Legal Requirements for Foreign Teachers in Vietnam 2024

Teaching in Vietnam is attracting the interest of many foreigners. However, to become a legal teacher, one must comply with the “Legal requirements for foreign teachers in Vietnam”. In this article, EIV will provide detailed information about the legal requirements you need to know.

Legal Requirements for Foreign Teachers in Vietnam

To teach legally in Vietnam, foreign teachers must meet the following requirements:

General Requirements

Age 18 or older: Teachers must be at least 18 years old and have full civil capacity.

• Work at Vietnamese educational institutions: These institutions must be legally approved to hire foreigners.
• Have a work permit in Vietnam: This permit must be issued by the competent authority, except for cases of exemption (such as being sent to Vietnam to teach at schools under the management of diplomatic missions or international organizations in Vietnam, and being confirmed by the Ministry of Education and Training to participate in teaching).
• Be sponsored by an educational institution in Vietnam: This educational institution must sponsor the teacher.
• Have all documents proving professional qualifications and experience: These documents must prove the teacher’s abilities and experience.
• Have a health certificate: This certificate must meet the standards of the Vietnamese Ministry of Health.
• Have a clean criminal record: Teachers must not have a criminal record, not be under criminal prosecution, not have a pending criminal record, or not be serving a sentence.

Read more: Definition and purpose of a work permit: All You Need To Know

How can foreigners teach English in Vietnam?

In addition to the general requirements, foreigners wishing to teach English in Vietnam also need to meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Have a bachelor’s degree in language pedagogy: This bachelor’s degree must be from a recognized university.
• Have a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and a valid corresponding language teaching certificate: These certificates include TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA.
• Have a bachelor’s degree in any major, a Vietnamese proficiency certificate level 5 or higher or equivalent, and a valid corresponding language teaching certificate: This ensures that the teacher has proficient language skills and teaching skills.

Latest regulations on Legal Requirements for Foreign Teachers in Vietnam

If foreign teachers do not have a work permit, they will have to leave Vietnam or face legal consequences. Therefore, both workers and employers must comply with regulations on hiring foreign teachers.

For recruiting organizations

• Legal operating license: The recruiting organization must have a valid business license or business registration certificate issued by the competent state authority.
• Proving recruitment needs: The organization needs to prove the need to recruit foreign teachers for specific positions and has received written approval from the competent state authority.
• Declaration of recruitment information: Before recruiting and officially employing foreign teachers, the organization needs to make specific declarations about the job position, educational qualifications, work experience, working time, and approval documents from the competent authority.

For foreign teachers

• Job invitation and sponsorship: Foreign teachers must have an official invitation letter and job sponsorship from businesses, schools, or educational institutions licensed by the Department of Education and Training.
• Meeting basic requirements: Teachers must be at least 18 years old, have a clean criminal record, not be under criminal prosecution, or have not had their criminal record expunged.
• Work permit: Foreign teachers need a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs or by the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs according to their authority.
• Good health: Teachers must be in good health, meeting the requirements as prescribed by the Ministry of Health.
• Degrees and certificates: Teachers must have appropriate degrees, certificates, and work experience confirmation for the teaching position.
• Compliance with labor contract: Teachers must fully comply with the terms, regulations, and obligations stated in the labor contract signed with the recruiting organization.
• Extension of labor contract: If intending to continue teaching in Vietnam after the 2-year labor contract expires, teachers need to follow the procedures for contract extension according to legal regulations.

Note:

• The above legal requirements may change over time, so foreign teachers and recruiting organizations should regularly update the latest information from competent state authorities.
• In addition, foreign teachers also need to comply with regulations on residence, social insurance, health insurance, and other regulations related to foreigners working in Vietnam.

Furthermore, foreigners in Vietnam may need to convert their driver’s license to a Vietnamese driver’s license to participate in traffic. You should research this procedure carefully to ensure compliance with local regulations.

Understanding and complying with the Legal requirements for foreign teachers in Vietnam is key to ensuring that the teaching process of foreign teachers in Vietnam goes smoothly and legally. These regulations not only protect teachers’ rights but also ensure educational quality and national security. We hope this article from EIV will be useful to you.