Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. The low cost of living and highly qualified population make it an ideal location for foreign companies who are looking to branch out and invest. However, expanding internationally has its disadvantages as well. Not knowing the local laws and regulations makes it a thousand times harder to open a company overseas.
Domestic investors and foreign investors carrying out investment activities within the territory of Vietnam.
Where to apply
Department of Planning and Investment:
Investment projects outside industrial zones, export processing zones, high-tech zones and economic zones;
Investment projects for development of infrastructure facilities in industrial zones, export processing zones, high-tech zones and economic zones in localities, which have not yet established a management committee.
Management Committees of industrial zones, export processing zones, high-tech zones and economic zones:
Investment projects in industrial zones, export processing zones, high-tech zones and economic zones;
Investment projects for development of infrastructure facilities in industrial zones, export processing zones, high-tech zones and economic zones.
Validity of the License and application fee
Unspecified
Application conditions and documents
Domestic invested projects:
Investor shall not be required to carry out procedures for investment registration of projects which have invested capital below VND fifteen (15) billion and are not in sectors in which investment is subject to conditions. Please see the linked document for sectors subject to conditions.
Domestic investors must carry out procedures for investment registration in the case of domestic investment projects which have invested capital of between VND fifteen (15) billion and less than VND three hundred (300) billion and are not in sectors in which investment is subject to conditions. The applications shall include documents showing:
Legal status of the investor;
Objectives, sale and location for implementation of the investment project;
Land use requirements and undertakings on environmental protection;
Proposal for investment incentives (if any)
Foreign invested projects:
Investment registration form;
Business co-operation contract if the investment form is a business co-operation contract;
Report on financial capability of the investor (which the investor shall prepare and be liable for).
Investment projects having invested capital of VND three hundred (300) billion and more and that are not in sectors in which investment is subject to conditions, applications shall include the following documents:
Written request for issuance of investment certificate on the stipulated form;
Document certifying the legal status of the investor;
Report on financial ability of the investor;
Economic-technical explanatory statement, comprising the following main items: objectives, scale, location of investment, invested capital, schedule for implementation of the project, land use requirements, and technological and environmental solutions;
Business co-operation contract, if the investment form is a business co-operation contract.
Explanatory statement on ability to satisfy conditions which the investment project must comply with
The above application documents applied in different cases.
The process
Investors submit the application documents to the Department of Planning and Investment, or to the Management Committees of the industrial zones, export processing zones, whichever, their case requires
How long it will take to process the application?
Within 15 working days, from the date of the receipt of the application documents, the investment certificate issuing body shall check the validity of the application file and issue the investment certificate
Inspecting authorities
Department of Planning and Investment
Management Committees of industrial zones, export processing zones, ...
Non-compliance penalty
Stipulated at Decree 108/2006/NĐ-CP dated 22 September 2006 providing detailed provisions and guidelines for implementation of a number of articles of Law on Investment.
Legal texts regulating this license
Law on Investment, date 29 November 2005Decree no. 108/2006/ND-CP of september 22, 2006, detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the investment law Decree no. 108/2006/ND-CP of september 22, 2006, detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the investment law
Other useful information
An investment certificate shall contain the following main items:
Location in which the investment project will be implemented and land use area requirements;
Total invested capital;
Duration of implementation of the project;
Schedule for implementation of the investment project;
Confirmation of investment incentives and support (if any).
This fact sheet will be updated upon the issuance of related circular(s) and/or other regulations. Information provided in the fact sheet is based on information contained in Decree 108/2006/ND-CP, dated 22 September 2006.
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