The Hanoi Department of Home Affairs (“HAN DOHA”) has issued a new Press Release No. 257/TB-SNV dated 16 January 2026 announcing that, effective from 26 January 2026, work permit procedures for foreigners working in Hanoi city area will be handled by the People’s Committees of local Communes and Wards, instead of HAN DOHA. This change reflects the ongoing decentralisation of administrative and management functions in relation of foreigners working in Hanoi.
Scope of delegation
Under the Press Release, the People’s Committees of local Communes and Wards in Hanoi are authorized to manage administrative procedures relating to foreign employees working in Hanoi. The delegated responsibilities include:
This authorisation is effective from 26 January 2026 to 31 December 2028.
While this delegation is generally welcomed as a step towards the decentralisation of administrative functions, initial implementation challenges may arise, potentially resulting in longer processing timelines.
Employers and sponsoring entities are advised to plan work permit applications and notifications well in advance to ensure smooth onboarding.
Although this delegation currently applies only to Hanoi, similar decentralisation measures may be introduced in other provinces in the future.
Vialto Partners can support you in meeting your immigration compliance requirements in Vietnam and would welcome the opportunity to meet or arrange a call to discuss how we can best assist you and your employees in remaining compliant.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Brittany Chong
Partner
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