Latest Procedures for Individual Business Registration? How to Pay the Fee?

An individual business registers at the commune-level Business Registration Office of the locality where its head office is located; the dossier comprises the application for individual business registration and the personal legal documents of the individual; the processing time is 03 working days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid dossier. The registration fee level is decided by the provincial-level People’s Council; applicants should check the applicable level in their locality.

1. Where are individual business registration procedures carried out?

Under the two-level local government model (effective from 01/7/2025), the business registration authority system is organized at two levels: provincial level (under the Department of Finance) and commune level. Individual business registration is carried out at the commune-level Business Registration Office of the locality where the individual business is headquartered.

The founder of an individual business submits the dossier directly at the one-stop-shop division of the commune-level People’s Committee of the locality where the individual business is headquartered, or submits online via the Public Service Portal under the locality’s guidance.

2. What does the individual business registration dossier comprise?

The individual business registration dossier follows the individual business registration application form guided by the business registration authority, uniformly under current regulations (Decree 168/2025/ND-CP). The basic dossier components comprise:

• The application for individual business registration (in the prescribed form);
• Legal documents of the individual for the individual business owner, or for household members registering the individual business where household members register the individual business;
• A copy of the minutes of the household members’ meeting on establishing the individual business, where household members register the individual business;
• A copy of the authorization document of household members authorizing one member as the individual business owner, where household members register the individual business.

Within 03 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier, the business registration authority issues the Individual Business Registration Certificate to the individual business. Where the dossier is invalid, the business registration authority must notify in writing the contents requiring amendment or supplementation to the founder of the individual business.

3. What should be noted when registering business lines of an individual business?

When registering an individual business, the individual business declares its business lines according to the Vietnamese economic sector system (4-digit sector codes). For conditional investment business lines, the individual business may only operate when satisfying all conditions under specialized law.

Example: an individual business registering karaoke services must, in addition to the Individual Business Registration Certificate, satisfy conditions on security and order and other conditions under specialized law before commencing operations.

Business lines prohibited from investment are listed in Appendix IV of the Law on Investment — individual businesses may not register or operate these lines.

4. How is the individual business registration fee paid?

The individual business registration fee falls within the group of business registration fees whose specific collection levels are decided by the provincial-level People’s Council on the basis of the framework prescribed by fee and charge law (Circular 85/2019/TT-BTC). Therefore, fee levels may differ among provinces and cities.

Example collection levels in some localities (applicants should check the currently applicable level in their locality before paying):

• In Hanoi: VND 100,000 per time;
• In Ho Chi Minh City: VND 50,000 per time.

Applicants may pay the fee directly at the one-stop-shop division of the commune-level business registration authority when submitting the dossier, transfer as guided by the receiving authority, or pay online via the National Public Service Portal when submitting an electronic dossier.

Notes on applying current legal regulations

This article belongs to the Enterprise & M&A Knowledge group and is presented for reference purposes, helping readers understand the legal issue at an overview level before preparing dossiers or conducting transactions. Legal regulations may vary depending on time, locality, dossier type and specific circumstances. Where it is necessary to determine the exact legal basis applicable to your dossier, please contact an ANT Legal lawyer at 0966.475.966 for review and advice before proceeding.

Common risks to note

• Applying a legal document that has been amended, supplemented or replaced (e.g., forms and procedures under Decree 01/2021 and Circular 01/2021 have expired).
• Submitting the dossier to the wrong competent authority (individual businesses register at the commune-level Business Registration Office, not the provincial level).
• Declaring conditional business lines without satisfying the conditions of specialized law.
• Misunderstanding the conditions, order, time limits or competent authorities.

How can ANT Legal help?

ANT Legal helps review specific situations, check dossiers, identify applicable legal bases, advise on handling options, and represent clients in dealings with individuals, organizations or competent authorities when necessary. For quick advice, please contact our lawyers at 0966.475.966.

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• Principles to ensure when registering an individual business
• Regulations on individual business registration under Vietnamese law
• May an individual stand as owner of more than one individual business?