In the context of current international integration, the need to employ foreign workers (or Vietnamese who study at training programs of foreign educational institutions) is becoming more and more common in enterprises in Vietnam. This leads to the need for foreign diploma recognition.

On April 15, 2021, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Circular 13/2021/TT-BGDDT on conditions, order, procedures, and competence to recognize diplomas issued by foreign educational institutions for use in Vietnam. (“Circular 13”), Circular 13 has replaced Decision No. 77/2007/QD-BGDĐT; Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BGDDT. One of the important contents of Circular 13 is the provision of exemption from diploma recognition procedures. As follows:

1. What is the exemption from diploma recognition procedures?

Diplomas issued by foreign educational institutions to learners are recognized for use in Vietnam without having to go through the diploma recognition procedures. In which, “Diploma” is understood to include: secondary school diploma, high school diploma, certificate of completion of general education program, bachelor degree, master degree, Ph.D. diploma, and equivalent qualifications.

2. Subjects are exempt from diploma recognition procedures?

• Diplomas of foreign educational institutions within the scope of application of agreements, agreements on degree equivalence or mutual recognition of diplomas or international treaties related to diplomas to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam applies or signed by the Vietnamese Socialist Association announced by the Ministry of Education and Training;
• Diplomas issued by foreign educational institutions to learners who are sent by the Ministry of Education and Training to study with the State budget;
• Diplomas granted by foreign educational institutions to learners under joint training programs with foreign countries in Vietnam have been approved by competent authorities from July 1, 2019.

3. Requirements for subjects who are exempt from diploma recognition procedures?

• The title of the degree is consistent with the regulations on diplomas of the Vietnamese national education system;
• Training time and enrollment conditions are consistent with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training;
• Face-to-face training or face-to-face training combined with online training that the online teaching time does not exceed 30% of the total duration of the program.

4. Other Note:

The exemption from diploma recognition procedures does not include certification of diplomas; agencies, organizations, or employers are responsible for verifying diplomas in case of necessity.

Circular 13 takes effect from June 1, 2021.

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