During their operational activities, investors often need to change their address to align with their purposes, business structure, or scale. This change entails the investor updating their address on the Investment Registration Certificate. So, how does Vietnamese law regulate this procedure? Let’s explore this further with VKI through the article below.

Legal Basis:

• Investment Law No. 61/2020/QH14.
• Decree No. 31/2021/NĐ-CP detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Investment Law.

1. Why is it necessary to change the investor’s address on the investment registration certificate?

The investment registration certificate is a document, either in paper or electronic form, that records the registration information of the investor regarding the investment project. Investors can be organizations or individuals engaged in investment and business activities, including domestic investors, foreign investors, and economic organizations with foreign-invested capital.

According to legal regulations, the investment registration certificate includes various information such as: Project name; Investor information; Investment project code; Project implementation location, land use area; Project objectives, scale; Investment capital of the investment project, etc.

In reference to the above regulation, investor information is one of the mandatory details on the investment registration certificate. Therefore, in the event of a change in address, investors must update the content on the investment registration certificate to ensure compliance with legal requirements and safeguard their relevant rights and interests.

2. Conditions for Changing Investor’s Address on the Investment Registration Certificate

Depending on the investor, the investment registration certificate will reflect corresponding address information. For individual investors, the certificate will display their permanent and current residential address, while for institutional investors, it will show the main office address. Therefore, when there is a change in the permanent or current residential address for individual investors, or a change in the main office address for institutional investors, the procedure to update the investor’s address on the investment registration certificate will be initiated.

Conditions for carrying out the procedure to change the investor’s address:

• Investors must first complete the procedure to update their actual address before proceeding with the process of changing the investor’s address on the investment registration certificate.
• The changed address must be a lawful address in accordance with the regulations of the host country’s laws for foreign investors and must comply with the regulations of Vietnamese laws for Vietnamese investors.

3. Documentation for the Procedure to Change the Investor’s Address on the Investment Registration Certificate

Investors need to prepare a set of documents to request the adjustment of the Investment Registration Certificate. The documentation includes:

• A proposal document for adjusting the investment project.
• A report on the status of the investment project’s implementation up to the adjustment date.
• The decision of the investor regarding the adjustment of the investment project, for institutional investors.
• An explanation or relevant materials concerning the adjustment in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Law.

4. Procedure to Change the Investor’s Address on the Investment Registration Certificate

Step 1: Preparation and Submission of Documentation to the Investment Registration Authority

After preparing the documentation as outlined in section 3 above, depending on the specific case, the investor submits the application to the competent authority for adjusting the investment registration certificate. This authority could be:

• The Management Board of an industrial zone, export processing zone, high-tech zone, or economic zone; or
• The Department of Planning and Investment.

Step 2: Processing of Documentation

Within a period of 10 working days from the date of receiving a complete application, the Investment Registration Authority will proceed to adjust the Investment Registration Certificate. In the event that the adjustment is refused, the Investment Registration Authority must provide written notification to the investor, specifying the reasons for the refusal.

Step 3: Receiving Results and Completing Relevant Procedures

Investors receive the results at the One-Stop Department of the Investment Registration Authority.

If there are any difficulties or concerns regarding the procedure for changing the investor’s address on the Investment Registration Certificate, investors can promptly contact VKI for the best support. VKI is always ready to address any inquiries from investors.