What documents are required to establish an FDI company in Vietnam?

Date: 2025.11.04

What Documents Are Required to Establish an FDI Company in Vietnam? (Updated 2025)

Vietnam continues to be an attractive destination for foreign investors, particularly Japanese enterprises, thanks to competitive operating costs, a plentiful labor force, and a growing domestic market. However, to successfully establish a foreign-invested company (FDI) in Vietnam, investors must fully understand the process and prepare the required documentation in accordance with Vietnamese law.

This article outlines the full list of required documents and steps, updated in accordance with the 2020 Investment Law and 2020 Enterprise Law, and applicable through 2025.

1. Key steps to establish an FDI company in Vietnam

Generally, the process involves two main steps:

– Obtaining the Investment Registration Certificate (IRC)
– Obtaining the Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC)

2. Documents for the Investment Registration Certificate (IRC)

This is the mandatory first step for foreign investors who do not yet have a legal entity in Vietnam.

Required documents:

– Application for project implementation (standard form)
– Legal documents of the investor:
* Individual: notarized passport and certified translation
* Organization: Business License/Certificate of Incorporation, Articles of Association (with certified translation)
– Investment proposal detailing scale, objectives, location, capital, timeline, etc.
– Audited financial statements of the last 2 years (for corporate investors)
– Proof of financial capability
– Land use proposal (if any)
– Technology explanation (required for restricted technology projects)
– Power of attorney (if someone is authorized to submit the application)

Processing time: approximately 15 working days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid application

3. Documents for the Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC)

Once the IRC is granted, the investor proceeds to register the enterprise to establish the legal entity in Vietnam.

Required documents:

– Application for enterprise registration (standard form)
– Company charter
– List of members/founding shareholders
– Copies of passports or equivalent legal documents
– Investment Registration Certificate (IRC)
– Power of attorney (if any)
– Professional licenses (if the business activity requires them)

Processing time: approximately 3–5 working days from the date of complete submission

4. Important notes for foreign investors (Updated 2025)

– Conditional business sectors require prior evaluation and approval from relevant ministries (e.g., education, logistics, telecommunications, real estate)

– If the investor is a Japanese company, documents such as the Articles of Association, Business License, and financial reports must be translated and notarized

– Applications can be submitted either directly or online via: National Foreign Investment Portal (dautunuocngoai.gov.vn) and National Business Registration Portal (dangkykinhdoanh.gov.vn)

5. Dedicated services for Japanese businesses

HelpAll has extensive experience in assisting Japanese clients with the FDI registration process in Vietnam. Our services include:

– Industry suitability consulting
– Drafting bilingual application documents (Japanese–Vietnamese)
– Filing and tracking applications on behalf of clients
– Supporting company seal registration, bank account setup, invoicing, social insurance, HR, etc.

Conclusion

Establishing an FDI company in Vietnam is not overly complex if the process is properly understood and followed. Preparing accurate and complete documentation from the start saves time and minimizes legal risks. If you are a Japanese or international investor looking to expand into Vietnam, HelpAll is ready to support you from day one.