From October 22 to 24 , 2014 the Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing Zone Authority (HEPZA) and the Immigration Department of the Police of Ho Chi Minh City collaboratively organized three training sessions to diffuse legal regulations on foreign labourers...

From October 22 to 24 , 2014 the Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing Zone Authority (HEPZA) and the Immigration Department of the Police of Ho Chi Minh City collaboratively organized three training sessions to diffuse legal regulations on foreign labourers.  350 personnel supervisors from enterprises which have foreign labourers in 15 export processing zones and industrial parks attended these sessions.

At the sessions, the personnel supervisors were provided with the guidelines on the new regulations of the Law on immigration, emigration, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam (to take effect on January 1, 2015); the guidelines on the online declaration of temporary residence of foreigners and some amendments in the issuance of work permits to foreign workers. Following are some important changes in immigration, emigration, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam:

From January 1, 2015, the purposes of visas cannot be changed. Foreigners who come to Vietnam for such purposes as travel or visiting relatives will not be allowed to have their purposes changed to the purpose of work. Foreigners whose visas expire must emigrate.

• Foreigners who enter Vietnam and are exempt from applying for visas must have passports which continue to be valid for at least 06 months and must be at least 30 days from the last exit from Vietnam.

• There are 20 kinds of visas for different groups of foreigners. Of which, the visas issued to foreign investors in Vietnam (marked ĐT) are valid for up to 05 years (formerly 03 years); the visas issued to foreign labourers  in Vietnam (marked LĐ) are valid at most 02 years (as long as the allowed period on work permits).