Does opening a customs brokerage agent require business registration in Vietnam?

Does opening a customs brokerage agent require business registration in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 20 of the Customs Law 2014, requirements for a customs broker are as follows:

a/ There is a business registration certificate or an enterprise registration certificate, in which operation of good forwarding or customs brokers is stated;

b/ There are employees in charge of customs brokerage services (hereinafter referred to as customs employees);

c/ There is information technology infrastructure satisfying the requirements for making e-customs declaration and other requirements as prescribed.

Thus, in order to open a customs brokerage agent in Vietnam, you need to register to establish an enterprise with a business line of good forwarding or customs brokers.

What does application for recognition of customs brokerage agent in Vietnam comprise?

Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 6 of Circular 12/2015/TT-BTC as amended by Clause 4, Article 1 of Circular 22/2019/TT-BTC, any enterprise that satisfies the conditions specified in clause 1 Article 20 of the Law on Customs shall make an application for recognition of customs brokerage agent and send it to the General Department of Customs. The application shall include:

a) A notification of eligibility for operation as a customs brokerage agent using the form No. 04 enclosed herewith: 01 original; 

b) An application for customs broker’s number according to the regulations in clause 1 Article 9 of this Circular.

Best Regards!