Vietnam work permit for Teachers 2026: Guide, Fees & Requirements

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A Vietnam work permit for teachers is a mandatory legal requirement for foreign educators who want to teach in Vietnam. It confirms the teacher’s legal right to work, protects their labor rights, and allows schools or language centers to employ foreign teachers lawfully.

To obtain a work permit, applicants must meet health, criminal record, and qualification requirements, and follow a strict application timeline set by Vietnamese authorities. Understanding the correct documents, procedures, and fees from the start helps avoid delays, rejections, and legal risks for both teachers and employers.

Why foreign teachers need a Vietnam work permit

Under Vietnam’s labor regulations, a foreign teacher who works in Vietnam must have a valid work permit unless they fall under a specific exemption category.

Benefits for the teacher

• Legal right to work in Vietnam: Without a work permit, your teaching activity can be treated as illegal employment and may lead to administrative penalties or removal from Vietnam.
• Protection of labor rights: A valid work permit supports lawful employment terms such as salary, working hours, insurance-related procedures (when applicable), and contractual protections under Vietnamese law.

Benefits for the employer (schools, language centers, universities)

• Legal basis to sign and manage employment: The work permit is usually required to proceed with key employment steps such as signing a compliant labor contract and handling relevant insurance/HR procedures.
• Reduced legal risk: Hiring foreign teachers without proper authorization exposes the employer to compliance issues and penalties.

>>> Read more: Vietnam work permit health check, Hospital list 2026

Work permit requirements for foreign teachers in Vietnam

To qualify for a Vietnam work permit for teachers, the applicant typically needs to meet core conditions such as:

• Being medically fit for work
• Having a clean criminal record (Vietnamese and/or overseas, depending on case)
• Holding suitable qualifications and teaching credentials (varies by role and institution)
• Having proper employer sponsorship (the school/center/university)

In practice, the “qualification” part is where most applications become complicated – especially for English teachers.

>>> Read more: Work experience certificate for Vietnam work permit 2026: Template, required contents, and legalization

Work permit documents for foreign teachers

Personal documents

• Notarized/certified copy of passport (passport validity should generally be more than 6 months)
• Work permit application form
• Vietnam visa photo: typically 4×6 cm, white background, taken within the last 6 months
• Notarized copies + Vietnamese translation of passport pages (where requested)

Health check certificate

You can use either:

• A health check issued in Vietnam by an eligible hospital/clinic, or
• A health check issued overseas, which may require consular legalization (and local acceptance can vary by province)

Examples of commonly used hospitals in Vietnam (for reference)

Hanoi

• Bach Mai Hospital
• Hanoi Medical University Hospital
• Friendship Hospital
• Dong Da General Hospital
• Franco-Vietnamese Hospital
• Post and Telecommunications Hospital
• Saint Paul General Hospital
• Vinmec International General Hospital

Ho Chi Minh City

• People’s Hospital 115
• Thu Duc Hospital
• Cho Ray Hospital
• Van Hanh General Hospital
• An Sinh General Hospital
• Trung Vuong Hospital
• Thong Nhat Hospital

(Your employer or your consultant should confirm the accepted facilities in your province before you complete the medical.)

Criminal record

• Overseas criminal record: issued by the competent authority abroad and usually needs consular legalization and Vietnamese translation
• Vietnam criminal record: issued by the local Department of Justice in Vietnam (in applicable cases)

Teaching qualifications and experience

This part depends on your teaching position and the institution type.

English teachers at language centers (typical expectation)

• Degree and teaching credentials such as TESOL/TEFL (requirements vary by case), and/or
• Other supporting qualifications and language proficiency evidence (depending on nationality, job title, and employer’s licensing conditions)

English teachers in schools

• Teaching-related qualifications in English education/pedagogy (often required), plus supporting documents as requested

Employer sponsorship documents (school/center/university)

The sponsoring organization may need to provide documents such as:

• Operating license of the education center/university
• Establishment license (or equivalent legal documents showing lawful operation and authorization to employ foreign teachers)

>>> Read more: Vietnam work permit in Dong Nai 2026: Fees, Requirements and Application

Step-by-step process to apply for a Vietnam work permit for teachers

Step 1: Register foreign labor demand

Before the teacher starts working (and often before entry/assignment), the sponsoring employer typically needs to:

• Explain the demand for foreign labor and the job position
• Submit the request to the competent authority (often under the labor authority system)

This step is time-sensitive. Missing it is a common cause of delays later.

Step 2: Submit the work permit application

Once the demand step is accepted, the employer prepares the full teacher work permit file, including:

• Health check
• Criminal record
• Qualifications and experience evidence
• Passport and photos
• Employer legal documents

Step 3: Processing and result (often around 5 working days after a complete file is accepted)

• If approved, the authority issues the work permit based on the required template.
• If refused, the applicant/employer receives a written explanation. In many cases, the file can be fixed and resubmitted—if you know exactly what needs correction.

Step 4: Receive the work permit and sign the labor contract

After receiving the work permit, the teacher must sign a compliant labor contract with the employer (language center, school, or university) according to the applicable rules and timeline.

>>> Read more: Vietnam work permit in Binh Duong for foreigners 2026

Work permit fees for foreign teachers

Fees can vary by locality and authority, but commonly referenced levels include:

• New work permit issuance: around 600,000 VND
• Re-issuance (replacement): around 450,000 VND

Because fee schedules can change and local application practices differ, it’s best to confirm the current fees with the competent authority or through a professional service before filing.

>>> Read more: Vietnam work permit application form 11/PLI 2026

Where to apply for a work permit for foreign teachers

Work permit applications for foreign teachers are typically submitted through the competent labor authority channel (often under the Ministry/Department of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs system, depending on locality and case).

>>> Read more: Work Permit Exemption 2026: Who is eligible? Detailed procedures for Confirmation

Common mistakes that get teacher work permits delayed or rejected

• Health check not issued by an accepted facility (or not accepted in that province)
• Overseas criminal record not legalized/translated properly
• Degree, TESOL/TEFL, or experience documents missing required authentication
• Employer demand registration not done on time
• Job title/position details inconsistent across documents
• Photos, passport copies, and translations not meeting format requirements

>>> Read more: Vietnam Work Permit – End-to-end Service for Foreigners 2026

Full-service Vietnam work permit support for teachers at Tân Văn Lang

Many teachers and schools try to handle the Vietnam work permit process themselves to save costs. The problem is that one missing legalization stamp, one wrong hospital, or one document mismatch can cause the file to be returned—sometimes multiple times.

Tân Văn Lang provides a full-service solution designed specifically for foreign teachers and sponsoring schools, helping you prepare the correct paperwork from the start and guiding you through the correct timeline.

Services we provide

• New work permit application: document checklist, preparation, and filing support
• Work permit re-issuance: for lost/damaged permits or changes requiring re-issuance
• Work permit exemption application: assess eligibility and handle the exemption procedure
• Work permit extension/renewal support: plan deadlines and prepare renewal files properly

English-speaking consultation for foreign clients

We work with international teachers every day. Our team can explain requirements clearly in English, help you understand what documents you need from your home country, and show you exactly how to prepare them for Vietnam’s legal standards.

Clear commitment in writing

We prioritize transparency. Timelines, fees, and scope of work are stated in the service contract so you can track progress and avoid hidden surprises.

If you’re preparing a Vietnam work permit for teachers – or your school needs a reliable partner to sponsor foreign teachers legally – contact Tan Van Lang via hotline 08.666.000.63 (WhatsApp) for quick support.