Technical workers are the largest group of foreign staff in FDI construction projects and mechanical plants — and also the group whose work permit dossiers are supplemented most often, because their competency lies in practical skill, not university degrees. Decree 219/2025/ND-CP understands this and opens two entry paths for the group.
The two competency standards for technical workers
- Training + experience standard: technical/other specialized training of 1 year or more, plus at least 2 years of work experience in the trained field;
- Pure experience standard: at least 3 years of work experience matching the intended position — no degree or certificate required.
Employers should determine from the outset which standard each candidate follows, because the proof sets differ: standard 1 needs a training certificate plus a 2-year experience confirmation; standard 2 needs a 3-year experience confirmation detailed enough to show the match with the position (machine types, process stages, comparable project scale).
The complete competency dossier
- Vocational training degree/certificate (if following standard 1) — legalized or apostilled, certified translation;
- Experience confirmation from the overseas enterprise/organization: full name, work period, position, technical work description — legalized/apostilled, certified translation;
- Criminal record, health certificate (12-month validity), photos, passport — as in every work permit dossier;
- The Vietnamese company’s demand justification for that exact technical position (machine installer, line maintenance technician, construction welder…) — the position description in the justification must match the work content in the experience confirmation.
Distinguishing from construction practicing certificates
One point construction employers often confuse: the work permit is a labor condition; certain titles in construction activities in Vietnam (site commander, supervisor, designer…) additionally require a practicing certificate under construction law, with its own conditions and issuing authority. Foreign technical workers doing ordinary skilled work (installation, operation, maintenance per manufacturer instructions) usually need only the work permit; but if the company assigns them to a title carrying a practicing condition, that extra layer must be reviewed — holding a work permit does not mean being allowed to assume every title on a construction site.
Common dossier errors in the technical group
- Experience confirmations written vaguely (“worked at company X for 3 years”) without the specific technical work — insufficient basis to assess the match;
- Submitting expired vocational certificates or certificates from overseas bodies of unclear issuing authority;
- Justifying one position (e.g. “engineer”) while the competency dossier only meets the technical worker standard — position-classification mismatch is this group’s most common refusal reason; if the dossier is a skilled-trade dossier, the applied position must be technical worker.
Frequently Asked Questions
What competency standard must construction and mechanical technical workers meet?
One of two standards in Decree 219/2025/ND-CP (the technical worker definition): (1) technical or other specialized training of at least 1 year plus at least 2 years of work experience in the trained field; or (2) at least 3 years of work experience matching the position intended in Vietnam. The second standard is the pathway for skilled tradespeople without formal degrees but with real seniority — the experience must be evidenced by a written confirmation from the agency, organization or enterprise where they worked abroad.
Are vocational certificates issued abroad accepted in the dossier?
Yes — vocational training certificates and skills certificates issued by competent overseas authorities/organizations are valid competency documents in a work permit dossier, provided they are consularly legalized (or apostilled if from a Convention country, from 11 September 2026) and translated into Vietnamese with certified translation. Note the recognition scope: such certificates prove competency for work permit purposes; if the job belongs to a title group requiring a practicing certificate under Vietnamese sectoral law (for example certain titles in construction activities), the employer must additionally handle that practicing condition — a work permit does not replace a practicing certificate.
With no degree or certificate, how is skill proven?
Via the 3-year experience standard: prepare an experience confirmation issued by the overseas enterprise/organization where the worker was employed, stating the work period (a full 3 years), the position and the technical work performed that matches the intended position in Vietnam. This document must also be legalized and certified-translated like all foreign papers. In practice, attach supporting records (past labor contracts, technical reference letters, lists of projects participated in) for the licensing authority to cross-check — technical worker competency dossiers are supplemented most often exactly at the point “experience not clearly shown”.
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FLAT Law Firm advises FDI companies and foreign employees on work permits, visas and temporary residence cards in Vietnam. Contact us for advice on your specific case.
This content is general information only and is not a substitute for legal advice on a specific case.
This article has been quality-reviewed by the FLAW AI Legal Council