The Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) in Vietnam

The Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) is the first key approval for most foreign investment projects in Vietnam. It records the project before the company itself is formed.

When an IRC is required

A foreign investor generally needs an IRC before setting up a company or implementing a project in Vietnam. The IRC records the investor, project objectives, business lines, capital, location and duration.

Documents and authority

The application typically includes the investor's corporate documents (consular-legalised), financial capacity evidence, a project proposal and a location/lease. It is filed with the provincial Department of Planning and Investment or the industrial-zone authority. Processing is around 15 working days from a complete file, longer for projects needing in-principle approval.

IRC then ERC

After the IRC, the investor obtains the Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC) to create the legal entity, then completes post-licensing steps (seal, direct investment capital account, tax registration). The IRC and ERC together establish a foreign-invested enterprise.

Frequently asked questions

Do all foreign investors need an IRC?

Most do before establishing a company or project; some capital-contribution/share-purchase transactions follow a different route.

How long does the IRC take?

About 15 working days from a complete file; longer if in-principle approval is required.

Is the IRC the same as the company registration?

No. The IRC licenses the project; the ERC creates the legal entity afterwards.

How LTV Law helps

LTV Law prepares and files IRC and ERC applications and completes post-licensing steps. See our company-formation guide or contact our team.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.