Decree No. 31/2025/NĐ-CP amends and supplements certain articles of Decree No. 32/2012/NĐ-CP dated April 12, 2012, of the Government on the management of export and import of cultural goods not for business purposes.

DECREE

Amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 32/2012/NĐ-CP dated April 12, 2012 of the Government on management of export and import of cultural goods not for business purposes

   Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the State Administration dated June 19, 2015; the Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Organization of the State Administration and the Law on Organization of Local Administration dated November 22, 2019;

   Pursuant to the Cultural Heritage Law dated June 29, 2001; the Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Cultural Heritage Law dated June 18, 2009;

   Pursuant to the Customs Law dated June 23, 2014;

   Pursuant to the Cinema Law dated June 15, 2022;

   At the proposal of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

   The Government promulgates this Decree amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 32/2012/NĐ-CP dated April 12, 2012 of the Government on management of export and import of cultural goods not for business purposes.

Article 1. Amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 32/2012/NĐ-CP dated April 12, 2012 of the Government on management of export and import of cultural goods not for business purposes

1. Amend and supplement Article 1 as follows:

"Article 1. Scope of Regulation

1. This Decree stipulates the management of activities related to export and import of cultural goods not for business purposes.

2. Procedures for temporary export and re-import, procedures for temporary import and re-export of cultural goods not for business purposes shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of laws on foreign trade management.

2. Amending and supplementing Article 3 as follows:

"Article 3. Explanation of terms

In this Decree, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Exporting cultural goods not for business purposes means the act of sending cultural goods out of the territory of Vietnam or into special areas located within the territory of Vietnam, which are considered as separate customs zones under the law, for exclusive use, gift, inheritance, exhibition, display, competition, exchange cooperation, seminar, festival, aid, dissemination, professional work, research, or other non-commercial purposes.

2. Importing cultural goods not for business purposes means the act of bringing cultural goods into the territory of Vietnam from abroad or from special areas located within the territory of Vietnam, which are considered as separate customs zones under the law, for exclusive use, gift, inheritance, exhibition, display, competition, exchange cooperation, seminar, festival, aid, dissemination, professional work, research, or other non-commercial purposes.

3. Cultural goods include:

a) Audio and video recordings of performing arts;

b) Audio and video recordings made during film production in Vietnam by foreign organizations and individuals;

c) Works of fine art, applied art works, photographic works;

d) Antiquities, relics.

3. Amend and supplement Clause 2 of Article 4 as follows:

"2. Individuals and organizations exporting or importing cultural goods that are antiquities or relics shall comply with the provisions of this Decree and the Law on Cultural Heritage."

4. Amending and supplementing Clause 2 of Article 6 as follows:

"2. The Prime Minister decides to permit central ministries and agencies to import types of cultural goods specified in Clause 1 of this Article for professional work or research purposes when necessary. The head of the agency importing cultural goods must manage and use them in accordance with the provisions of the law."

5. Amending and supplementing Article 7 as follows:

"Article 7. Export of cultural products not for business purposes

1. Individuals and organizations exporting cultural products that have been legally produced, published, disseminated, and circulated in Vietnam shall only handle customs procedures in accordance with the laws on customs, except where otherwise provided by law. Based on the provisions of the law on risk management in customs operations, the customs authority handling the export procedures may request the competent state agency specified in Clause 3 of this Article to conduct specialized inspections of cultural products.

2. The specialized inspection records and seals of exported cultural products according to the forms attached as Appendix II to this Decree serve as the basis for the customs authority to process export procedures for cultural products.

3. The competent authority receiving the Notification of Import of Cultural Products not for Business Purposes as stipulated in Article 8 of this Decree has the authority to conduct specialized inspections and seal cultural products for export for cultural products within its jurisdiction upon the request of the customs authority or individuals and organizations.

4. For cultural products that are antiques and artifacts, they must be subject to specialized inspections by the specialized cultural agencies under the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities (hereinafter referred to as provincial level) before export.

5. Individuals and organizations proposing specialized inspections of cultural products prior to export shall submit directly one set of specialized inspection application files at the office of the competent authority specified in Clause 3 of this Article. The specialized inspection application file for cultural products includes:

a) The specialized inspection application form for exported cultural products according to Appendix I attached to this Decree;

b) The cultural product proposed for specialized inspection;

c) A copy of the decision permitting the export of antiques and artifacts issued by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

d) A copy of the accompanying documents for verification against the original or a certified copy of relevant documents proving the legitimate origin and source of antiques and artifacts.

6. The maximum time for specialized inspection of cultural products shall not exceed 12 days from the date of receipt of complete files as stipulated in Clause 5 of this Article.

In cases where the files do not comply with the provisions of Clause 5 of this Article, within two working days from the date of receipt of the files, the competent state agency conducting specialized inspections of cultural products shall request individuals and organizations to perfect the files.

Individuals and organizations shall receive the specialized inspection records and seals of exported cultural products along with the cultural products that have been inspected and sealed at the office of the specialized inspection agency.

6. AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING ARTICLE 8 AS FOLLOWS:

"Article 8. Competent Authority to Receive Notifications of Import of Cultural Products Not for Business Purposes

1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall receive Notifications of Import of Cultural Products of individuals and organizations in cases where cultural products are intended for exchange cooperation, aid; participation in exhibitions, contests, and festivals at national and regional levels.

2. The specialized cultural agencies under the People's Committees of provinces shall receive Notifications of Import of Cultural Products of individuals and organizations in the following cases:

a) Cultural products for serving the work of individuals and organizations with purposes other than those specified in Clause 1 of this Article;

b) Cultural products as gifts exceeding the tax-free value limit prescribed by law;

c) Cultural products for participation in exhibitions, contests, and festivals; circulation and dissemination locally.

6 ||| 7. Amend and supplement Article 9 as follows:

"Article 9. Procedure for Notifying the Importation of Cultural Products Not for Business Purposes

1. Individuals and organizations importing cultural products in cases prescribed in Article 8 of this Decree shall submit one set of notification documents for the importation of cultural products not for business purposes through one of the following methods: directly, via postal service, via electronic environment, or via the National Single Window Portal to the competent state agency as prescribed in Article 8 of this Decree.

2. The notification documents for the importation of cultural products include:

a) Notification of the importation of cultural products according to Appendix III attached to this Decree;

b) One color photograph of the front and center of the cultural product; for sculptural works, supplement one photograph of each side: left, right, and back of the work, with annotations, the smallest size being 13 x 18 cm, printed on paper or recorded on mobile storage devices (for direct submission or submission via postal service) or digital format images (for submission via electronic environment or via the National Single Window Portal). A certified detailed transcript of the content for audio or video recordings using foreign languages;

c) Copy of the consignment note or receipt of goods (if any).

3. The competent state agency prescribed in Article 8 of this Decree, upon receiving the Notification, shall be responsible for checking the content of the cultural products according to Clause 1 of Article 6 of this Decree and immediately issue a Receipt for Notification of Importation of Cultural Products to the person submitting the documents according to Appendix IV attached to this Decree.

4. In case of discovering cultural products prohibited from export or import as prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 6 of this Decree, within two working days from the date of receiving the complete application file, the competent state agency prescribed in Article 8 of this Decree shall send the Customs authority and individuals, organizations a Notification to Stop Importing Cultural Products according to Appendix V attached to this Decree.

8. Amending and supplementing Article 10 as follows:

"Article 10. Procedure for Issuing Permits for the Importation of Antiquities and Artifacts Not for Business Purposes

1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issues permits for the importation of antiquities and artifacts for exhibition and display in museums.

2. The specialized cultural agencies under the People's Committees of provinces issue permits for the importation of antiquities and artifacts of individuals and organizations at the local level that do not fall under the cases prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Individuals and organizations importing antiquities and artifacts shall submit one set of application documents for the issuance of importation permits through one of the following methods: directly, via postal service, via electronic environment, or via the National Single Window Portal to the competent authority issuing permits as prescribed in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article.

4. The application documents for the issuance of permits for the importation of antiquities and artifacts include:

a) Application form for the issuance of permits for the importation of antiquities and artifacts according to Appendix VI attached to this Decree;

b) One color photograph of the antiquity or artifact, with annotations, the smallest size being 13 x 18 cm, printed on paper or recorded on mobile storage devices (for direct submission or submission via postal service) or digital format images (for submission via electronic environment or via the National Single Window Portal);

c) Certified copy (for submission via electronic environment, via postal service, or via the National Single Window Portal) or copy with original for comparison (for direct submission) Export Certificate for antiquities and artifacts from abroad or document permitting the removal of antiquities and artifacts beyond the national border;

d) Certified copy (for submission via electronic environment, via postal service, or via the National Single Window Portal) or copy with original for comparison (for direct submission) of the authorization document for the importation procedures of antiquities and artifacts; purchase contract or delivery record of purchased products or commitment of lawful ownership for antiquities and artifacts;

đ) Copy of the consignment note or receipt of goods (if any).

5. The competent authority issuing permits prescribed in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article must check the application documents, issue a Receipt and schedule the time for issuing the Permit when receiving the application documents. If the application documents for the issuance of permits for the importation of antiquities and artifacts do not comply with the provisions of Clause 4 of this Article, within two working days from the date of receiving the application documents, the competent authority issuing permits shall request individuals and organizations to supplement the application documents.

6. Within two working days from the date of receiving the complete application documents, the competent authority issuing permits prescribed in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article shall issue the Permit; if the Permit is not issued, there must be a document stating the reasons; if opinions of relevant ministries, sectors, or agencies are required, the deadline prescribed in this clause may be extended but not exceeding ten days.

7. The competent authority issuing permits prescribed in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article shall deliver the Permit to individuals and organizations through one of the following methods: directly, via postal service, via electronic environment, or via the National Single Window Portal.

8. The Permit for the importation of antiquities and artifacts according to the model at Appendix VII attached to this Decree is valid for sixty days from the date of issuance.

9. Amend and supplement some contents of Article 11 as follows:

a) Amend and supplement Clause 1 as follows:

"1. The Receipt for Notification of Importation of Cultural Products without the Notification to Stop Importing Cultural Products from the competent state agency or the Permit for Importing Antiquities and Artifacts serves as the basis for the Customs authority to process the importation of cultural products."

b) Amend and supplement the introductory paragraph of Clause 2 as follows:

"2. The Customs authority shall process the importation of cultural products in the following cases without requiring a Permit for Importing Antiquities and Artifacts or a Notification of Importing Cultural Products."

c) Amending and supplementing Clause 3 as follows:

"3. Based on the provisions of the law on risk management in customs operations, the Customs authority processing the importation shall request the specialized inspection agency of cultural products prescribed in Clause 3 of Article 7 of this Decree to inspect the imported cultural products prescribed in Clause 2 of this Article. The inspection report and sealing of the imported cultural products serve as the basis for the Customs authority to handle the importation procedures. The maximum time for inspecting imported cultural products is twelve days from the date of receiving the application documents provided by the Customs authority."

10. Amend and supplement Article 12 as follows:

"Article 12. Cultural products imported by individuals and organizations enjoying diplomatic privileges and immunities

Individuals and organizations in Vietnam receiving cultural products imported by individuals and organizations enjoying diplomatic privileges and immunities for circulation and dissemination in Vietnam must complete the procedures for Notification of Import of Cultural Products at the competent state agency as prescribed in Article 8 of this Decree."

Article 2. Attached to this Decree are the annexes

1. Annex I: Application for specialized inspection of exported cultural products not for business purposes.

2. Annex II: including Form No. 01: Specialized Inspection Report and Sealing of Exported Cultural Products Not for Business Purposes; Form No. 02: Sealing Form for Exported Cultural Products Not for Business Purposes.

3. Annex III: Notification of Import of Cultural Products Not for Business Purposes (except relics and antiques).

4. Annex IV: Receipt of Notification of Import of Cultural Products Not for Business Purposes (except relics and antiques).

5. Annex V: Notification of Suspension of Import of Cultural Products Not for Business Purposes (except relics and antiques).

6. Annex VI: Application for Permit to Import Relics and Antiques Not for Business Purposes.

7. Annex VII: Permit to Import Relics and Antiques Not for Business Purposes.

This Circular takes effect from December 25, 2025/.

1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to guide and organize the implementation of this Decree.

2. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees under central cities shall be responsible for implementing this Decree.

Article 4. Implementation provisions

1. This Decree takes effect from April 12, 2025.

2. Individuals and organizations that have submitted applications for permits to import cultural products (except relics and antiques) in accordance with Decree No. 32/2012/NĐ-CP and up to the date when this Decree comes into effect without having received an Import Permit shall be allowed to import cultural products, except where the competent state authority has issued a Notification of Suspension of Import of Cultural Products in accordance with this Decree.