Legal services in Vietnam are not about getting approved.
They're about building the right foundation.
70% of foreigners who handle their own legal procedures hit problems within 12 months. Not because paperwork is hard. Because they solved the wrong problem first.
Get Free AssessmentMost legal service providers ask the wrong question.
They ask: "What documents do you need?"
We ask: "What are you trying to build in Vietnam?"
"A work permit determines your residence card. Your company structure limits your scope. A 'successful' application that ignores these connections becomes a liability."
The Pattern We See Repeatedly
Expat gets work permit for wrong job category → Cannot sponsor family later
Startup registers company with narrow business scope → Pays $3,000+ to amend when scaling
Executive gets tourist visa extended repeatedly → Discovers they've been working illegally
Secure your right to work
Work permits that match your actual role and career trajectory. Not just approval. A 2-year foundation that determines your tax obligations, residence options, and exit flexibility.
Explore Personal ServicesEliminate immigration uncertainty
Temporary Residence Cards give you multi-year stays with unlimited entries. Your passport stays with you. Your business trips don't require visa applications.
Protect your legal standing
Driving on wrong license? Working on wrong visa category? Insurance won't cover you when it matters. We close gaps before they become expensive problems.
Launch with correct structure
LLC vs JSC. Branch vs Rep Office. IRC requirements. Wrong choice at setup = $5,000-50,000 in corrections later. We match structure to your 3-year business plan.
Explore Business ServicesExpand without restructuring
Business license amendments, additional locations, new business lines. Your company grows. Your legal framework grows with it.
Stay ahead of compliance
Annual reports, tax filings, license renewals. Miss one deadline: 10-20 million VND fine. Miss several: license suspension. We track everything.
Automate deadline management
45-day advance alerts before any document expires. Renewal preparation starts before you think about it. Zero surprise scrambles.
Explore Compliance ServicesSimplify regulatory obligations
Monthly VAT, quarterly CIT, annual settlements. Accounting that understands foreign-owned business requirements and speaks your language.
Document everything properly
When audits happen, documentation saves you. Complete records of every filing, every approval, every government correspondence.
Onboard foreign employees legally
Work permits, residence cards, dependent visas for your expat staff. Coordinated timelines so families arrive together, work starts on schedule.
Explore Team SolutionsScale without HR burden
Adding 5 foreign employees? 10? We handle all permits simultaneously with proper sequencing. Your HR focuses on people, not paperwork.
Retain key talent longer
Renewal management, status upgrades, family support. Your best people stay because their legal status works for their life in Vietnam.
We work with foreigners who are building something real.
Not everyone. Not every situation. We filter our clients as carefully as you choose your consultant.
Not sure?
Most problems start with a bad fit. Check your eligibility in 2 minutes.
Take 2-min Fit Assessment✓ This fits if you:
- Plan to stay 2+ yearsYou need legal status that compounds.
- Have a real businessSponsorship, capital, or legitimate operations.
- Value expertiseOur fee covers problem prevention.
- Want adviceWe tell you what you should do, not just do what you ask.
✕ This doesn't fit if you:
- Just need a quick extensionUse a travel agent. We're overqualified.
- Want the lowest priceCheap options exist. So do failure rates.
- Have fake documentsWe verify everything. No exceptions.
- Need court lawyersWe do consulting, not litigation.
Not sure where to start?
Your situation
determines your path.
Click the scenario that matches you:
Work Permit → Temporary Residence Card
25-40 days total
Work Permit creates TRC eligibility. Cannot reverse. TRC validity matches WP, so timing matters.
Work Permit Exemption → Temporary Residence Card
15-25 days total
Investment threshold bypasses work permit requirement entirely. Faster path, fewer renewals.
Visa TT → Temporary Residence Card (3 years)
20-30 days total
Family sponsorship creates longest residence path available.
5-Year Visa Exemption
10-15 days
Most people don't know this exists. 5 years, multiple entries, no sponsorship needed.
Representative Office
10-15 days
No revenue allowed, but setup cost is 3x lower than company.
Full Company Setup (LLC)
21-25 days
Representative offices cannot employ staff for commercial activities.
None of these fit?
Get Custom AssessmentWe learned what doesn't work by watching it fail.
The Old Way
Document Processors
Submit. Wait. Pray. (40% correction rate)
Legal Opinions
Expensive theories. Zero execution.
The CMT Way
Decision Architecture
We stopped asking "what documents do you need?" and started asking "what are you trying to build?".
Personal Legal Status
Legal employment authorization
Multi-year stays, unlimited entries
Sponsored family visits up to 12 months
Vietnamese origin long-term access
Legal driving, valid insurance
Business Legal Structure
100% foreign-owned operating entity
Foreign investment approval
Market research presence, no revenue
Revenue operations under parent company
Scope expansion, amendments
Ongoing Compliance
Monthly/quarterly compliance
Expiry management, proactive filing
Government filing requirements
"Automated Protection"
All compliance clients get 24/7 access to our deadline tracking portal.
Manufacturing Director — Wrong Category Fix
German national needed work authorization. Previous employer filed incorrect job category. Immigration flagged inconsistency.
Document correction strategy with labor department. Proper category reclassification. Coordinated TRC application timing.
Approved in 28 days. No re-interview required.
Tech Startup — 4 Founders, Zero Delays
US-based startup opening Vietnam office. 4 foreign founders needed company registration + individual work authorization.
Phased approach. IRC + LLC filed first. Work permits sequenced to avoid dependency conflicts.
All 4 founders legally employed within 45 days. Company operational.
F&B Chain — Rep Office to Revenue
Korean F&B company had representative office for 3 years. Ready to operate restaurants but didn't want subsidiary complexity.
Branch office conversion. Preserved parent company structure. Added commercial scope.
Branch license in 18 days. Revenue within 60 days.
"They told me my original plan would fail before I wasted money on it."
I came in wanting a tourist visa extension. They asked what I was actually doing in Vietnam. Turns out I needed a work permit. Saved me from working illegally for 6 months without knowing it.
"Finally someone who explains WHY, not just WHAT."
Previous agencies just sent document lists. CMT explained how each piece connected. When immigration asked questions, I actually understood my own application.
"The 45-day reminder saved my business trip."
Forgot my TRC was expiring. Got the alert, renewed in time, made my flight. Simple thing but nobody else tracks this.
"They declined my case. I respect that."
I wanted to set up a company in a restricted industry without Vietnamese partner. They said no and explained why it wouldn't work.
20-25 working days from complete document submission. Add 5-10 days if documents need consular legalization first.
No. Working before permit approval is illegal, regardless of your visa status. This is non-negotiable.
LLC works for 1-2 founders with simpler governance. JSC requires 3+ shareholders. 95% of foreign SMEs should choose LLC.
No. With proper power of attorney, we handle everything remotely. You'll need to visit for bank account opening.
Depends on structure and industry. Simple LLC: $2,500-4,000 total including government fees. Complex setups: $5,000-15,000.
We pre-qualify every case. If rejection happens despite proper qualification, we resubmit with corrections at no additional service fee.
No ethical provider guarantees government decisions. We guarantee thorough preparation and honest assessment of your chances.
That's normal. Book a free assessment. We'll map your situation, explain options, and recommend a path. No obligation.
Get a free 30-minute assessment.
We'll tell you if we can help, what it costs, and how long it takes. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you who is.
094 344 342 (available 24/7)
cmtconsultingvn@gmail.com
164 Khuat Duy Tien Street, Hanoi City, Vietnam