Five significant decrees and decisions took effect in August 2025, introducing major changes to foreign worker employment, consular legalization, health insurance, customs procedures, and trade documentation. This update covers each change and what your business needs to do.

1. Foreign Worker Rules Overhauled: Decree 219/2025/ND-CP

Effective 7 August 2025, Decree 219/2025/ND-CP replaces Decrees 152/2020/ND-CP and 70/2023/ND-CP as the primary framework governing foreign workers in Vietnam. The new decree introduces seven significant changes that every employer of foreign nationals must understand.

Decentralized work permit authority — Provincial People's Committees (PPCs) now have full authority to issue, re-issue, extend, and revoke work permits and work permit exemption certificates — and to delegate those powers to relevant provincial departments. This authority now rests at the local level, determined by the location of the employer or the foreign worker's worksite.

The PPC also gains authority to grant work permits for foreign workers employed across multiple provinces or centrally governed cities. This power was previously held by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids, and Social Affairs.

Streamlined application: demand report eliminated — Employers previously had to file a separate demand report justifying the need for foreign workers before submitting a work permit application. That requirement has been eliminated. The justification is now incorporated into a single integrated application. This reduces paperwork and is expected to shorten processing times.

Integrated online application for work permit and criminal record — Decree 219 introduces a linked procedure via the National Public Service Portal allowing employers to simultaneously submit the work permit application and the application for the foreign worker's criminal record certificate. The process is integrated between the Portal, the licensing authority (PPC), and the police department. Both results are issued simultaneously.

Expanded work permit exemptions — Decree 219 expands the total number of work permit exemption categories to 15. Key changes include:

Relaxed requirements: experts — Under Decree 219, a foreign expert is now defined as either:

Previously, all experts were required to have a minimum of three years of relevant experience under Decree 152/2020/ND-CP.

Relaxed requirements: technical workers — Under Decree 219, a foreign technical worker is now defined as either:

Under the previous Decree 152, technical workers were required to have either at least 1 year of training plus 3 years of experience, or at least 5 years of experience — a higher bar in both cases.

Revised application and extension timelines

What businesses must do — Employers of foreign nationals should review their current work permit processes against the new Decree 219 timelines. The online integrated application system should be adopted immediately for new and renewal applications. HR and compliance teams should also review which foreign workers may now qualify for a work permit exemption under the expanded categories, particularly those in priority sectors and those visiting less than 90 days per year.

2. Consular Legalization Modernized: Decree 196/2025/ND-CP

Decree 196/2025/ND-CP, issued 4 July 2025, amends Decree 111/2011/ND-CP on consular certification and legalization. Most provisions took effect on 3 August 2025. Electronic certification provisions take effect from 1 January 2026.

Electronic legalization introduced — Decree 196 introduces procedures for e-consular legalization, enabling electronic submission, tracking, and issuance of legalized documents via digital platforms — likely through the National Public Service Portal. Electronic documents bearing valid digital signatures are now recognized as legally valid. This is a significant move away from reliance solely on paper-based legalization.

Authentication decisions rest with Vietnamese authorities — The new regulation clarifies that Vietnamese competent authorities have the sole right to assess the authenticity of foreign documents. Where they deem a document authentic, legalization is not required. Previously, foreign authorities could influence this determination. Decree 196 removes that discretion, concentrating the decision-making power entirely with Vietnamese authorities.

Language and venue flexibility — Simplified language requirements now emphasize Vietnamese and English as the primary languages, removing French from the recognized list. Consular certification and legalization can now be performed by various domestic authorities — not only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — allowing greater decentralization and faster access.

What businesses must do — Businesses that routinely rely on foreign document legalization — including those processing employment documents, corporate registrations, or cross-border commercial agreements — should familiarize their teams with the updated process. Plan for the electronic legalization system going live on 1 January 2026 and ensure that any in-progress paper-based processes are handled before that date if digital transition is preferred.

3. Health Insurance Implementation Guidance: Decree 188/2025/ND-CP

Decree 188/2025/ND-CP, issued 1 July 2025 and effective from 15 August 2025, provides detailed implementation guidance for the amended Law on Health Insurance. It covers medical service contracts, procedures, payment methods, and transitional arrangements during Vietnam's shift to a two-tier local government structure.

Enhanced access to health services — The decree expands the definition of health insurance evasion to include situations involving natural disasters, emergencies, civil defense, and disease outbreaks as declared by competent authorities.

New contribution support levels — Decree 188 introduces expanded health insurance premium subsidies:

These measures expand coverage for vulnerable groups. The decree also amends the responsibilities of agencies handling premium transfers and health insurance card issuance.

Digital health insurance card issuance — Health insurance cards can now be issued electronically or on paper via the National Public Service Portal, social insurance apps, one-stop departments, or the postal service.

Additional provisions — The decree also includes:

Transitional provisions (effective until 31 December 2025) — To ensure continuity during Vietnam's two-tier local government restructuring, Decree 188 provides that:

What businesses must do — Employers should update payroll and HR processes to reflect the new health insurance contribution support levels effective 15 August 2025. Check whether any employees fall into the newly supported categories — particularly students and community health workers. The transitional provisions run only until 31 December 2025, after which updated guidance is expected.

4. Customs Procedures Digitized: Decree 167/2025/ND-CP

Decree 167/2025/ND-CP, issued 30 June 2025 and effective 15 August 2025, amends Decree 08/2015/ND-CP on customs law implementation. The decree drives a significant shift toward electronic customs, removes unnecessary documentation requirements, and streamlines clearance procedures.

Shift to electronic customs declarations — Customs declarations must now be submitted electronically as the default. Paper-based declarations are restricted to specific cases only. This change requires businesses to fully adopt digital customs procedures where they have not already done so.

Postal and express delivery shipments — Exported and imported letters, parcels, and packages sent via postal or express delivery services — including those required to undergo customs procedures at designated border checkpoints — may now be cleared at the Sub-Department of Customs managing centralized collection, inspection, and supervision points for postal and express delivery items.

Simplified documentation requirements — Decree 167 removes several previously mandatory documentation requirements:

What businesses must do — Businesses engaged in import, export, transit, or outsourced manufacturing should update their customs procedures and document checklists to reflect the new rules. Any processes still relying on paper declarations should be transitioned to electronic systems before 15 August 2025. Logistics and customs teams should be briefed on the removed documentation requirements to avoid unnecessary paperwork.

5. AANZFTA Certificate of Origin: Decision 2161/QD-BCT

Decision 2161/QD-BCT, issued 25 July 2025 by the Minister of Industry and Trade and effective from 22 August 2025, promulgates the updated list of administrative procedures for import and export under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The key highlight is the procedure for issuing preferential Certificates of Origin (C/O) Form AANZ, which is governed by Circular 44/2025/TT-BCT dated 7 July 2025. The Circular guides the Rules of Origin for goods traded under the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA).

What businesses must do — Businesses exporting goods to Australia or New Zealand under the AANZFTA should review the updated C/O Form AANZ procedure under Circular 44/2025/TT-BCT. Verify that your goods meet the applicable rules of origin and that C/O applications follow the new procedure to benefit from preferential tariff rates under the agreement.

Summary: Key Actions and Timelines

Change Effective date Action required
Decree 219 — Foreign worker rules 7 Aug 2025 Review work permit processes; update to new timelines and online application
Decree 196 — Consular legalization 3 Aug 2025 (e-cert: 1 Jan 2026) Prepare for electronic legalization; note language and venue changes
Decree 188 — Health insurance 15 Aug 2025 Update HR/payroll for new contribution support levels; review transitional provisions
Decree 167 — Customs procedures 15 Aug 2025 Adopt electronic customs declarations; update document checklists
Decision 2161 — C/O Form AANZ 22 Aug 2025 Apply AANZFTA C/O Form AANZ for eligible exports to Australia/New Zealand