Practical Scenarios for Managers, Directors, Experts, and Technicians in Vietnam

You have the qualifications, experience and a position waiting for you in Vietnam, but you are not sure what documents experts and technical workers need for a work permit? This question often comes up when families, foreign individuals and businesses start planning long-term work in Vietnam. No need to worry — once you identify the right position group first, the paperwork becomes much clearer.

First, remember that not every case is the same. Foreigners working in Vietnam may need either a work permit or a confirmation that they are not subject to a work permit, depending on the specific situation. You can read more in Do Foreigners Working in Vietnam Need a Work Permit or an Exemption Certification? for an overall view.

📌 Experts and Technical Workers: Start with the Job Position

Under Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, Article 3 sets out four main position groups that foreign workers can hold in Vietnam: managers, directors, experts and technical workers.

If you are unsure where the boundaries between these groups lie, please also read What Job Positions Can Foreigners Hold in Vietnam?. Identifying the correct position will determine which proof documents you need to prepare under Article 19.

A gentle note: the position stated in your application must match the work you will actually do in Vietnam. When the position or form of work changes, a new work permit procedure must be carried out in accordance with regulations.

🏢 Scenario 1: What Documents Does a Manager Need?

A manager is a person who manages an enterprise as prescribed in Clause 24, Article 4 of the Law on Enterprises, or a head or deputy head of an agency or organisation as prescribed by law.

For proof documents under Article 19, this group usually needs one of the following:

• The company charter and documents proving manager status, or an appointment or transfer decision for positions that are managers as prescribed in Clause 24, Article 4 of the Law on Enterprises.
• A licence to establish an agency or organisation, or an appointment or transfer decision for a head or deputy head of an agency or organisation.

Practical scenario: a person appointed as a manager at a branch in Vietnam needs to prepare documents that clearly show their managerial title. These documents go with the work permit application and do not replace the general documents such as a valid passport, health certificate and photos as prescribed.

🧭 Scenario 2: What Documents Does a Director Need?

A director falls into one of two cases: they are the head of a branch, representative office or business location of an enterprise; or they are the head who directly manages a field of an agency, organisation or enterprise and have at least 3 years of experience in a field suitable for the position they will hold in Vietnam.

Proof documents under Article 19 may include:

• A certificate of registration for branch activities, a certificate of registration for representative office activities, or a certificate of registration for a business location of the enterprise.
• The company charter or a document on the organisational structure of the agency or organisation; and a written confirmation from the foreign employer about the number of years of experience in a suitable field.

If the foreign worker has already worked in Vietnam, a work permit or a confirmation of not being subject to a work permit that has already been issued can be used in place of the document proving years of experience in a suitable field.

🎓 Scenario 3: What Documents Does an Expert Need?

Experts are the group mentioned most often in recruitment files, because the conditions on qualifications and experience are quite clearly prescribed.

In the general case, an expert needs a bachelor’s degree or higher, or an equivalent qualification, and at least 2 years of work experience suitable for the position they will hold in Vietnam.

In special cases, experts working in finance, science, technology, innovation, national digital transformation, or fields prioritised for socio-economic development need a bachelor’s degree or higher in their specialised field of training and at least 1 year of suitable experience.

Proof documents under Article 19 usually include a diploma, certificate or certification proving graduation from university or higher, or an equivalent qualification, together with a written confirmation from the foreign employer about the expert’s years of work experience.

For some specialised fields such as culture, sports, aviation, education and training, the Decree also provides separate proof documents in line with guidance from the ministry or sector managing that field. So please check the requirements carefully for the sector you plan to work in.

🔧 Scenario 4: What Documents Does a Technical Worker Need?

A technical worker falls into one of two cases: they have been trained for at least 1 year and have at least 2 years of suitable experience; or they have at least 3 years of work experience suitable for the position they will hold in Vietnam.

Proof documents under Article 19 may include:

• A diploma, certificate or certification proving training of at least 01 year, and a written confirmation from the foreign employer about years of work experience.
• Or a written confirmation from the foreign employer about the years of work experience of that technical worker.

If the foreign worker has already worked in Vietnam, a work permit or a confirmation of not being subject to a work permit that has already been issued can be used in place of the document proving work experience in a suitable field.

📋 Quick Comparison of the Four Position Groups

✅ Checklist for Preparing Your Application by Scenario

In addition to the documents proving your position, a work permit application also includes general documents. You can refer to What Documents Are Needed for a Work Permit Application? so you do not miss anything.

• ☐ Identify the correct position group: manager, director, expert or technical worker
• ☐ Prepare diplomas, certificates or training certifications suitable for your position group
• ☐ Prepare a written confirmation of years of work experience in a suitable field
• ☐ Prepare the company charter and appointment or transfer decision if you are in the manager group
• ☐ Prepare the certificate of registration for branch, representative office or business location activities if you are in the director group
• ☐ Prepare a valid passport, health certificate and 4 cm x 6 cm colour photos as prescribed
• ☐ Check the requirements for consular legalisation, translation and certification of foreign documents if applicable
• ☐ Compare the form of work and expected working period with the proof documents you have prepared

When foreign documents need consular legalisation, translation into Vietnamese and certification, please do so in accordance with the law. If you are exempt from consular legalisation under an international treaty or the principle of reciprocity, you will need to check the specific requirements for each country.

If you are not sure whether you need a work permit or a confirmation of not being subject to a work permit, please also read Who Is Considered a Foreign Employee Working in Vietnam? and the related articles in this series to compare each step.

The information in this article is summarised from Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, Articles 3 and 19, at a general guidance level to help you understand more easily. Before submitting your application, you should check the latest clauses and forms and contact the competent authority in the locality where you plan to work for specific guidance on your case.

If you would like gentle, clear advice on work permit procedures for foreigners in Vietnam, please contact Website: 0347674755 – Nhanh chóng, uy tín via https://paa.vn for further support.