What are procedures for import of non-commercial cars into Vietnam?

What are procedures for import of non-commercial cars into Vietnam? - image from internet

Pursuant to Article 3 of the Circular 20/2014/TT-BTC stipulating conditions on import of automobiles as personal effects as follows:

- Imported automobiles must have been registered for circulation for at least 6 months in the country where the overseas Vietnamese citizen resides or works, and have run a distance of at least 10,000 km by the time of arrival at a Vietnamese port.

- Imported automobiles must satisfy the requirements set in the Government’s Decree No. 187/2013/ND-CP of November 20, 2013, and in the Ministry of Transport’s Circular No. 31/2011/TT- BGTVT of April 15, 2011.

In your case, your family can bring your car from China to Vietnam for personal use, provided that you meet all the aforementioned requirements and your family has already completed the registration of permanent residence in Vietnam.

Procedures for grant of automobile or motorcycle import permits (Article 5 of the Circular 20/2014/TT-BTC)

A dossier of application for an import permit

- Written request for automobile or motorcycle import (with the certification of the permanent residence address by the commune, ward or township police), clearly indicating the vehicle’s mark, model, year of manufacture, country of manufacture, paint color, frame number, engine number, cylinder capacity, state and distance traveled (number of kilometers): 1 original;

- Valid foreign passport (affixed with the immigration certification mark of the immigration office at the border gate, or enclosed with a loose-leaf visa affixed with the immigration certification mark of the immigration office at the border gate, for passports with loose-leaf visas) or foreign passport substitute (affixed with the immigration certification mark of the immigration office at the border gate): 1 certified Vietnamese translation, enclosed with the original for comparison (for subjects prescribed in Clause 1, Article 2 of this Circular);

Or Vietnamese passport (affixed with the immigration certification mark of the immigration office at the border gate): 1 notarized copy enclosed with the original for comparison, and paper proving overseas permanent residence: 1 certified copy enclosed with the original for comparison (for subjects prescribed in Clause 2, Article 2 of this Circular);

- Permanent residence book granted by the police, in which the section “Previous permanent residence” indicates the overseas permanent residence address (transcribed in Vietnamese): 1 notarized copy enclosed with the original for comparison;

- Automobile or motorcycle circulation registration paper or circulation deregistration paper granted by a competent agency of the country where the Vietnamese citizen resides or works: 1 certified Vietnamese translation enclosed with the original for comparison;

- Bill of lading or another shipping document of equivalent validity: 1 original and 1 copy (except for import via land border gate).

Place for submission of dossier:

The provincial-level Customs Department where repatriated overseas Vietnamese citizens have permanent residence addresse. If the province or city where they reside doesn't have a provincial-level Customs Department, they shall send to the Customs Department of the nearest province or city.

Time limit:

Within 7 working days after receiving a complete dossier, to grant an automobile or motorcycle import permit. When verification is needed, this time limit is 15 working days counting from the date of receipt of the dossier. The import permit is valid for 30 days from the date of grant;

Note: When bringing a car to Vietnam, you must complete the procedures for registering it for circulation in Vietnam.

Best regards!