Important update for foreign workers and employers in Vietnam: Decree No. 283/2026/NĐ-CP was issued on 15 July 2026 and takes effect on 10 September 2026. The new decree sets administrative penalties for labour violations, including violations involving foreign employees working in Vietnam.
If you are a foreign national working in Vietnam—or a company employing foreign staff—this is a good time to review the validity of your work permit, work-permit exemption certificate, registered job position and workplace.
What is Decree 283/2026/NĐ-CP?
Decree 283/2026/NĐ-CP is a Government decree regulating administrative penalties in labour, social insurance and Vietnamese workers working abroad under contract. According to the official Government publication, it was issued on 15 July 2026 and becomes effective on 10 September 2026.
For foreign employees in Vietnam, one of the most important provisions concerns working without the legally required work permit or certificate confirming exemption from a work permit.
Foreign workers can be fined VND 15–25 million
Under Article 13 of Decree 283/2026/NĐ-CP, a foreign worker may be fined VND 15,000,000 to VND 25,000,000 for:
- Working in Vietnam without a work permit when one is legally required;
- Working without a valid certificate confirming that the worker is exempt from the work-permit requirement when such confirmation is required; or
- Using a work permit or work-permit exemption confirmation that has expired or is no longer valid.
Possible deportation from Vietnam
The consequences may go beyond a monetary fine. Decree 283 also provides for deportation of a foreign worker in connection with violations specified in Article 13, including the work-permit violations above.
This means that working first and attempting to regularise the paperwork later can carry substantial immigration consequences. Foreign employees should make sure the correct authorisation is in place before performing work in Vietnam.
Employers also face significant penalties
Companies employing foreign nationals should not treat work-permit compliance as an employee-only issue. Decree 283 provides penalties for employers that use foreign workers without the required work permit or work-permit exemption documentation.
For employing foreign workers without the required valid documents, the decree provides fines based on the number of affected workers:
- 1–10 workers: VND 30–45 million;
- 11–20 workers: VND 45–60 million;
- 21 workers or more: VND 60–75 million.
The decree also contains separate penalties for other compliance failures, including certain notification/document-return obligations, employing a foreign worker inconsistently with the permitted position, workplace or conditions, and altering or falsifying documents used in work-permit or exemption applications.
Important: the decree’s general penalty rules distinguish between individuals and organisations. In cases where a stated fine applies to an individual, an organisation committing the same administrative violation may generally be subject to twice that amount. The exact applicable penalty should therefore be assessed against the specific violation and legal status of the employer.
A valid visa or eVisa is not a work permit
A common compliance mistake is to assume that lawful immigration status automatically gives a foreigner permission to work. It does not. A Vietnam visa or eVisa deals with immigration and entry/stay status; work authorisation is a separate legal issue.
If you are still arranging your immigration status, see our Vietnam eVisa 2026 complete guide. Foreign company managers and legal representatives may also find our guide to Business VNeID registration for foreign companies in Vietnam useful.
What foreign workers should check before 10 September 2026
- Is your current work permit still valid?
- If you are exempt, do you have the required work-permit exemption confirmation for your case?
- Does your actual job match the approved position and working arrangement?
- Is the workplace consistent with the authorised information?
- Has your employer completed the required notifications and document procedures?
- If your permit is approaching expiry, has the extension or new application process been started early enough?
What employers should do now
Employers should audit foreign-worker files before the decree becomes effective. Check each employee individually rather than relying on a general company-level review. Pay particular attention to expiry dates, job titles, workplace details, exemption documentation and changes that occurred after the original application.
Do not alter supporting documents or continue using expired documents while waiting for a new application. Where the employee’s role, workplace or legal basis has changed, obtain professional guidance on whether a new application, reissuance, extension, notification or other procedure is required.
Need help reviewing your Vietnam work-permit or immigration documents?
GOREISE Concierge can assist foreign nationals and companies with an initial review of Vietnam immigration and work-authorisation documentation and help identify which procedure may be required for the case.
Contact GOREISE Concierge
Email: cs@goreise.com
WhatsApp: +84 919 185 990
Office: 98A Le Lai Street, Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
If your immediate concern is visa status rather than work authorisation, you may also read our guides on urgent Vietnam eVisa processing and what to do when a Vietnam eVisa is rejected.
FAQ
Can a foreigner work in Vietnam without a work permit?
Only where Vietnamese law provides an applicable exemption and the required exemption procedure or confirmation has been properly completed. Simply holding a visa, eVisa or temporary residence document does not by itself replace work authorisation.
What is the fine for working without a work permit in Vietnam from 10 September 2026?
Under Decree 283/2026/NĐ-CP, a foreign worker working without the required work permit or work-permit exemption confirmation may be fined VND 15–25 million.
Can a foreign worker be deported?
Yes. Decree 283 provides deportation as an additional sanction for specified foreign-worker violations under Article 13.
Can the employer also be fined?
Yes. Employers can face substantial penalties for employing foreign workers without the required work authorisation, with the applicable bracket depending on the number of workers involved and the legal rules applicable to the employer.
Legal note: This article is a general information update based on Decree 283/2026/NĐ-CP and is not a substitute for case-specific legal advice. Work-permit and exemption requirements depend on the worker’s position, employer, assignment and supporting documents.