In today’s globalized economy, import and export business activities are becoming increasingly diverse. The growing volume of goods passing through customs checkpoints highlights the need for a swift, accurate, and timely Import and Export Business License application process. So, what exactly is an Import and Export Business License? What documents are required to obtain it? Let’s explore these questions in the article below.

1. Concept of Import and Export Business License

An import and export business license is a document that certifies the legality of transporting goods and services across domestic or international customs borders for commercial purposes. This may include goods from within the country being exchanged with other countries. The license ensures that the goods meet the necessary standards to be exported or imported via various routes and transportation methods.

2. Do All Import and Export Activities Require a License?

Vietnamese law specifies which goods require an export license when conducting import and export activities. Generally, businesses from all economic sectors have the right to export goods that align with their registered domestic business activities without needing an export business license. However, certain goods are listed as requiring an export license. Some of these goods include: Pharmaceuticals; Animals and plants (For example, to export animals or plants abroad, a phytosanitary certificate from the Plant Protection Department or a veterinary certificate is required); Mineral samples (Exporting mineral samples requires an extraction license and an export request submitted to the Customs Department); Wood and wood products (Export certification is required for items such as furniture, wooden items, especially valuable rare woods); Cosmetics; Liquids, sand, coal powder, etc. (An approval letter must be submitted to the airline in accordance with aviation safety regulations); Books, newspapers, hard drives…

3. Basic Conditions for Obtaining an Import and Export Business License

In recent years, the government’s economic openness policies have provided the Vietnamese market with numerous opportunities for business growth. Among them, the trend of import-export businesses dealing in a wide variety of goods has developed very dynamically. To enter the import-export market, businesses must complete the paperwork to establish an import-export enterprise and obtain an import-export business license. However, businesses need to meet the following basic requirements:

• Register all relevant information about the import-export goods in the company’s business sector category;
• For goods that require an export-import license, businesses must comply with all legal conditions and obtain the appropriate license from the relevant ministries and agencies;
• For goods subject to quarantine by authorities, businesses must ensure quality standards and food safety and obtain approval from the competent authorities before importing or exporting;
• Businesses are prohibited from importing or exporting goods listed as banned by Vietnamese law or temporarily suspended from import-export activities as per the law.

4. Application Documents for Import and Export Business License in 2024

According to Clause 1, Article 9 of Decree 69/2018/ND-CP, the application for an import-export business license includes the following documents:

• A written request for the import-export business license from the trader: 1 original copy.
• Investment certificate or business registration certificate, or enterprise registration certificate: 1 notarized copy with the trader’s red seal.
• Relevant documents and materials as required by current legal regulations.

5. Procedures for Obtaining an Import and Export Business License

The procedure for obtaining an import-export business license is as follows:

• The trader submits a complete application with the required documents either directly, by mail, or online (if applicable) to the relevant ministry or authorized agency that grants the business license.
• If the application is incomplete or does not meet the requirements, or additional documents are needed, within 3 working days from the receipt of the trader’s application, the ministry or authorized agency will notify the trader to complete the documentation properly.
• Unless otherwise stipulated by law regarding the timeline for issuing import-export business licenses, within a maximum of 10 working days from receiving a complete, law-compliant application, the ministry or authorized agency will issue a response to the trader.
• If the law requires the ministry or authorized agency to consult with other relevant agencies before issuing the license, the processing time will begin from the date the opinion from the related agency is received.
• The process for issuing amendments, supplements, or re-issuance of the license in case of loss or misplacement is as follows:
  • The trader only needs to submit the documents related to the content that needs to be amended or supplemented, as listed by the relevant authority.
  • The time for amendments, supplements, or re-issuance should not exceed the original processing time for issuing the import-export business license.
  • If the amendment, supplement, or re-issuance is denied, the ministry or authorized agency must provide a written response, stating the reasons for the refusal.

6. Key Industry Codes for Import and Export Business

Below are some standard industry codes associated with import and export business operations:

These codes help businesses align their activities with the correct industry classification for regulatory compliance and operational management.

Note:

• Depending on the type of goods and the business sector of the company involved in import and export activities, the industry codes listed above must be registered along with the relevant business sector codes.
• Additionally, businesses engaged in import and export must register all relevant industry codes to avoid the need for supplementary industry registrations later on.

This is the advisory information provided by Viet My Law and Accounting regarding the process of obtaining an import and export business license. If you have any further questions or need detailed consultation on other services, feel free to contact us for prompt assistance.

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