Vietnam To Decentralize Immigration, Work Permit Processes For Foreign Professionals Starting July 1

• Effective July 1, 2025, Vietnam will decentralize work permit and immigration services for foreign professionals.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) will transfer key responsibilities to provincial authorities.
• Local governments will manage work permit applications, renewals, and exemptions for skilled foreign experts.

Starting July 1, 2025, Vietnam will implement a major administrative reform that decentralizes the processing of work permits and immigration services for foreign professionals. This move, aimed at improving efficiency, will see the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) hand over key responsibilities to provincial authorities.

Under the new regulation, local governments will take the lead in handling work permit applications, renewals, and exemptions, particularly for skilled foreign experts. The reform is part of Vietnam’s broader effort to modernize public services and eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic delays that have long affected multinational companies and expatriates.

Key Changes

Previously, MOHA oversaw the work permit process for foreign employees, especially those working across various locations or under centrally licensed companies. With the new directive, authority will be transferred to the Chairpersons of Provincial People’s Committees and relevant provincial departments.

• The decentralization affects several core functions:
• Approval of positions designated for foreign hires
• Issuance and extension of work permits
• Evaluation and approval of expert-level exemption requests

By moving these functions to the local level, Vietnam aims to streamline procedures, speed up decision-making, and empower provincial officials to manage workforce needs directly.

Impact on Employers and Foreign Workers

Businesses and expatriates should prepare for a shift to localized processing. Applications that once went through central authorities must now be submitted to the appropriate provincial offices.

According to the decree, if a company seeks an exemption for a foreign expert, the provincial Department of Home Affairs must consult with the provincial Chairperson within three working days. In exceptional cases, such as unique international transfers, the Chairperson may approve the exemption independently.

Although the goal is to reduce processing time, experts advise companies to be aware that requirements and timelines may vary from one province to another. Organizations operating in multiple regions will need to stay in close contact with each relevant provincial authority.

What to Expect

This decentralization reflects a growing trend in Vietnam toward empowering local governments and simplifying regulatory frameworks. It also signals a commitment to attracting global talent by reducing administrative barriers.

Foreign professionals and HR teams should begin adapting to the upcoming changes and reach out to local departments to gain clarity on how exemptions for experts will be assessed at the provincial level. Staying updated on new guidelines issued by provincial authorities will also be crucial as the transition approaches.