Quick answer
The conditions for a technical worker work permit are set out in Article 3, Clause 4 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, offering two alternative routes: Route 1 — trained for at least 1 year with at least 2 years of experience relevant to the intended job position in Vietnam; Route 2 — at least 3 years of relevant work experience (no training certificate required). This is a significant improvement over the old rules: skilled craftsmen with years of hands-on experience but no formal qualifications can now qualify. Proof documents include vocational training certificates or diplomas (Route 1) and written experience confirmations from previous employers.
Legal basis
Decree 219/2025/ND-CP (effective 7 August 2025, replacing Decree 152/2020/ND-CP and Decree 70/2023/ND-CP), at Article 3, Clause 4, provides that a technical worker is a person who: (a) has been trained for at least 1 year and has at least 2 years of experience relevant to the intended job position in Vietnam; or (b) has at least 3 years of work experience relevant to the intended job position in Vietnam.
Compared with the old rules (at least 1 year of training plus 3 years of experience, or 5 years of practical experience), the new criteria are considerably shorter, making it easier for enterprises to access international technical talent — especially as FDI factories continuously bring technical specialists for machinery installation and technology transfer.
Breaking down the two routes
Route 1: At least 1 year of training + 2 years of experience
“Trained for at least 1 year” is proven by vocational training certificates, course completion certificates, intermediate vocational diplomas, or equivalent technical training credentials issued by competent training institutions. The training must relate to the intended position in Vietnam — a welder needs welding training certification; an electrical technician needs electrical training certification. Plus at least 2 years of relevant work experience, confirmed in writing by previous employers.
Route 2: At least 3 years of experience (no certificate needed)
This route serves workers whose skills were built through practice rather than formal training — very common among mechanics, electricians, and machine operators with long seniority. The only condition is proving at least 3 years of relevant experience through written confirmations from previous employers. Confirmations should state the job title, employment period, and describe the work performed so the authority can assess “relevance”.
What does “relevant” mean?
Both routes require experience “relevant to the intended job position in Vietnam”. In practice, the competent authority compares the job description in the experience confirmation against the position description in the permit application. Example: registering as an “SMT line operation technician” requires confirmations showing the worker has operated SMT lines or equivalent equipment — a generic “production worker” confirmation will be deemed insufficient. Employers should ask previous employers to describe duties in as much detail as possible, listing the types of machinery and equipment operated.
Common technical worker positions in FDI enterprises
- Machinery installation and commissioning: equipment suppliers’ technicians installing new production lines — often working short-term per project schedules.
- Maintenance and repair: mechanics and electricians maintaining factory machinery systems.
- Technology transfer: technicians training Vietnamese workers to operate new technology.
- Construction: welders, steel structure installers, and construction supervision technicians in FDI factory projects.
For short assignments under 90 days to resolve complex technical issues, employers should also check the work permit exemption cases (Article 7 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP) — an exemption certificate may suffice instead of a full permit application.
Dossier proving the technical worker position
In the new work permit application dossier (Article 18 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP):
- Vocational training certificates or diplomas (under Route 1) — consular-legalized copies if foreign-issued, with certified translations;
- Written experience confirmations from previous employers: stating the job title, period (exact dates), detailed duty descriptions, and types of equipment operated;
- Documents proving the form of work: the labor contract, the parent company’s dispatch letter (intra-corporate transfer), or the service provision contract (contract performance).
Common mistakes
- Generic experience confirmations: not stating the machinery or equipment operated — the authority cannot assess relevance.
- Confusing with the expert category: a person with an engineering degree coming to do technician work is assessed as a technical worker; conversely, a skilled craftsman registered as an “expert” without a university degree will be rejected.
- Irrelevant training certificates: a welding training certificate for an electrical technician position — failing the “relevant training” requirement.
- Overlooking exemptions for short assignments: technicians coming for a few weeks of troubleshooting going through the full permit process unnecessarily, when an exemption may apply.
Technical workers in industrial parks: practical notes
Most technical worker permits serve factories inside industrial parks and economic zones, which brings practical considerations. First, the filing venue: dossiers are submitted at the Public Administration Service Center of the locality where the worker works, and some provinces delegate receipt to the industrial park management board — confirm the correct recipient before filing. Second, project-based technicians often rotate between the factory and the equipment supplier’s home country; each entry for work purposes should be covered by a valid permit, and short troubleshooting visits under 90 days should be checked against the exemption cases in Article 7 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP. Third, when a technician’s assignment extends beyond the initial project phase into regular maintenance, the employer should reassess whether the form of work or the position description needs updating and, if so, apply for a new permit rather than stretching the old one. Keeping the permit’s stated position aligned with the actual daily work is the simplest way to pass labor inspections.
Frequently asked questions
Can traditionally apprenticed craftsmen without certificates qualify?
Yes, under Route 2 — only at least 3 years of relevant experience must be proven through written confirmations from previous employers. This is precisely the favorable new point of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP.
Must the 3 years be continuous at one company?
No. Experience is cumulative across employers, as long as it is relevant to the intended position and confirmed in writing by each employer.
Do technical workers participate in social insurance?
Yes. Foreign technical workers employed under labor contracts by Vietnamese entities are subject to compulsory social insurance at 30% of monthly salary in total (employee 9.5%, employer 20.5%), without unemployment insurance participation.
What is the maximum permit validity?
Like other categories, a new technical worker permit is valid for a maximum of 2 years and may be extended once for up to 2 years. If the worker changes employer, position, or form of work, a new permit must be applied for.
Do equipment suppliers’ technicians need permits for warranty visits?
It depends on duration and substance. Short visits under 90 days to resolve complex technical problems may fall under the exemption cases in Article 7 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP (with an exemption certificate). Longer installation or commissioning assignments require a full work permit under the technical worker category.
Can experience from self-employment count?
It can, if properly documented — for example, through service contracts, client confirmations, or tax records showing the relevant trade. The key is credible written evidence of what work was done and for how long, since the authority assesses relevance from documents, not claims.
FLAT Law Firm advises on identifying the technical worker category, preparing certificate and experience-confirmation dossiers, and handling work permit procedures for foreign technicians and skilled craftsmen of FDI projects. Contact us for support.
This article has been quality-reviewed by the FLAW AI Legal Council. Content is for reference only and does not replace legal advice for your specific case.
