Application for grant of an operation registration certificate for non-governmental organizations in Vietnam

According to Article 6 of Decree No. 12/2012/ND-CP of Vietnam’s Government, a foreign non-governmental organization wishing to operate in Vietnam must:

- Have the legal person status under the law of the country in which it is established;

- Have a clear operation charter and guidelines;

- Have a plan on humanitarian and development activities in Vietnam through programs, projects or non-project aids in line with socio-economic development policies of the Vietnamese State.

A foreign non-governmental organization applying for an operation registration certificate shall submit a dossier (a dossier in a foreign language must be enclosed with a lawfully certified Vietnamese translation) directly, by post or through a foreign-based Vietnamese representative mission to the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs. A dossier comprises:

- The foreign non-governmental organization's application signed by a competent person, to the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs, containing the following details:

+ Full and abbreviated names of the organization, address of its head office.

+ Operation guidelines and objectives.

+ Summary of the organization's history and development.

+ Funding sources and capacity.

+ Programs, projects and/or operation plan in Vietnam.

+ Commitment to strictly observing Vietnamese law and respecting traditional customs and practices of Vietnam.

- A copy of the foreign non-governmental organization's charter which is consularly legalized, unless otherwise provided by a treaty which Vietnam has signed or acceded to.

- The original or a certified copy of the legal status certificate issued by a competent authority of the country in which the organization is established or headquartered, which is consularly legalized, unless otherwise provided by a treaty which Vietnam has signed or acceded to.

- Within 45 (forty five) working days after receiving a complete and valid dossier, the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs shall notify in writing the result to the concerned foreign non­governmental organization.

Within 45 (forty five) working days after receiving a complete and valid dossier, the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs shall notify in writing the result to the concerned foreign non­governmental organization.

Note: If being approved to obtain an operation registration certificate, a foreign non­governmental organization shall send the application signee to receive the operation registration certificate directly at the office of the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs. In case another person is authorized to do so, this person shall produce a letter of authorization and personal paper (passport, identity card, etc.), or the foreign non­-governmental organization may receive the operation registration certificate by post.

More details can be found in Decree No. 12/2012/ND-CP of Vietnam’s Government, which takes effect from June 01, 2012.

Le Vy

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