Establishing an FDI Company in Vietnam in 2026: Process and Documents

Establishing a foreign-invested company involves more than registering a legal entity. Market access, project structure, ownership, location, capital, foreign exchange and sector licences must work together.

Two routes into the market

An investor may establish a new economic organization linked to an investment project or acquire capital in an existing Vietnamese enterprise. A new entity offers structural control; an acquisition requires careful legal, tax and operational due diligence.

Checks before documents are drafted

Review ownership limits, investment form, permitted scope and specialist conditions for the proposed activities. Investor structure, capital, contribution schedule and project location should be supported by realistic evidence.

Registration process

First define the entity type, ownership, representative, activities, location, capital and schedule. Determine whether investment policy approval is required, then complete investment registration where applicable and enterprise registration with consistent information.

Investor documents

Individual investors commonly prepare passports and evidence of financial capacity. Corporate investors generally need incorporation records, constitutional documents, financial statements, investment approvals and representative documents. Foreign-issued documents may require legalization and Vietnamese translation.

Post-licensing work

Set up the appropriate capital account, contribute capital correctly and establish tax, accounting, invoicing, employment and investment-reporting processes. Regulated activities should begin only after the necessary licences or operating conditions are in place.

References

General information as of the update date; it does not replace advice for a specific matter.