Hiring Eastern European workers (Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Hungary…) in Vietnam must comply with foreign-labor rules under the 2019 Labor Code and Decree 219/2025/ND-CP (replacing Decree 152/2020) — the principle: obtain approval of the demand for foreign labor and a work permit before the employee starts, except for exempt cases.
Conditions for employing foreign workers
Article 151 of the 2019 Labor Code requires foreign employees in Vietnam to: be 18 or older with full civil capacity; hold professional/technical qualifications, skills or experience; meet health requirements; and have no unexpunged criminal record. Employers may only hire foreigners for positions Vietnamese workers cannot yet fill — demonstrated through the written approval of foreign-labor demand by the competent authority. In practice, Eastern European workers typically fill roles as technical specialists, FDI project managers, construction engineers and IT experts.
Procedures under Decree 219/2025
Decree 219/2025/ND-CP fully replaces Decree 152/2020 on foreign labor. The two-step process: (1) at least 15 days before the intended start, the employer reports and justifies its foreign-labor demand and secures written approval; (2) apply for the work permit — including the approval, health certificate, criminal record (consular-legalized), proof of qualifications/experience, and passport. Work permits last up to 2 years, renewable once for up to 2 more years. Some cases are exempt from the permit but still require reporting: capital-contributing members/owners, ODA experts, volunteers, and certain treaty-based cases — employers may not simply assume exemption without confirmation procedures.
Non-compliance risks
Employing foreigners without a work permit, or beyond the permit’s scope, draws administrative penalties under Decree 283/2026/ND-CP (which replaced Decree 12/2022/ND-CP on 10 September 2026): clause 5, Article 13 fines the employer by headcount — VND 30–45 million (1–10 workers), VND 45–60 million (11–20), VND 60–75 million (21 or more); clause 3, Article 13 fines the worker VND 15–25 million, with possible deportation; using a worker outside the permit’s content draws VND 5–10 million per worker (clause 2, Article 13, total capped at VND 75 million). Employment contracts with foreigners lacking a valid permit risk being declared void, triggering disputes over wages, social insurance and compensation. For Eastern European experts on short project assignments, plan permit duration and renewal carefully — avoid gaps between assignments.
Checklist
- Define the position and show Vietnamese workers cannot fill it.
- File the foreign-labor demand justification at least 15 days ahead.
- Prepare the permit dossier: legalized criminal record, health certificate, qualification/experience proof.
- Check exemption eligibility — if exempt, complete the confirmation procedure; never skip it.
- Track the permit’s validity (max 2 years) and renew on time.
Frequently asked questions
Which regulation does Decree 219/2025 replace?
Decree 219/2025/ND-CP fully replaces Decree 152/2020/ND-CP on foreigners working in Vietnam and Vietnamese working for foreign organizations in Vietnam.
How long is a work permit valid?
Up to 2 years, renewable once for up to 2 more years. After the renewal expires, a new application is required for continued employment.
Who is exempt from the work permit?
Cases such as capital contributors, owners, ODA experts and volunteers — but reporting/confirmation with the competent authority is still required; it is not a free pass.
What happens if a foreigner works without a permit?
Administrative penalties under Decree 283/2026/ND-CP: the employer is fined VND 30–75 million depending on the number of workers involved (clause 5, Article 13), the worker VND 15–25 million with possible deportation (clause 3, Article 13), and the employment contract risks being void.
How far ahead must demand approval be sought?
At least 15 days before the intended start date — a mandatory step before filing the work permit application.
Companies planning to bring Eastern European specialists to Vietnam should start the permit process early — contact FLAT Law Firm for end-to-end advice from demand justification to renewal.
This content is general information only, not legal advice for any specific matter. Regulations may be amended; consult the original texts of the 2019 Labor Code and Decree 219/2025 before applying. This article is pending internal quality review.
This article has been quality-reviewed by the FLAW AI Legal Council
