Circular No. 03/2025/TT-BNG amending, supplementing, and abolishing certain Articles of Circular No. 10/2005/TT-BNG dated May 19, 2005, issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs guiding certain provisions of Decree No. 06/2005/NĐ-CP dated January 19, 2005, of the Government on the establishment and operation of Representative Offices (ROs) of foreign cooperation and research organizations in Vietnam.

CIRCULAR

Amending, supplementing, and abolishing certain Articles of Circular No. 10/2005/TT-BNG dated May 19, 2005, issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs guiding certain provisions of Decree No. 06/2005/NĐ-CP dated January 19, 2005, of the Government on the establishment and operation of representative offices of foreign cooperation and research organizations in Vietnam.

---------------

Pursuant to Decree No. 06/2005/NĐ-CP dated January 19, 2005, of the Government on the establishment and operation of representative offices of foreign cooperation and research organizations in Vietnam;

Pursuant to Decree No. 28/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 24, 2025 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

The Minister of Foreign Affairs issues this Circular delegating authority for issuing, extending, amending, supplementing, reissuing, suspending, terminating operations, and revoking Certificates of Operation and Certificates of Representative Office Registration for foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs issues this Circular amending, supplementing, and abolishing certain Articles of Circular No. 10/2005/TT-BNG dated May 19, 2005, issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs guiding certain provisions of Decree No. 06/2005/NĐ-CP dated January 19, 2005, of the Government on the establishment and operation of representative offices (ROs) of foreign cooperation and research organizations in Vietnam.

Article 1. Amending, supplementing, and abolishing certain Articles of Circular No. 10/2005/TT-BNG dated May 19, 2005, issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs guiding certain provisions of Decree No. 06/2005/NĐ-CP dated January 19, 2005, of the Government on the establishment and operation of representative offices of foreign cooperation and research organizations in Vietnam (Circular No. 10/2005/TT-BNG)

1. Amending Clause 5 Section II of Circular No. 10/2005/TT-BNG as follows:

“5. Regarding revocation of the License:

The License for establishing ROs will be revoked in the following cases: Activities not in accordance with the contents recorded in the issued License; violation of the provisions of the Decree; violation of Vietnamese laws; program/project terminating before the scheduled time.”

2. Amending Clause 1 Section III of Circular No. 10/2005/TT-BNG as follows:

“1. Foreign cooperation and research organizations requesting to establish ROs, amend, supplement, and extend Licenses must submit three (3) sets of application files according to the provisions at Section II, Clause 4 of this Circular and directly submit them to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The agency receiving the files must maintain a record and issue a receipt when receiving complete and valid files.”

3. Abolishing Clause 3 Section IV of Circular No. 10/2005/TT-BNG.

4. Amending some Points of Section V of Circular No. 10/2005/TT-BNG as follows:

a) Amending Point b Clause 1 as follows:

“b) The Head of the RO and staff members of the office who are foreigners shall enjoy tax benefits according to current Vietnamese laws applicable to international organization representative offices in Vietnam.”

b) Amending Point a Clause 2 as follows:

“a) The Head of the RO is responsible for complying with the provisions set out in Article 14 of the Decree. The RO is responsible for implementing regular reporting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant Vietnamese management agencies.”

Article 2. Supplementing Section VIa after Section VI as follows

“VIa. REGULAR REPORTING SYSTEM

1. Report Name:

a) For ROs of foreign cooperation and research organizations: Report on the implementation of activities in Vietnam for the first six months/year (report year).

b) For Vietnamese management agencies: Report on cooperation and management of ROs of foreign research and cooperation organizations for the year (report year).

2. Content of the report: Outline according to Model 03/BNG-RO and Model 04/BNG-RO as guided in the Appendix attached to this Circular.

3. Reporting entities: Vietnamese management agencies report according to Model 03/BNG-RO, foreign research and cooperation organizations report according to Model 04/BNG-RO as guided in the Appendix attached to this Circular.

4. Receiving agencies:

a) ROs of foreign research and cooperation organizations send reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese management agencies.

b) Vietnamese management agencies send reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

5. Methods of sending and receiving reports:

a) Through the Document and Management System;

b) Through the Information Reporting System of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs connected to the National Information Reporting System established by the Office of the Government;

c) Through the Email System;

d) Other methods as prescribed by law.

6. Deadline for ROs of foreign cooperation and research organizations and Vietnamese management agencies to submit regular reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: no later than the 20th day of the last month of the reporting period.

7. Frequency of reporting:

a) ROs of foreign cooperation and research organizations submit regular reports every six months and annually;

b) Vietnamese management agencies submit regular annual reports.

8. Time frame for closing report data:

a) Six-monthly report: From December 15 of the previous reporting year to June 14 of the reporting year.

b) Annual report: From December 15 of the previous reporting year to December 14 of the reporting year.

9. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese management agencies may request ROs of foreign cooperation and research organizations to submit ad hoc reports. The time frame for closing report data and submission deadline shall be carried out according to the requirements of the requesting agency.”

Article 3. The Circular hereby promulgates the templates of documents to be used in the establishment and operation of representative offices of foreign cooperation and research organizations in Vietnam.

1. Template 01/BNG-VPĐD: Application for permission to establish a representative office of a foreign cooperation and research organization in Vietnam.

2. Template 02/BNG-VPĐD: Permit for establishing a representative office of a foreign research and cooperation organization in Vietnam.

3. Template 03/BNG-VPĐD: Outline of periodic reports from the Vietnamese supervisory agency.

4. Template 04/BNG-VPĐD: Outline of periodic reports from the representative office of a foreign cooperation and research organization in Vietnam.

Article 4. Implementation provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from July 28, 2025.

2. Permits for establishing representative offices of foreign cooperation and research organizations in Vietnam issued before this Circular takes effect shall remain valid until their expiration date as stated on the permit. When procedures for amending, supplementing, or extending the permit are carried out, based on meeting the conditions stipulated, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will issue a permit for establishing a representative office in Vietnam of foreign cooperation and research organizations according to Template 02/BNG-VPĐD attached to this Circular.

3. During implementation, if new issues arise or difficulties occur, it is requested that relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals promptly report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for study and amendment.

 

Template 01/BNG-VPĐD

 

APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO ESTABLISH A REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE OF A FOREIGN COOPERATION AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATION IN THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Respected Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Based on Decree No.../NĐ-CP dated.../.../... of the Government regarding the establishment and operation of representative offices of foreign cooperation and research organizations in Vietnam;

Based on Circular No.../TT-BNG dated.../.../... of the Minister of Foreign Affairs guiding certain provisions of Decree No.../NĐ-CP dated.../.../... of the Government regarding the establishment and operation of representative offices of foreign cooperation and research organizations in Vietnam;

Based on other relevant documents (if any);

The organization..., nationality..., respectfully requests the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue a permit for establishing a representative office in Vietnam with the following information:

1. Organization name:

- Full name:

- Abbreviated name:

2. Certificate of establishment or decision on establishment of the organization (No...issued by the ministry, department, local government of...on...);

- Nationality:

3. Address of headquarters abroad:

- Telephone:

- Website:

- Email:

4. Summary of organizational development:

- Date of establishment:

- Purpose and objectives:

- Fields of activity:

- Areas where activities have been conducted globally and regionally:

5. Capital and financial capacity:

6. Activities in Vietnam:

- Expected duration:

- Scope of activities:

- Planned programs/projects in Vietnam:

- Vietnamese partner agency:

7. Estimated number of foreign and Vietnamese staff:

- Number of foreign staff:

- Number of Vietnamese staff:

8. Information about the organization's representative in Vietnam:

- Date of birth:

- Full name:

- Passport number:

- Nationality:

- Position:

9. Information about the field and industry code of operations* and the expected operating area in Vietnam:

10. Proposed address of the representative office in Vietnam:

11. Clearly state the request to establish a representative office:

12. Commitment to comply with laws in implementing activities in Vietnam:

(*) Field and industry code of operations: classified according to the Vietnam Economic Sector Classification System issued pursuant to the Prime Minister's Decision.

Representative of the organization

 

Hanoi, on the...day of the...month of the...year

 

LICENSE

- Based on Decree No.../NĐ-CP dated.../.../... of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

- Based on Decree No.../NĐ-CP dated.../.../... of the Government regarding the establishment and operation of representative offices of foreign cooperation and research organizations in Vietnam;

- (Other relevant legal normative documents, directives);

- Based on the opinion of: Ministry.../Provincial People's Committee...;

- Considering the proposal of the organization...;

- Upon the proposal of the organization ...;

DECISION:

 

Form 03/BNG-VPĐD

 

REPORT

On the situation of cooperation and management of activities of foreign cooperative and research organizations in Vietnam in...

Based on Decree No.../NĐ-CP dated.../.../... of the Government regarding the establishment and operation of representative offices of foreign cooperation and research organizations in Vietnam;

I. SITUATION OF COOPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN COOPERATIVE AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS IN VIETNAM IN...

1. List of cooperation agreements signed by the competent authority with foreign cooperative and research organizations in Vietnam during the year, accompanied by copies of these agreements

2. List of activities that the authority has implemented and is implementing in cooperation with such organizations as attached in the table

3. Information on the implementation of tax incentives and other incentives (if any) granted to the organizations

4. Information on the performance of state management responsibilities by the competent authority and other relevant state agencies

5. Comments on the mechanism of coordination among relevant agencies in managing the activities of foreign cooperative and research organizations; recommendations for solutions

6. Specify organizations with complex activities and measures taken (specifically the activities of those organizations)

7. Other contents required by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (if any)

II. EVALUATION

1. State advantages and difficulties in the process of cooperation and management of activities of foreign cooperative and research organizations in Vietnam

2. Value and effectiveness of cooperative activities

3. Evaluation of the effectiveness of organizational activities

4. Issues to note regarding the exercise of rights and fulfillment of obligations by foreign cooperative and research organizations according to regulations

III. PLAN FOR WORK IN...

1. Activities committed by foreign research and cooperative organizations and priority activities of ministries and sectors

2. Matters to note and specific measures proposed for cooperation and management of activities of foreign cooperative and research organizations

IV. RECOMMENDATIONS

1. To the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related agencies

2. Proposals for measures to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation and management of activities of foreign cooperative and research organizations./.

 

STATISTICAL REPORT ON COOPERATION ACTIVITIES WITH FOREIGN COOPERATIVE AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS IN VIETNAM

(Attached to Circular No... dated...month... year... of...)

Unit of measurement: USD

Note: Unified budget calculated in US dollars (USD) (including in-kind support).

* Explanation of terms:

(4), (5): Field of activity: classified according to the Vietnam Economic Sector Classification System issued together with the Prime Minister's Decision.

 

Form 04/BNG-VPĐD

 

REPORT

On the Implementation of Activities in Vietnam in the First Six Months of...

1. List of cooperation agreements signed with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and local authorities in Vietnam during the year, accompanied by copies of these agreements

2. Activities carried out during the year (statistical table attached)

3. Data on the scale, number of individuals and organizations benefiting, products of the activities

4. Data on sources and funding for the activities

5. Data on the budget transferred to Vietnamese partners by the organization (if applicable)

6. Plan and estimated funds for activities in Vietnam next year, detailed by each activity

7. Data on personnel of the organization

8. Compliance with obligations and responsibilities to ensure the operation of the representative office, dependents, and accompanying persons of the organization's staff

9. Issues to note in exercising rights and fulfilling obligations as prescribed

10. Advantages, difficulties encountered during the implementation of activities and recommendations

11. Evaluation of the effectiveness of implemented activities

12. Other contents required by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (if any)

 

STATISTICAL REPORT ON COOPERATION ACTIVITIES WITH THE VIETNAMESE COMPETENT AUTHORITY

(Attached to Document No... dated...month... year... of...)

(Unit of measurement: USD)

Note: Unified budget calculated in US dollars (USD) (including in-kind support).

* Explanation of terms:

(4), (5): Field of activity: classified according to the Vietnam Economic Sector Classification System issued by the Prime Minister.