HCMC, not Vietnam labor ministry, to issue, extend work permits for foreigners in city

Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee will now process several labor-related applications for foreigners, instead of the Hanoi-based Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), according to a new governmental decree.

Decree 84/2024, effective from July 2024, “decentralizes” the processing of labor-related applications from the State level (MoLISA) to the local level (HCMC authorities), EY said in a summary on Friday.

Accordingly, the HCMC People’s Committee will process pre-approval of work authorization; and issuance, re-issuance, extension and revocation of work permits; and approval of work authorization exemptions.

These applications will be processed by the committee if they are filed by valid companies registered in HCMC.

The decree also requested HCMC authorities to provide further details related to administrative procedures for the change.

This change is expected to benefit employers in HCMC by reducing the time required to file qualifying applications.

As of end-2023, Vietnam had about 136,800 expatriates, according to the MoLISA. The figure included 10,000 foreigners working without the need for work permits and 126,000 with work permits.

HCMC authorities said the figure in the city was 18,761, including 664 without the need for work permits.