Procedure for initial registration of vessels not yet operated on inland waterways in Vietnam from March 1, 2025

Procedure for initial registration of vessels not yet operated on inland waterways in Vietnam from March 1, 2025​ (Image from Internet)

On February 7, 2025, the Minister of Transport promulgated Decision 120/QD-BGTVT announcing amended and supplemented administrative procedures in the field of inland waterways under the management authority of the Ministry of Transport.

Procedure for initial registration of vessels not yet operated on inland waterways in Vietnam from March 1, 2025

The first-time registration procedure for undeployed inland waterway vessels is guided by the Ministry of Transport in Decision 120/QD-BGTVT in 2025 as follows:

(1) Execution Order:

- Submitting Application Dossier: Organizations and individuals submit application dossiers to the vehicle registration agency:

+ The Vietnam Inland Waterways Agency and regional Inland Waterways Sub-departments organize and conduct registration for vessels with VR-SB registration of organizations and individuals.

+ Departments of Transport of provinces and central-affiliated cities:

++  Register  vessels  with  VR-SB  registration,  non-motorized  vessels  with  a  total  carrying  capacity  of  over  15  tons,  motorized  vessels  with  a  main  engine  total  power  over  15  horsepower,  vessels  carrying  over  12  people  of  organizations  and  individuals  with  headquarters  or  permanent  household  registration  in  that  province  or  central-affiliated city.

++  Organize  and  conduct  registration  for  vehicles  within  the  registration  authority  of  district  and  commune-level  traffic  management  agencies.

+ District-level Traffic Management Agencies:

++  Register  motorized  vessels  with  a  main  engine  total  power  from  05  horsepower  to  15  horsepower  or  a  carrying  capacity  from  05  to  12  people  from  organizations  and  individuals  with  headquarters  or  permanent  household  registration  in  their  managed  area.

++  Organize  and  conduct  registration  for  vessels  under  commune-level  registration  authority.

+ Commune-level authorities register non-motorized vessels with a total carrying capacity from 01 ton to 15 tons or a carrying capacity from 05 to 12 people, motorized vessels with a main engine power below 05 horsepower, or a carrying capacity below 05 people from organizations and individuals with headquarters or permanent household registration in their managed area.

- Administrative procedures resolution: The vehicle registration agency receives, checks, and processes the dossier as follows:

+ For dossiers submitted directly, if complete, issue a dossier receipt and return results as per the specified timeline; if incomplete, return and guide organizations and individuals to complete the dossier.

+ For dossiers received via postal system or online public service system, within 02 (two) working days from receipt, the vehicle registration agency checks the dossier; if complete, receives it and notifies the result return schedule; if incomplete, sends a written notice asking organizations or individuals to complete the dossier.

+ Within 03 (three) working days from receipt of a complete dossier and fulfillment of financial obligations by organizations and individuals (if applicable), the registration agency issues a certificate and sends it directly or via postal system or online public service system to the vehicle owner. If not issued, a written response with reasons must be provided.

(2) Method of Execution: Submit directly or via postal system or online public service system.

(3) Components and Quantity of Dossier:

* Dossier Components:

- Documents to submit for storage at the vehicle registration agency:

+ Application for inland waterway vessel registration as prescribed;

+ Receipt of registration fee payment (original or certified copy or certified electronic copy or electronic copy issued from the original record) for vessels subject to registration fee payment;

+ Safety condition declaration of the inland waterway vessel as prescribed for vessels not subject to registry inspection.

- Present or submit original, certified copy, certified electronic copy, or electronic copy issued from the original record for the following documents for the registration agency’s inspection:

+ Valid technical safety and environmental protection certificate for vessels subject to registry inspection;

+ Import permit or vessel declaration according to legal provisions for imported vessels;

+ Sales contract or new building contract for vessels subject to registry inspection;

+ Proof of operational and organizational authorization in Vietnam for foreign organizations or proof of residence in Vietnam for foreign individuals;

+ Financial lease contract in cases where financial lease organizations request registration at the permanent or temporary residence of the lessee.

- When the vessel owner is a facility authorized by law to build, modify, repair, and recover vessels, there is no need to present or submit a sales or new building contract for vessels subject to registry inspection during registration.

* Number of dossiers: 01 set.

(4) Processing Time: 03 (three) working days from receipt of complete dossier and fulfillment of financial obligations by organizations and individuals (if applicable).

(5) Target of administrative procedures execution: Organizations and individuals.

(6) Implementing Agency for administrative procedures:

- Authority with jurisdiction: Vietnam Inland Waterways Agency, Regional Inland Waterways Sub-Departments, Department of Transport, District-level Traffic Management Agencies, Commune-level;

- Authorized or delegated executive authority: None;

- Directly executing administrative procedure agency: Vietnam Inland Waterways Agency, Regional Inland Waterways Sub-Departments, Department of Transport, District-level Traffic Management Agencies, Commune-level;

- Coordinating agency: None.

(7) Outcome of administrative procedures execution​: Inland Waterway Vessel Registration Certificate.

(8) Fees, charges: 70,000 VND/certificate.

(9) Name of form, administrative declaration form; sample result of administrative procedures resolution:

- Inland Waterway Vessel Registration Application;

- Safety condition declaration for inland waterway vessels that must be registered but are not subject to registry inspection;

- Inland Waterway Vessel Registration Certificate.

(10) Requirements, conditions for executing administrative procedures

- Vessels with sufficient dossiers as prescribed will be registered by the vehicle registration agency into the Inland Waterway Vessel Registration Book and issued the Inland Waterway Vessel Registration Certificate.

- When the vessel owner is an individual without permanent household registration but has temporary residence registration at the local area, the registration is conducted similarly to cases with permanent household registration.

More details can be found in Decision 120/QD-BGTVT, effective March 1, 2025.

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