The problem: a school/center wants to hire foreign teachers — is “being Western enough to teach” true? Quick answer: no. Foreign teachers in Vietnam must satisfy two parallel layers: professional (degrees, experience, teacher standards under the Teachers Law 73/2025) and labor-law (work permits under Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, replacing 152/2020). Missing either means no lawful teaching.
Layer 1 — Degrees and teacher standards
The Teachers Law 73/2025/QH15 (passed 16 June 2025, effective 1 January 2026) establishes Vietnam’s first comprehensive legal framework for teachers — including foreign teachers working in Vietnam. Foreign teachers need:
- Relevant professional degrees for the subject and level taught (e.g., English teachers need language/teaching degrees; international certificates like TESOL/TEFL/CELTA are advantages and often practically required);
- Teaching experience per position and institutional requirements;
- Clean criminal records — mandatory for work-permit procedures;
- qualifying health as prescribed.
Hiring reality: “native speaker” doesn’t equal “pedagogically qualified.” Many centers have been sanctioned for staffing classrooms with foreigners holding only… a passport and a native accent.
Layer 2 — Work permits (Decree 219/2025)
Decree 219/2025/ND-CP (replacing Decree 152/2020/ND-CP) governs foreign workers in Vietnam. Foreign teachers generally need work permits, except specifically exempt cases (e.g., certain short stays, volunteers — check exact exemption conditions, don’t assume).
Basic flow: the education institution reports foreign-labor demand and obtains position approval; the worker prepares the file (consular-legalized degrees, experience proof, criminal record, health check); the work-permit application goes to the competent authority. Employing unpermitted foreign teachers penalizes both the teacher and the institution administratively.
Moonlighting outside the school: permitted?
Foreign teachers may only work in the exact position and entity stated in the work permit. Teaching at another center or paid online tutoring outside it generally exceeds the permit scope with legal risks. Lawful extra work requires permit amendment/supplementation or meeting the new work form’s conditions.
Institutions’ responsibilities
Schools/centers must: verify and file foreign teachers’ degrees and permits; sign compliant labor contracts; handle PIT and insurance duties (where applicable); and bear liability for unlawful foreign-labor use. “We didn’t know” is no defense — employers must verify legality.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What degrees do foreign teachers need?
Subject/level-relevant professional degrees, teaching experience, international teaching certificates (TESOL/TEFL/CELTA for English), clean criminal records, qualifying health — under the Teachers Law 73/2025 and position requirements.
2. Are native speakers exempt from work permits?
No “native-speaker exemption” exists. Exemptions apply only to specifically prescribed cases (Decree 219/2025) — ordinary teachers still need permits.
3. Can they tutor outside the school?
Risky: permits specify position and employer. Outside teaching generally exceeds permit scope; lawful extra work needs amendment or supplementation.
4. Penalties for using unpermitted teachers?
Both the foreign worker and the institution face administrative labor penalties; deportation (for workers) and institutional licensing impacts are possible.
5. Must foreign degrees be legalized?
Yes. Foreign-issued degrees used in Vietnam require consular legalization (unless treaty-exempt) and notarized translation.
This article has been quality-reviewed by the FLAW AI Legal Council.
