VietnamRenewal is a short window, not a second first permit
In plain termsA work-permit (WP) renewal files close to expiry, may run once, and then the cycle ends. Losing the card is a reissue. Changing the job title is a new permit.
Start here — three checks
- Window before expiry. 10 days to 45 days.
- How many renewals? 1 · each up to 24 months.
- Cycle ceiling. 48 months then a fresh issue.
Renew vs issue vs reissue
| What you hold | Which clock | If you mix them |
|---|---|---|
| Permit still valid, expiry in 40 days | Renewal window is open. | You wait until week of expiry and miss the 10-day floor. |
| Already renewed once, 48 months used | Fresh issue. Not a second renewal. | HR treats year five like year two. |
| Card lost, term still running | Reissue. The clock does not restart. | You file renewal paperwork for a missing plastic. |
| Health sheet older than | 12 months | You photocopy last year’s medical and call it current. |
Common wrong movesThe new-issue window is not this page.
- Filing 60 days early because that is the new-issue max.
- Promising a second renewal after the one-time limb is spent.
- Dating a new labour contract past the remaining permit.
If expiry is already inside 10 daysDo not invent an emergency renewal.
- Read start-before-issued if someone still intends to work on a pending file.
- If the job ended, the permit already died — renewal is the wrong form.
Evidence and sources6 dated facts for Work-permit renewal window — once, then a fresh issue
The readable briefing above uses these cells. Open a source only when you need to verify a number, date, or legal gate.
- Earliest days before expiry to file renewalNĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 2810 dayschecked Aug 2026
- Latest days before expiry to file renewalNĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 2845 dayschecked Aug 2026
- Work permit may be renewed this many timesBLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 155; NĐ 219/2025 Điều 291checked Aug 2026
- Maximum term of a one-time renewalBLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 155; NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 2924 monthschecked Aug 2026
- One permit cycle ceiling before a fresh issue is requiredBLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 155 — 24 + one renewal 24, then new issue48 monthschecked Aug 2026
- Max age of health certificate for renewalNĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 2712 monthschecked Aug 2026
Work-permit hubThe stack this renewal sits on.ReissueLost card. Same remaining term.New-issue window10–60 days before a first start — not renewal.
Common questions
When do we file a work-permit renewal?
The renewal window is 10–45 days before expiry. The new-issue window is a different clock (10–60 days before a planned start).
How many times can we renew?
Once, for up to 24 months. After the 48-month cycle ceiling, file a fresh issue. Do not treat year five as a second renewal.
Does a health certificate from last year still work?
The health certificate for renewal may be at most 12 months old. An expired medical sheet is not a reason to skip the window.