Teaching legally in Vietnam requires a work permit, which your employer applies for. Law-firm and recruiter guidance describes a bachelor's degree, a criminal record certificate and a health certificate as standard requirements, with a TEFL-type certificate expected if your degree is in an unrelated subject. Vietnam changed its foreign worker rules in 2025, so check the current position with the school before you commit.
What the work permit usually requires
Vietnamese law firms describe the following for foreign teachers. Treat them as a guide and confirm with the sponsoring school, because requirements differ by province and by type of institution.
| Requirement | Typical detail |
|---|---|
| Degree | Bachelor's degree or higher; the major should suit the subject taught. Foreign degrees go through legalisation and notarised Vietnamese translation. |
| Teaching certificate | If the degree is not in a relevant field, an international teaching certificate is needed, commonly 120 hours with a practicum. |
| Criminal record | Certificate showing no record, issued within six months before the dossier is submitted. |
| Health | Certificate from an approved facility, valid for 12 months. |
| Sponsor | A Vietnamese legal entity with the right education licence applies on your behalf. |
| Processing | About 10 working days after a complete dossier. Permits run up to two years and can be extended once. |
Recent changes
Decree 219/2025 was issued on 7 August 2025 and took effect immediately, replacing the earlier foreign worker decree. Law-firm summaries say the required work experience for experts was reduced to two years, and that the criminal record certificate and work permit processes were aligned so both could be submitted together. The summaries do not address teachers specifically, so ask the school how the decree affects your application.
Never work before the permit
The article from a Vietnamese law firm calls teaching before the permit is granted the most serious risk, and says a teacher who changes employer needs a new permit. Do not accept the line that you can start on a tourist or business entry and have the paperwork sorted later. If a school asks you to do that, treat it as a red flag (TEFL scams and red flags).
Documents from Ireland
Your degree and Garda Police Certificate need to be prepared in Ireland. The law-firm guidance describes a three-step legalisation: certification by the issuing country's foreign ministry, legalisation by a Vietnamese embassy or consulate, then Vietnamese translation with notarisation. The Department of Foreign Affairs explains that countries outside the Hague apostille convention require authentication and then the destination's embassy; ask the school which applies and how to get it. Start early: see the paperwork checklist.
Choosing a school
Pay, hours and what teachers report
This page quotes no salary because published figures differ widely by city, school type and year, and none from an official source were found. Ask each school for the monthly gross and net amount, teaching hours per week, whether office hours and preparation are paid and whether the school pays for the work permit and residence card. In Vietnam, language centres often run evening and weekend classes, so check the weekly timetable before you sign. Ask if you will be paid during public holidays and whether any deposit is held back until the end of the contract.
Documents checklist for a Vietnam application
- Degree certificate, with transcripts if the school asks for them.
- TEFL or equivalent certificate if your degree is not in a relevant field.
- Criminal record certificate from An Garda Síochána, issued close to submission.
- Health certificate from an approved facility.
- Passport copies and recent photos.
- Proof of experience if the school asks for it, such as a reference letter.
- Legalisation and translation of foreign-issued documents, as the school advises.
Ask the school which documents they want originals of and which they will translate for you. Keep digital copies of everything.
- Ask for a written contract with hours, pay, housing and who pays for the permit.
- Confirm the school holds the education operating licence needed to sponsor you.
- Ask current teachers about pay timing and workload.
- Look at the salary against local living costs, not against Irish prices (salary guide).
Thinking about a TEFL qualification? See course options from an Irish-based provider.
Compare TEFL coursesThis is an affiliate link. See our affiliate disclosure.Frequently asked questions
Do I need a work permit to teach in Vietnam?
Yes. Law-firm guidance says a sponsoring school applies for it and you should not teach until it is granted.
Is a TEFL certificate required in Vietnam?
Guidance says an international teaching certificate, commonly 120 hours with a practicum, is needed if your degree is in an unrelated field. Ask the school.
How long does a Vietnam work permit last?
Law-firm guidance says up to two years, extendable once for up to two more. A new employer needs a new permit.