My name is Nguyen Tran Thien Ton. I am confused about whether the Business Registration Certificate and Business License are different or if they are the same. I look forward to receiving answer.
The confusion between the Certificate of Business Registration and the Business License in Vietnam is not uncommon. Most people assume these two documents are the same and that they are issued upon the establishment of a new business, but this is not the case. To distinguish between these two types of licenses, let’s refer to the table below:
Criteria | Certificate of Business Registration | Business License |
Definition | A document or electronic record issued by the Business Registration Authority to a business, containing information about the business registration | A type of license issued to a business operating in a conditional industry or profession. Typically granted after the Certificate of Business Registration. |
Issuance Conditions |
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Validity Period | Depends on the existence of the business or the decision of the main investor or business owner. This content is not reflected in the Certificate of Business Registration. | Stated in the Business License. This duration, whether long or short, depends on the state authority's issuance. Typically can last from several months to several years. |
State Authority's Right | If all valid documents are in order, the State must issue the Certificate of Business Registration. | Even with valid documents and fulfilled conditions, the state authority may still refuse to issue in order to ensure public interest, national defense, and national security. |
Thus, it is clear that these two licenses are completely different. A business may simultaneously possess a Certificate of Business Registration and a Business License when established and if its business lines are conditional professions.
The above content is regulated in detail in the 2014 Enterprise Law.
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