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Procedures for Issuing the Audit Services Eligibility Certificate

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1. Which Types of Enterprises May Trade in Audit Services?

Pursuant to Article 20 of the Law on Independent Audit 2011, the following types of enterprises may trade in audit services:

  • Multi-member limited liability companies;
  • Partnership companies;
  • Private enterprises.

Branches of foreign audit enterprises in Vietnam may trade in audit services in accordance with the law. Enterprises and enterprise branches that are not eligible to trade in audit services may not use the phrase “audit” in their names.

Thus, the prerequisite condition is to establish the enterprise in one of the above types before trading in audit services.

2. Dossier for Issuing the Certificate of Eligibility for Audit Services Business

Pursuant to Article 5 of Circular No. 203/2012/TT-BTC (consolidated document 17/VBHN-BTC of 2025), the dossier includes:

  1. The application for the Certificate of eligibility for audit services business (using the form in Appendix I).
  2. A copy of the Business Registration Certificate, Enterprise Registration Certificate, or Investment Certificate.
  3. The list of practicing auditors having full-time labor contracts at the enterprise (using the form in Appendix III).
  4. A copy of the Members’ Council’s Decision appointing the Director (General Director) for LLCs and partnership companies.
  5. A copy of the company charter.
  6. The list of capital-contributing organizations and individuals and the list of partnership members (using the form in Appendix IV), clearly showing: full names, permanent addresses, nationalities, numbers and issuance dates of personal identification documents (ID cards/Citizen ID cards/Citizen cards/Passports), numbers and issuance dates of audit practicing registration certificates (for practicing auditors); names, head offices, and establishment decisions for organizations; contributed capital amounts, paid-up capital values, ownership ratios, and capital contribution deadlines.
  7. Capital confirmation documents for LLCs: newly established enterprises need the capital contribution minutes of the founding members accompanied by the commercial bank’s confirmation of the escrowed amount (for capital contributed in cash) or a valuation certificate (for capital contributed in assets); operating enterprises need the confirmation of another independent audit enterprise regarding the current capital level according to the latest financial statements.

Update note: Clause 4, Article 5 of Circular No. 203/2012/TT-BTC (copy of the audit practicing registration certificates of practicing auditors) has been abolished by Circular No. 22/2024/TT-BTC, effective from 01/7/2024. When preparing the dossier, enterprises should check against the latest consolidated document. In actual dossiers, personal identification documents are now ID cards/CCCD under the Identity Law 2023.

3. Order and Procedures for Issuing the Certificate

Pursuant to Article 7 of Circular No. 203/2012/TT-BTC (consolidated document 17/VBHN-BTC of 2025):

  1. The organization requesting issuance, re-issuance, or adjustment of the Certificate sends one set of dossier to the Ministry of Finance.
  2. Within the time limit prescribed in Clause 1, Article 23 and Clause 3, Article 24 of the Law on Independent Audit, from the date of receipt of the dossier, if there is no request for supplementation or explanation, the Ministry of Finance considers issuing, re-issuing, or adjusting the Certificate; in case of refusal, it must respond in writing and clearly state the reasons.
  3. Where the dossier is invalid, within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier, the Ministry of Finance notifies the organization to complete the dossier.
  4. After 10 working days from the date of receipt of the supplemented or amended dossier, if the Ministry of Finance has no written request for amendment or supplementation, it considers issuing, re-issuing, or adjusting the Certificate within the time limit prescribed in Clause 1, Article 23 and Clause 3, Article 24 of the Law on Independent Audit.
  5. Where supplementation or amendment has been made but still fails to meet requirements, the Ministry of Finance continues to notify the organization to complete the dossier under Clauses 3 and 4 of this Article.

4. Adjusting and Re-issuing the Certificate

The audit enterprise must complete procedures for adjusting the Certificate when there are changes to contents prescribed in Clause 1, Article 8 of Circular No. 203/2012/TT-BTC (consolidated document 17/VBHN-BTC of 2025). The adjustment dossier includes the application (form in Appendix VI), the original Certificate most recently issued, and a report describing in detail the contents proposed for adjustment.

Where the Certificate is lost or damaged, or upon division, separation, merger, consolidation, or conversion of ownership form, the enterprise may request re-issuance; the time limit for completing procedures is 20 days from the date the Certificate is lost or damaged, or from completion of the division, separation, merger, consolidation, or conversion of ownership form.

Contact a Lawyer

Preparing the dossier for the Certificate of eligibility for audit services business requires careful checking of capital conditions, practicing auditor personnel, and forms under the latest consolidated document. For a review of conditions and dossier preparation in compliance with regulations, please contact a lawyer for advice at 0966.475.966.

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