Importing and exporting products can be quite a challenge for businesses in Vietnam. Vietnam Briefing outlines an over-all step-by-step guide for import and export procedures in Vietnam. Additionally we examine registration, license permit requirements, customs procedures, and duties applied.

Vietnam doesn’t need an organization to experience a separate import or export license to take part in import and export activities in the country.

The most frequent entity for investors planning to engage in import and export activities, and also embark on domestic distribution of merchandise, is defined an investing company. This is an inexpensive establishment option without having minimum capital contribution required.

However, in the event that an importer would want to sell imported products to Vietnamese consumers, they have to obtain an additional trading license should be obtained to legalize the procedure. Establishing a trading company takes approximately ninety days while acquiring a trading license can take one-three months.

n practice, firms that desire to import to Vietnam without establishing a local legal entity can utilize an importer of record to facilitate the method. This plan allows foreign companies that have enough time constraints, would like to test the marketplace, or only import a couple of times to handle logistical, regulatory, and language barriers.

Certain goods require companies to obtain permits through the government. Furthermore, petroleum oil is banned from exports while goods banned from imports include cigars, tobacco, petroleum oils, newspapers and journals, and aircraft.

Customs procedures

All goods imported or exported in Vietnam are susceptible to the Vietnam customs clearance standards, which effectively look at the quality, specifications, quantity, and level of items. Among these, certain imported items are be subject to inspection.

For example, imported pharmaceuticals must undergo testing and will include documents detailing product use, dosage, and expiration dates (designed in Vietnamese), which also needs to be a part of or around the product packaging.

Customs documents necessary in Vietnam

Companies which import or export goods must submit a dossier of documents, such as a minimum of the company’s business registration certificate and import/export business code registration certificate to the customs authorities. Based on the imports or exports showcased, authorities may request the next additional documents:

Documents essential for importing goods include:

Bill of lading;

Import goods declaration form;

Import permit (for restricted goods);

Certificate of origin;

Cargo release order;

Commercial invoice;

Customs import declaration form;

Inspection report;

Packing list;

Delivery Order (for goods imported through seaports);

Technical standard/health certificate; and

Terminal handling receipts.

The documents required for exporting goods include:

Electronic Export Customs Declaration (E-Form HQ/2015/XK);

Bill of lading;

Contract;

Certificate of origin;

Commercial invoice;

Customs export declaration form;

Export Permit;

Packing list; and

Technical standard/health certificate.

Export shipments might be completed on the same day while import shipments typically take around 1 to 3 days to accomplish for full container loads (FCL) and much less than container loads (LCL), respectively.

Optimizing your customs experience

Vietnam’s customs procedures are complex and susceptible to change with hardly any warning. For up-to-date information about clearance regulations, processing times, or obtaining the priority program, it is advised to consult with government officials or even a professional service firm that may advice the business with any cumbersome procedures and legalities.

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