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Commercial Imports


Commercial Imports

Commercial Imports

INDEX                                         

Registration

Prohibited Export Items

Licensing under Specialized Inspection of Goods

Import License

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Requirements

Technical Requirements

Import Declaration

Advance Declaration

Customs Broker

Classification and Value

Payment of Duties

Good Import Under Warehouse Regime

Temporary Imports

Duty Exemptions


 


Registration

If you are an importer wishing to import commercial goods into Viet Nam, you should visit here to register your business and click here to register Customs for your electronics declaration. Before doing this, you are also required to register your Digital Signature to Customs. If you would like to submit your declaration via Single Window please visit Vietnam National Single Window Portal here.

Prohibited Goods

Before importing goods into Vietnam you should ensure that they do not fall into the category of prohibited goods.  Prohibited goods cannot be imported, transited, sold or circulated in Viet Nam. Among prohibited goods are weapons, narcotics, psychotropic substances and hazardous chemical substances.  You should refer to the specific laws and regulations that cover these prohibitions. Click here for the list of goods prohibited from import.

Licensing under Specialized Inspection of Goods

Before importing goods into Viet Nam you should ensure that those goods do not require licensing under the specialized inspection of goods regime. If yes, you have to submit document for licensing or certification then you can submit an e-Declaration. Click here to see list of goods exported and imported under permits and subject to specialized inspection.

Import License 

For certain types of products it is necessary to obtain an import license from the appropriate Ministry(ies). Depending on the product or the Ministry the license can be either automatic (via National Single Window) or non-automatic (manual procedure). If a product is subject to licensing you must proceed with the importation license of the product by submitting the required documentation to the appropriate ministry(ies) before logging your Customs Declaration. Click here to see list of goods exported and imported under permits and subject to specialized inspection.

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Requirements

If the goods you intend to import are subject to sanitary or phyto-sanitary measures you will have to comply with the special regulations relating to those products by submitting an import declaration directly to GDVC first then you have to present to them the Import Certificate of goods under sanitary/phytosanitary or technical measures before clearance.

You can find a list of commodities which are subject to these requirements by using the search facilities on the Measures and Standards page in VTIP, or click here to see the list of goods under specialized inspection.

Normally, you will need to get a permit or certificate from a specific Department of a Ministry depending on what you are intending to import.  A detailed description of the procedures, process maps, forms and documentation required can be found on the Procedures page of VTIP.

VTIP also identifies the SPS/TBT Enquiry Points as required by the WTO SPS Agreement. You can contact the SPS/TBT Enquiry Points if you have any questions regarding sanitary and phyto-sanitary requirements.

Technical Requirements 

For certain types of products it may be necessary to obtain a permit or certificate that certifies that these products conform to certain technical standards of Viet Nam (TCVN). The Directorate of Measures, Metrology and Quality under Ministry of Science and Technology and other related ministries administer these technical regulations.

You can find a list of commodities which are subject to these requirements by using the search facilities on the Measures and Standards page in VTIP, or click here to see the list of goods under specialized inspection. A detailed description of the procedures and documentation required can also be found on the Procedures page of this website.

VTIP also identifies the SPS/TBT Enquiry Points as required by the WTO TBT Agreement. You can contact the SPS/TBT Enquiry Points if you have any questions regarding technical standards applied to goods.

Import Declaration 

All goods imported into Vietnam must be declared to GDVC and duty is payable on them unless they are covered by an exemption or a suspension. An eCustoms Declaration is made by submitting required information via the National Single Window or VNACCS (Vietnam Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System). The eCustoms Declaration must be submitted via VNACCS within 30 days from the date of the arrival of the cargo with information of the transport documents (e.g. Bill of Lading) or 15 days in advance of the shipment’s physical arrival. For more information, please visit GDVC website

You also can submit a duly completed and signed Customs Declaration form together with the following minimum supporting documents:

  • Commercial invoice
  • Bill of Lading or Air Way Bill
  • Packing List (if available)
  • Certificate of Origin. (The exporter should have supplied this to you).
  • Any import licenses or permits obtained from other ministries depending on the type of goods you are importing

Declarations can be submitted at your branch Customs office or check-point Customs offices. Click here to see a list of all the Customs offices where you can submit a declaration and clear your goods.

You can also find the detailed description of procedures, process maps, forms and documentation required for import declarations of goods on the Procedures page of VTIP.

Advance Declaration 

In order to facilitate the process of clearing imports you can submit a pre-arrival Customs Declaration. This can be done within 15 working days prior to the date of arrival of the goods following the same procedures as a normal declaration. However, this requires you to submit the Bill of Lading, which notifies Customs of the loaded cargo. You have to pay the duties at the time of arrival of the goods.

Customs Brokers 

You may engage a Customs Broker to carry out the import formalities on your behalf.  For information pertaining to customs brokers, please click here.

Classification and Value

Customs duty is payable on imported goods as a percentage of their declared value. The rate of duty payable on goods imported into Vietnam varies according to the commodity and the country of origin.  

Commodities are classified using the 8-digit Harmonized System (HS) Code which is maintained and, from time to time, amended by the World Customs Organization (WCO). You can view the full Viet Nam Tariff Classification and Tariff rates on this website with the Search Commodity facility.

It is your responsibility to declare the correct classification, origin, value, quality and quantity of the goods you are importing. If in doubt please seek advice from the Customs Branch Offices or the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

The basis for the calculation of duties is the actual transaction value of the goods (as evidenced by the commercial invoice or other contract of sale document). If the value of the goods cannot be established by this method GDVC will attempt to establish the value of the goods using 5 more methods in line with Article 7 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT 1947).

Payment of Duties

Once a declaration has been submitted and accepted by GDVC you will be required to pay the duties.  Duty payment can be made at a State Treasury or at a bank. At major border posts you will be able to pay duties at a bank nearby.  You will need to present the receipt to Customs in order to receive your clearance.  At other border posts only cash is accepted and you can pay for duties at the Customs cashier of the Customs check-point.

Goods Imported under Bonded Warehouse Regime

Goods can be imported into Viet Nam under the Customs Warehouse Regime if you are not intending to release them for circulation into Viet Nam immediately. Duty will be suspended for the period the goods are in the warehouse and will be payable when the goods are finally released into circulation.

You must submit an import declaration under the Bonded Warehouse Regime when you bring the goods into the warehouse and a normal import declaration when you want to bring them into circulation.

There are two types of warehouse (Bonded Warehouse, Suspension Warehouse). Please refer to the relevant articles of the Vietnam Customs Law for detailed information. Warehouses have to be approved by the General Department of Viet Nam Customs or Ministry of Finance.

Temporary Imports

Goods can be imported under the Temporary Imports regime under the following circumstances:

  • Goods necessary for the manufacture, processing, assembly, transformation or repair of items which will subsequently be re-exported (“inward processing”)
  • Vehicles imported for the purpose of project supervision or for tourism or business visits as long as they are re-exported by the allotted time
  • Materials required for project supervision purposes
  • Exhibition, educational or scientific materials.

For these types of imports you must submit a declaration under Temporary Imports regime. No duties are payable on these imports.

In all the above cases certain documents or permits must be obtained from the relevant authority and presented to GDVC. Before importing goods under this regime please contact GDVC to obtain advice as to what documentation will be required for your specific circumstances.

To import a vehicle into the country for the purpose of a temporary visit you need to make a declaration under the Temporary Imports regime to GDVC at the border crossing. You must present a valid registration certificate for that vehicle.  Vehicles imported under this regime must be re-exported within the allotted timeframe or a penalty will be liable.

For goods imported for re-export purposes a bond is payable to GDVC which is refunded when the goods are re-exported.

Duty Exemptions

Exemption from Customs duties and other obligations are available for diplomatic missions, for goods imported under a government investment promotion scheme or for certain economic zone and for other goods to be imported under certain circumstance. Please contact GDVC to find out what is required to take advantage of these exemptions.

Personal belongings of passengers arriving in Viet Nam are also exempt from Customs duties. For more information, please click here.


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