Tiếng Việt
中文Short answer: A joint stock company may change or add business lines at any time through a notification procedure to the Business Registration Office (not an “application for permission”). For conditional business lines, the company may operate only after fully meeting the conditions and must maintain them throughout operations. The latest procedure follows the current forms issued with Decree No. 168/2025/ND-CP; the processing time limit is 03 working days. Legal basis: the Law on Enterprises 2020 (as amended by Law No. 76/2025/QH15); the Law on Investment 2020; Decree No. 168/2025/ND-CP.
Legal basis
- The Law on Enterprises 2020, as amended and supplemented by Law No. 76/2025/QH15 — freedom of business; procedures for notifying changes to enterprise registration contents;
- The Law on Investment 2020 (as amended by Law No. 57/2024/QH15) — Article 6 (prohibited lines), Article 7 and Appendix IV (conditional lines);
- Decree No. 168/2025/ND-CP on enterprise registration.
Procedures for changing/adding business lines of a joint stock company
Step 1. Identify the lines to change or add
Identify the industry codes under the Vietnam Standard Industrial Classification; check whether the lines fall on the prohibited or conditional list (Appendix IV of the Law on Investment).
Related services
Business Licenses and Conditional Business Sectors
If your business is preparing an application, amendment, business line registration or licensing review, ANT Legal can help check the file and execution path.
Step 2. The General Meeting of Shareholders/Board of Directors adopts
Under the charter’s delegation: adopt the addition, change, or removal of business lines.
Step 3. Notify the Business Registration Office
- A notice of change of business lines in the prescribed form;
- Accompanied by the resolution/decision on the business line change;
- Submitted to the Business Registration Office; the processing time limit is 03 working days.
Step 4. Fulfill the conditions (if conditional lines)
Obtain licenses, practicing certificates, meet statutory capital requirements… before actually operating in those lines.
New points to note
- New forms: follow Decree No. 168/2025/ND-CP — do not use the old forms;
- The list of conditional business lines (Appendix IV of the Law on Investment) is regularly reviewed and trimmed — check the current version;
- Removing lines: conditional business lines no longer operated should be removed to reduce the compliance burden (reporting, maintaining conditions);
- A public joint stock company adding business lines may be subject to information disclosure obligations under securities law.
Notes for conditional business lines
- They may be registered but may be operated only when the conditions are met;
- The conditions must be maintained throughout operations;
- Some lines require statutory capital, practicing certificates, facilities — prepare before applying.
Frequently asked questions
Is operating an unregistered business line penalized?
Administrative penalties in the planning and investment field may apply. The addition procedure should be completed before implementation.
Must the charter be amended when changing business lines?
The charter is not required to list each business line in detail; but if the charter records them, it should be amended for consistency.
Is there a limit on the number of business lines?
No limit; but only lines actually intended to be operated should be registered.
Notes on applying current regulations
The list of conditional business lines and specific conditions change frequently with reform policies; enterprises expanding into new fields should review periodically. Contact an ANT Legal lawyer at 0966.475.966 for a review of business lines and conditions.
Common risks to note
- Operating a new business line before registering the addition;
- Operating a conditional business line without meeting the conditions;
- Applying an outdated list of business lines;
- Failure to maintain business conditions after being licensed.
How ANT Legal can help
ANT Legal advises on industry codes and reviews business conditions; carries out the notification procedure for changing/adding business lines; applies for sectoral licenses. For prompt advice, please contact a lawyer at 0966.475.966.
Related articles
- Adding business lines for a branch
- How to add a conditional business line
- Conditional business lines
- Procedures for registering a change of enterprise name of a joint stock company
- Should you establish a company or a business household in Vietnam?
