The consequences — fines, deportation, country ban — fall on the teacher, not the school.
Name mismatches between documents
Your degree, TEFL certificate, police check, and passport must all show your full legal name in exactly the same format. Even minor discrepancies (middle name omitted, hyphenated surnames) can cause a rejection. Check every document before submitting.
Using an out-of-date criminal background check
Your police clearance must be dated within 6 months of the work permit submission date in Vietnam — not 6 months of when you apply for it at home. Factor in travel and processing time when ordering it.
Not confirming the medical facility in advance
Not all hospitals and clinics are approved for the work permit medical examination. Attending an unapproved facility means repeating the process. Ask your employer for the correct facility before you go.
Waiting until the last week to begin renewal
Work permit and visa renewal requires new documents, employer submissions, and processing time. Starting the renewal process 30 days before expiry is the minimum; 45 days is better. A lapsed work permit puts you in an illegal status immediately.
Visa questions — answered
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