Checklist: 10 Essential Tasks to Complete Immediately After Receiving an FDI Investment License

Date: 2026.01.05

After receiving the Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) and Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC), many foreign-invested enterprises (FDI) — especially Japanese companies 🇯🇵 — believe that the establishment process is complete.
In reality, this is only the beginning.
To ensure lawful operations, avoid administrative penalties, and comply with investment regulations, companies must promptly complete the 10 important tasks listed below after receiving the investment license.

10 Tasks to complete immediately after receiving the FDI investment license

1. Register the enterprise and obtain the tax code

Right after receiving the IRC, the company must complete enterprise establishment registration (ERC), obtain a tax code, and declare the supervising authorities.
Completing this early ensures full legal status, enabling the company to open bank accounts, sign contracts, and issue invoices.

2. Open an investment capital account and an operating account

FDI companies are required to open a Direct Investment Capital Account (DICA) at a licensed Vietnamese bank.
All foreign investor capital contributions must be transferred through this account to ensure legality.
Additionally, companies should open a VND payment account for operational expenses.

3. Contribute capital on time and in the correct registered amount

By regulation, capital contributions must be completed within 90 days from the ERC issuance date (unless otherwise specified in the IRC).
Failure to contribute sufficient capital on time may result in penalties or require amendments to the investment license.

4. Create and register the corporate seal

The corporate seal still carries legal validity in Vietnam.
Companies must engrave the seal, publish the seal specimen on the National Business Registration Portal, and keep it for use in administrative procedures, banking, and contract signing.

5. Register tax information and electronic invoices

After obtaining a tax code, the company must register:

– The VAT declaration method (credit or direct).
– The electronic invoicing system according to regulations.

This step is essential for issuing invoices and performing lawful tax declarations and deductions.

6. Submit labor reports and register social insurance (SI)

Companies with employees (Vietnamese or foreign) must submit the initial Labor Usage Report and register for social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance.
For foreign workers, companies must additionally apply for a Work Permit or obtain certification of exemption.

7. Establish an accounting system in accordance with Vietnamese Accounting Standards (VAS)

Although many Japanese companies use IFRS or J-GAAP, Vietnam requires financial statements to follow VAS.
Companies must select accounting software, book systems, and document templates that comply with Vietnamese standards to ensure smooth auditing and tax declaration.

8. Prepare and submit periodic investment reports

Under the Investment Law, FDI companies must submit quarterly and annual investment activity reports to the Department of Planning & Investment.
Reports include: implemented capital, revenue, number of employees, tax obligations, environmental activities, R&D, etc.
Failure to submit on time may result in penalties of 20–50 million VND.

9. Review business lines, industry codes, and specialized licenses

Before commencing operations, companies should review the list of registered business lines in their ERC/IRC.
If engaging in trading, import–export, education, logistics, manufacturing, or other regulated areas, additional specialized licenses may be required to avoid penalties for “operating outside the registered scope.”

10. Establish a BackOffice system or outsource support services

From the beginning, companies should build an internal BackOffice function (legal – accounting – HR – tax) or outsource a professional service provider.
This ensures that all legal obligations are completed on time, reduces risk, and optimizes costs for newly established FDI enterprises in Vietnam.

Recommendations for Japanese enterprises

– Prepare bilingual Japanese–Vietnamese documents for contracts, internal procedures, and investment reports.

– Pay attention to reporting deadlines (10th day of the following quarter, March 31 of the following year).

– Have a local expert partner in Vietnam, especially for tax and investment matters.

– Stay updated on new Decrees relating to tax, accounting, labor, and investment.

Completing all 10 tasks immediately after obtaining the FDI investment license not only ensures compliance with Vietnamese law but also establishes a solid foundation for stable operations, transparent auditing, and long-term growth.

With extensive experience supporting Japanese companies and other FDI enterprises in Vietnam, HelpAll provides comprehensive services including legal setup, accounting, tax, HR management, and investment reporting — enabling companies to focus fully on core business activities.