A Vietnamese work permit states several mandatory details, including the foreign worker’s work location. When an employer reassigns staff to a location different from the one on the permit without completing the proper procedure, both the employer and the worker can face sanctions. This article summarizes the current fines and the procedure required when the work location changes.
1. Employer assigning work at the wrong location: current fines
An employer (user of labor) that assigns a foreign worker to work in a manner inconsistent with the work permit — including working at the wrong location — is sanctioned under Point a, Clause 2, Article 13 of Decree 283/2026/ND-CP (the decree on administrative sanctions in labor and social insurance, effective from 10 September 2026, replacing Decree 12/2022/ND-CP):
- Individuals: a fine of VND 5,000,000 to VND 10,000,000 per worker, up to a maximum of VND 75,000,000;
- Organizations: twice the individual fine (Clause 1, Article 7 of Decree 283/2026) — i.e. VND 10,000,000 to VND 20,000,000 per worker, up to a maximum of VND 150,000,000.
Note on the applicable instrument: Decree 12/2022/ND-CP (whose Article 32 covered the equivalent conduct) expired on 10 September 2026. All citations of current fines must refer to Decree 283/2026/ND-CP, not Decree 12/2022.
2. Changing the work location: a NEW work permit is required
When the actual work location differs from the location stated on the work permit, the employer must complete the procedure for issuing a new work permit under Article 18 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP (the decree on foreign workers in Vietnam, effective from 7 August 2025). This has also been confirmed in an official response by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Government’s web portal.
An important distinction: a location change does not qualify for “re-issuance” of a work permit. Clause 2, Article 23 of Decree 219/2025 lists the cases eligible for re-issuance — changes to the worker’s full name, nationality, passport number, or a change of the employer’s name without changing its identification number — and does not include a change of work location. An employer therefore cannot rely on the re-issuance procedure when moving staff to a new location.
Watch note: the Ministry of Home Affairs is drafting a decree to replace Decree 219/2025; under the draft, a location change is expected to move from “new issuance” to “re-issuance”. However, as of 14 October 2026 this instrument has not been issued. Until a new regulation takes effect, employers must follow the current rule: a new work permit.
3. Exception: same employer, work in multiple provinces/cities
There is a notable exception: a foreign worker holding a work permit who works for the same employer in multiple provinces or cities is only required to complete a notification procedure under Clause 5, Article 22 of Decree 219/2025/ND-CP — no new work permit is needed.
Failure to make this notification exposes the employer to a fine of VND 1,000,000 to VND 3,000,000 under Clause 1, Article 13 of Decree 283/2026/ND-CP.
Practical caution: the boundary between a “change of work location” (new permit, Article 18) and “working in multiple provinces for the same employer” (notification only, Clause 5, Article 22) must be assessed against the full text of Article 22 of Decree 219/2025 in light of the specific facts. Employers should not make their own definitive classification in place of the competent authority where the situation is complex.
4. Is the foreign worker personally fined for the wrong location?
The law does not set a separate fine for a foreign worker for “working at the wrong location”. The worker’s legal risk sits at a different level:
- If the authorities determine the worker is working without a valid work permit (because the old permit no longer matches the actual location and no new one was issued), the worker may be fined under Clause 3, Article 13 of Decree 283/2026/ND-CP: VND 15,000,000 to VND 25,000,000, plus a possible supplementary sanction of deportation (Point b, Clause 6, Article 13).
- On the employer’s side, employing foreign workers without a work permit or with an expired permit carries heavier fines under Clause 5, Article 13 of Decree 283/2026: VND 30,000,000 to VND 45,000,000 (1–10 workers), VND 45,000,000 to VND 60,000,000 (11–20 workers), and VND 60,000,000 to VND 75,000,000 (21 or more workers).
5. Practical recommendations for employers
- Check the location stated on the work permit before any staff reassignment — including internal transfers between branches or factories of the same company;
- If the new location differs from the permit: prepare a new-permit dossier under Article 18 of Decree 219/2025, not a re-issuance application;
- If the worker rotates across provinces for the same employer: complete the notification procedure under Clause 5, Article 22 to avoid the VND 1–3 million fine;
- Remember that a work permit is valid for a maximum of 02 years (Article 21 of Decree 219/2025) — combine a location-change issuance with renewal planning to optimize procedural costs.
Need advice on new issuance or re-issuance of work permits, or on handling a wrong-location case? Contact FLAT Law Firm for support.
For reference only; not legal advice. Regulations may change; employers should check the current instruments or consult counsel before applying them to a specific case.
For reference only, not legal advice. Content quality-checked by the AI Legal Council; not yet reviewed by a human lawyer.