Key points
- The law allows 10 working days to issue the IRC from a valid file; most real time is spent preparing documents.
- A foreign investor may set up the company first and obtain the IRC after, but must meet market-access conditions when the company is formed.
- Charter capital must be fully contributed within 90 days of the enterprise registration certificate.
Six main steps
- Discuss and define the projectSector, capital, intended location, investment form, investor nationality.Common pitfall
Unrealistic capital with no financial evidence
- Check conditionsWhether the sector is prohibited or restricted for foreign investors, and whether the project needs investment policy approval.Common pitfall
Wrong sector or business-line code, or not checking market-access conditions before setting up the company
- Choose location and incentivesCompare site options; identify incentives by sector and location to put into the file.Common pitfall
Not identifying incentives in the IRC file, making later additions hard or slow
- Prepare the fileInvestor documents (notarised, legalised, translated), project proposal, site documents.Common pitfall
Foreign documents not notarised, consular-legalised or translated into Vietnamese; the investor bears responsibility if the translation differs from the original (Article 5, Decree 96/2026/ND-CP)
- File and follow upTTK files, tracks, explains and amends as the authority requires.
- Complete post-licence stepsCapital account, capital contribution, tax code, invoices, digital signature, incentive procedures, investment reporting.Common pitfall
Late capital contribution or missed periodic investment reports
The first consultation is free. Briefly describe your sector, capital and intended location.
Statutory timelines
Processing time for the authorities once the file is valid. Document preparation depends on the project; TTK gives a specific estimate at the first discussion.
- Depends on projectPrepare the fileNotarisation, consular legalisation, translation, project proposal, site documents
- 10 working daysInvestment Registration Certificate (IRC)Projects not requiring investment policy approval (Article 39, Decree 96/2026/ND-CP); with policy approval: 5 working days after the decision (Article 38)
- 3 working daysEnterprise Registration Certificate (ERC)From receipt of a valid file (Article 26, Law on Enterprises 2020)
- Within 90 daysFull charter capital contributionFrom the ERC date, through the direct investment capital account
Who prepares what
You provide
- Individual investor: Passport
- Organisation investor: Business registration certificate or equivalent, financial statements; notarised, consular-legalised and translated into Vietnamese
- Evidence of financial capacity
- Lease agreement or arrangement for the site
TTK prepares and handles
- Check whether the sector is prohibited, restricted or subject to market-access conditions for foreign investors
- Determine whether the project needs investment policy approval
- Draft the project proposal: Objectives, scale, total capital, schedule, location
- Prepare investor legal documents and evidence of financial capacity
- File, follow up, explain and amend as the authority requires
- Amend the IRC when capital, investor, location or project objectives change
The file usually includes
- Written request to implement the investment project
- Documents on the investor’s legal status
- Evidence of financial capacity: At least one of, for example, the last two years’ financial statements, a parent-company or financial-institution support commitment, or a financial guarantee
- Project proposal: Investor, objectives, scale, capital, location, term and schedule, labour demand, incentives requested, preliminary environmental impact (if any)
- Copy of land-use rights documents or site lease agreement
- Technology explanation (if the project is subject to technology appraisal)
- BCC contract (if investing under a BCC)
Where to file
- The Industrial Zone Management Board if the project is inside an industrial zone
- The Department of Finance where the project is located if outside an industrial zone (for example in an industrial cluster), or where the executive office is placed if the project spans two or more provinces
- The file is in Vietnamese; foreign-language documents need a Vietnamese translation (Article 5)
- Filing can be done online on the national investment information system
FAQ
What is an IRC and how does it differ from an ERC?
The IRC is the project’s Investment Registration Certificate; the ERC is the company’s Enterprise Registration Certificate. A foreign-invested project usually needs both. Under the 2025 Law on Investment a foreign investor may set up the company first and then apply for the IRC; TTK advises the right order for each project.
How long does it take?
For projects not requiring policy approval, the law sets 10 working days to issue the IRC from a valid file. Real time is longer because of document preparation, legalisation, translation, and whether policy approval is required. TTK gives a specific estimate once it knows your project.
I am abroad. Can this be done remotely?
Most work can be done remotely through valid authorisation. Some steps may need the investor or representative to attend or sign; TTK tells you in advance.
Is the first consultation free?
Yes. The first discussion about your project (sector, location, incentives, procedural steps) is free of charge. When you need TTK to prepare the files, TTK quotes in writing, itemised.
This website is operated by TTK Vietnam Joint Stock Company and is not a government information portal. Content is for reference only; TTK confirms against current regulations for each project.