Guide · Switching providers
Switching EOR providers in Vietnam.
Move your team to a new employer of record with no gap in pay, insurance or work permits.
Updated 22 October 2026 · General information, not legal or tax advice
Short answer
Can you switch EOR providers in Vietnam?
Yes. Switching EOR providers in Vietnam means ending each employee's labour contract with the old employer lawfully and signing a new labour contract with the new one, usually starting the next day. It has to be planned around the notice period in your service agreement, the employee's final pay and the social-insurance record. Done properly, pay continues without a gap and the employee's insurance history carries over, because social-insurance contributions follow the person, not the employer. Statutory severance is usually small or nil for anyone covered by unemployment insurance. Foreign employees need a work permit in the new employer's name before the switch, because a permit is tied to one employer. Plan six to eight weeks for a team that includes foreign employees, less for Vietnamese nationals only.
Step by step
How a switch runs.
- Check your current service agreement for its notice period and exit terms, and pick a switch date at a month end.
- Request quotes and a transfer plan from the new provider for each employee, keeping salary and benefits the same.
- For foreign employees, the new employer applies for a work permit in its own name before the switch date.
- Give notice to the current provider and agree the last working day with the old employer.
- The old employer settles final salary, untaken leave and any allowance within 14 working days and confirms the social-insurance contribution period.
- The new employer signs a new labour contract starting the next day and registers the employee for insurance and tax.
What carries over
What the employee keeps.
| Item | What happens |
|---|---|
| Social-insurance history | Carries over on the same social-insurance number |
| Tax code | Stays the same; the old employer issues a withholding certificate |
| Untaken annual leave | Paid out by the old employer in the final settlement |
| Years of service | Restart with the new employer unless the contracts agree otherwise |
| Work permit | A new permit in the new employer's name is needed |
See also how to choose an EOR provider and ending employment in Vietnam.
Questions
Switching EOR providers: frequently asked questions
Do employees lose their social insurance when we switch EOR?
No. Contributions follow the person on the same social-insurance number, so the history carries over to the new employer.
Is there a gap in pay when switching providers?
There need not be. The new labour contract starts the day after the old one ends, and payroll continues on the usual date.
Do foreign employees need a new work permit?
Yes. A permit is tied to the employer, so the new employer applies for one before the switch date.
How long does switching EOR providers take?
For Vietnamese nationals, a few weeks driven mainly by your service agreement's notice period. Allow longer when a new work permit is needed.
Hiring in Vietnam? We handle all of this as your employer.
Nhân Kiệt employs your team, runs payroll, insurance, tax and work permits. Fee: US$99–199 per employee a month, plus VAT.
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