Work Visas in Vietnam

I'm about to finish a CELTA at IH Budapest and I was hoping to go to Vietnam to teach. But I've just found out that to get a work visa I have to provide a criminal record check.

I have a conviction for drink driving in the UK (11 month ban that ended a year ago). Do you know whether that would prevent me from getting a work visa in Vietnam? Do I even need a work visa for teaching in Vietnam?

(Do any other countries need criminal record checks for work visas? China? Korea? Thailand?)

Any advice would be massively appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Mark

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Reply from Travel-Budget-Asia.com

Hi, Mark. First thing you should do is get over to our Teaching English in Vietnam page. You'll find everything you'll need about Vietnam Visas over there.

Remember to scroll down to read what other people have written. One girl wrote out the entire letter of the law regarding work visas for foreigners in Vietnam.

I'll see if I can save you some time first.

Yes, you do "officially" need a visa to work in Vietnam. That discussion is over at the Teaching English in Vietnam page.

If you ever do the final work permit for Vietnam then you will need to do criminal background check. You won't have a problem, Mark. The criminal checks are only for felony convictions, not driving habits.

Your country will actually not even give the information out without your consent. That is why you have to sign and agree to let the school see your criminal history.


The check is for felonies like child-molestation, murder, rape and other terrible acts. They will ask for no information from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Most countries keep violation records of each type of offense separate from each other.

The only country where you can realistically teach English for a lengthy period of time would be China. Thailand is getting stricter by the day; Korea wants the criminal record check up front now. Most schools used to ask you for documents to prove you are who you say you are and you are not a wanted man.

Many schools in Korea now will demand that a work permit be secured, along with a criminal check, before you can become an actively working teacher of English.

Countries are really trying to create laws that test the background of foreign teachers as soon as possible. You will have no problems, Mark. Just try and work out a situation where you can work while you are waiting for your embassy to translate every document into the local language.

It can take up to 6 months to get a criminal check done. As long as I can work while the process is advancing then it is a good thing. Vietnam does allow schools to employ teachers as long as the process is moving along.

Take Care, Mark.

Philip