Procedures for Revocation of Work Permits for Foreign Workers

The regulations governing the revocation of work permits were previously repealed on October 8, 2018, pursuant to Article 13 of Decree No. 140/2018/ND-CP. However, they were reintroduced under Decree No. 152/2020/ND-CP and have now been comprehensively inherited and standardized under Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP. What, then, is the latest statutory procedure for revoking a foreign worker’s work permit under current frameworks?

Cases Eligible for Work Permit Revocation

Pursuant to Article 20 of Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, a work permit shall be subject to revocation under the following circumstances:

1. The work permit becomes invalid, including but not limited to the following instances:
   • The work permit expires.
   • The labor contract is terminated.
   • The contents of the executed labor contract do not align with the parameters of the issued work permit.
   • The foreign national works contrary to the contents specified in the issued work permit.
   • The underlying contracts or agreements in various sectors that served as the basis for the work permit issuance expire or are terminated.
   • There is a written notification from the foreign entity withdrawing the assignment of the foreign national working in Vietnam.
   • The domestic enterprise, organization, Vietnamese partner, or foreign organization operating in Vietnam employing the foreign worker ceases its operations.
2. The employer or the foreign worker fails to strictly comply with the regulations stipulated under Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP.
3. The foreign employee, during their course of employment in Vietnam, fails to abide by Vietnamese laws, thereby adversely impacting national security, social order, or public safety.

Statutory Procedures for Work Permit Revocation

Accordingly, the procedural steps for implementing a work permit revocation are explicitly governed by Article 21 of Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP as follows:

• In cases where the work permit becomes invalid: Within 15 days from the date of invalidation, the employer is legally responsible for reclaiming the work permit from the foreign worker and returning it to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) or the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (DOLISA) that originally issued the permit. This submission must be accompanied by an official written explanation stating the grounds for revocation, or detailing cases where the permit is subject to revocation but cannot be physically recovered.
• In cases involving regulatory non-compliance or threats to social order: MOLISA or the provincial/municipal DOLISA that originally issued the permit shall issue an official decision on work permit revocation utilizing the statutory form enacted under this Decree. This decision will be forwarded to the employer, who must subsequently reclaim the permit from the foreign national and return it to the issuing authority.
• Timeline for Official Confirmation: Within 05 working days from the date of receiving the revoked work permit, MOLISA or the respective provincial DOLISA shall issue a formal written confirmation acknowledging the successful revocation of the work permit and dispatch it to the employer.

The above sections delineate the complete updated regulations governing the revocation workflow for foreign personnel under Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP. Should your enterprise require further tactical consultations regarding our premier packages:

• Work Permits for foreign nationals
• Official Entry Visa Approval Letters
• Visa Extensions, Temporary Residence Cards (TRC), etc., for foreign workers.

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