I’m on a tourist visa myself, but from conversations with other people who’ve been in vietnam long term:
You get a company to sponsor you, and then you (or an agent) goes to immigration and get your visa converted from tourist to work. It costs the company like 900USD so a lot will tell you they did the paperwork and then just not, since you’re the one who gets punished.
I advise against working on a tourist visa or changing jobs without getting your papers in order first. It’s not as big a no-no as doing so in China, but it does open you up to headaches and a potential 3 year ban. Buddy of mine ended up paying 1,600 USD after a company that does TRCs filed their own company as his TRC, instead of the company he was working for, so when he went to renew his TRC the next time, he had been working illegally for a year.
It’s not that bad. If you have a degree in teaching/TEFL, there’s legit schools that will do 99% of the work for you.
If you just have any degree, including some paper you scribbled “degree” on in crayon, there’s “english learning centers” who will pay you to be a white monkey, follow the lesson plan, and do promotional materials. They will do the work for you too, but you should be more careful with these ones.
If you’re working remotely, come on a tourist visa and do 3 month visa runs. Money and knowing the right people can get you a TRC, but myself and tons of digital nomads just keep the tourist visa.
Americans who get a Chinese tourist visa can enter for 90 days (60 if you got your visa in Vietnam) a time as often as they like, for 10 years. Otherwise, people in Hanoi do Laos and people in HCMC do Thailand.
Bureaucracy in VN is much more flexible than any other country I’ve been to.
If you just have any degree, including some paper you scribbled “degree” on in crayon, there’s “english learning centers” who will pay you to be a white monkey, follow the lesson plan, and do promotional materials. They will do the work for you too, but you should be more careful with these ones.
My ex took my degree when he left, but I have transcripts. Is that acceptable? If so, how can I be sure I’d avoid ones that would not do the paperwork, or do it correctly?
I’m on a tourist visa myself, but from conversations with other people who’ve been in vietnam long term:
You get a company to sponsor you, and then you (or an agent) goes to immigration and get your visa converted from tourist to work. It costs the company like 900USD so a lot will tell you they did the paperwork and then just not, since you’re the one who gets punished.
I advise against working on a tourist visa or changing jobs without getting your papers in order first. It’s not as big a no-no as doing so in China, but it does open you up to headaches and a potential 3 year ban. Buddy of mine ended up paying 1,600 USD after a company that does TRCs filed their own company as his TRC, instead of the company he was working for, so when he went to renew his TRC the next time, he had been working illegally for a year.
Oh. This seems increasingly complicated and not within reach for me, especially not speaking Vietnamese language. Thanks for telling me though.
It’s not that bad. If you have a degree in teaching/TEFL, there’s legit schools that will do 99% of the work for you.
If you just have any degree, including some paper you scribbled “degree” on in crayon, there’s “english learning centers” who will pay you to be a white monkey, follow the lesson plan, and do promotional materials. They will do the work for you too, but you should be more careful with these ones.
If you’re working remotely, come on a tourist visa and do 3 month visa runs. Money and knowing the right people can get you a TRC, but myself and tons of digital nomads just keep the tourist visa.
Americans who get a Chinese tourist visa can enter for 90 days (60 if you got your visa in Vietnam) a time as often as they like, for 10 years. Otherwise, people in Hanoi do Laos and people in HCMC do Thailand.
Bureaucracy in VN is much more flexible than any other country I’ve been to.
My ex took my degree when he left, but I have transcripts. Is that acceptable? If so, how can I be sure I’d avoid ones that would not do the paperwork, or do it correctly?
Yes. You will also need to take a 140 hour online certification IIRC.
As for avoiding the ones that don’t do the paperwork, simply refuse to work until you have the TRC and work permit in hand.
Hey thanks for your time and for answering me. What kind of certification? How can I avoid shady employers?
TEFL, idk, I’m not an English teacher, ask around when you get here, maybe post on the vietnam reddit.
Ok thanks.