How to Obtain Business Registration Certificate in Vietnam?

How to establish a joint stock company or limited liability?

Every organization and individual wishing to set up a foreign owned company in Vietnam shall need to meet some specifics conditions as promulgated under the Law on Investment and Law on Enterprise.  In specific areas being considered as conditional investment, the investor shall also need to consult with the law governing the area of investment. Once the investment registration certificate is completed, the investor has the obligation to apply for enterprise registration.

The procedure to register for a certificate of enterprise registration of a joint stock company or limited liability with two or more members are herein mentioned:

Dossiers:

i) Application form for enterprise registration

ii) The company’s charter.

iii) A list of founding shareholders and shareholders being foreign investors/ a list of capital contribution members.

iv) Valid copies of:

Copies of the ID card or other ID papers of founding shareholders and foreign investors/members being individuals; list of authorized representatives of foreign shareholders being organizations.

Decision on establishment, certificate of business registration, or an equivalent document of the organization and the letter of authorization; the ID card or other ID papers of the authorized representatives of founding shareholders and foreign investors being organizations.

If shareholders are foreign organizations, the copy of the certificate of business registration or an equivalent document must be notarized, legalized and authenticated.

The Certificate of Investment registration of the foreign investors as prescribed by the Law on Investment.

State Authority: Business registration office of the province where the enterprise’s headquarters is situated.

Period: within 03 working days from the full receipt of the dossiers

Result: Business registration office shall issue the certificate of enterprise registration or if the application is not satisfactory, business registration office shall inform the applicant of necessary revisions and supplementation to company.

In general, Vietnam government encourages foreign direct investment.  If the investor faces challenges at state authority, whom do not issue notification or request of supplementation to the application for enterprise registration, the investor cold lodge a complaint as prescribed by regulations of law on complaints and denunciation to the state authority to protect its right in doing business andinvestment in Vietnam. A law firm in Vietnam with expertise in both business registration and dispute resolution could assist the investor in the process.

The enterprise is entitled to do business from the issuance date of the certificate of enterprise registration. For conditional business lines, enterprises are entitled to engage in conditional business lines if they satisfy all conditions and are capable to maintain fulfillment of such conditions throughout their operation

How ANT Lawyers Could Help Your Business?

To learn more about ANT Lawyers IP Practice or contact our IP lawyers in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at (+84) 24 32 23 27 71

Read More

Australia Terminated Investigation, Not Imposing Anti-Subsidy Tax on Galvanized Steel and Pressed Aluminum from Vietnam

According to Department of Trade Remedies (Ministry of Industry and Trade), 2 Vietnamese products exported to Australia which are pressed aluminum and galvanized steel have been terminated investigation and will not subject to anti-subsidy tax by the Australian anti-dumping commission (ADC).

In August and October 2016, ADC initiated 2 anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations on pressed aluminum and galvanized steel imported from Vietnam.

Following the investigation, in June and August 2017, ADC published the final reports of two cases in which ADC decided to terminate the investigation and not apply anti-subsidy tax on goods from Vietnam in both cases.

Specifically, in the case of pressed aluminum, Vietnam is accused of subsidizing businesses in 03 programs related to tax incentives.

After the investigation, ADC determined that: 01 of the 03 Vietnamese companies agreeing to cooperate with ADC did not receive any incentives from the above programs. The remaining 02 enterprises and other producers/exporters received subsidies but the margin of subsidies is negligible.

Therefore, ADC decided to terminate the investigation for Vietnam.

In the case of galvanized steel, Vietnam is alleged to subsidize businesses in 19 programs involving tax incentives, investment incentives, support programs and trade promotion programs.

After the investigation, ADC determined that: Vietnamese companies agreeing to cooperate with ADC only receive benefits from 03 of the 19 programs mentioned above, and the amount of these subsidies is negligible; the level of subsidy offered to other producers/exporters is also negligible. Therefore, ADC decided to terminate the investigation for Vietnam.

In terms of the anti-dumping investigations, in the galvanized steel case, the plaintiff alleged that the “special market conditions” is exsisted in the plated steel sector of Vietnam. The plaintiffs argue that Vietnam has to import most of its raw materials to produce galvanized steel, which is hot rolled coil (HRC). At the same time, the price of HRC in the exporting country, due to the subsidy, has been distorted (lower than it should have been).

Vietnam imports mainly this material, so galvanized steelprices in Vietnam are also deviated as a result, and this should be considered as a “special market condition” in Vietnam. However, after the investigation, Australia concluded that there was no special market condition in the plated steel industry of Vietnam.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the ADC’s conclusion to terminate the investigation, not apply anti-subsidy measures in two cases and the ADC concluded that no special market situation exists for the market of plated steel in Vietnam is positive and successful results for the Government and enterprises of Vietnam.

This final outcome is a positive precedent for future cases, as it is the first time Australia investigated anti-subsidy and “special market conditions” on Vietnam.

How ANT Lawyers Could Help Your Business?

To learn more about ANT Lawyers IP Practice or contact our IP lawyers inVietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at (+84) 24 32 23 27 71

Read More

What is a typical strategy for filing software patent applications worldwide?

If you want to patent your software worldwide, you have a lot of filing ahead of you. Generally speaking, the filing needs to be done in a relatively timely manner too, so missing deadlines happens routinely. I would suggest consulting with an intellectual property (IP) attorney who can help you meet all of the necessary requirements because they can be tricky.

Filing with the patent cooperation treaty (PCT) really will only give you an opinion as to whether your software can be patented in the countries that signed the treaty. This can be helpful because searching all of the countries on your own would be troublesome. However, after the search, you will still be without a patent.

So, if you file with the PCT for an opinion first, you will still be left with all of the actual patent filing to do. You will then need to file for any foreign patents that you wish to obtain. Each patent will have separate requirements.

Again, my suggested strategy would be to consult with an attorney. An experienced intellectual property attorney will be able to search for any conflicting patents and will also be able to file your patent applications for you. You will have to pay your attorney a fee, though, and I know that this is not ideal. But, it is possible to save money on attorney fees.

How ANT Lawyers Could Help Your Business?

Please click here to learn more about ANT Lawyers IP Practice or contact our IP lawyers in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at (+84) 24 32 23 27 71

Read More

How do patents work for cosmetics?

How do patents work for cosmetics? What can be done if there is already a patent that exists for my idea?

This is an American perspective. Patents for cosmetics do not work very well.

A lot of the applications I see are mostly marketing proposals “we are using all natural organic ingredients…” to do what one would expect these ingredients to do. Well, that’s not patentable subject matter under section 101 of the Patent Act because it is directed to a natural compound that does not perform a surprising result.

It’s easy enough to get around this. You can add a single non-naturally occurring preservative, but then you are not selling something, “using all natural organic ingredients…” and that messes with your marketing.

The next problem is that you need to have at least one ingredient that has never been used in cosmetics before. This is really hard to do because old patent applications in this field list thousands of ingredients that can be combined in all quantities from 0.1 to 99%. Those applications render almost any combination of “all natural organic ingredients” either anticipated or obvious.

Now, if you do have a new non-naturally occuring active ingredient, then, of course, the patent system, in conjunction with the exclusivity provided in some instances with the FDA works really well. So well, that other countries have started modeling the American system. 

You may want to have a patent attorney take a look at the other patents that exist in your space. It is possible that you may be able to capture some value from those patent owners.

How ANT Lawyers Could Help Your Business?

To learn more about ANT Lawyers IP Practice or contact our Patent Attorneys inVietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at (+84) 24 32 23 27 71

Read More

How to Select a Patent Attorney?

Could you use a little help protecting your invention? If so, an attorney skilled in patent law is your best bet.

As you can imagine, conveying your invention to someone who knows nothing about it will be difficult.  Therefore, it is best if you are in direct contact with your patent attorney. You can meet in person and show the patent attorney any prototypes or drawings you may have to help illustrate your invention.  As you can probably guess, the process will go more smoothly if you work with a patent attorney near you.  Although it can be done, a long distance relationship will only strain the process.   

Probably the best way to select a patent attorney in your city is through word of mouth.  To help find referrals (and to associate with others who have interests similar to yours), you may want to join a local inventors club.  You can also search through the USPTO’s list of registered patent attorneys or even just use their database to check your potential patent attorney’s credentials.

When you are seeking out a suitable patent attorney, you need to ask about their experience and background. Ask them what degrees they hold, the number of years they’ve spent writing and prosecuting patents, and the number of patents granted.  Get references from previous clients and call them to ask about their experience with the patent attorney.

When selecting a patent attorney, it’s also important to find someone who specializes in the field your invention is related to.  Patent attorneys are not equal in all areas.  For starters, what is their degree(s) in?  This is very important.  Some patent attorneys will have a degree in engineering.  Other patent attorneys will be skilled in the field of biology, others physics and yet others, computer science.  You don’t want to take your newly invented cell line (yes you can patent such things) to a patent attorney with a background in electrical engineering.  You would want a patent attorney with a background in biology to help you with this type of invention. 

If you have a basic invention, going with a patent attorney with a general mechanical engineering background will probably save you some money.  Specialized professionals usually charge more.

You want their background and your invention type to match as closely as possible.  Writing patent applications is a bit of an art.  Obviously, a patent attorney will come in handy to help you through the legalese, but there is also a great deal of knowledge and specific technical detail that must go along with it.  This is why patent attorneys must have technical backgrounds.

How ANT Lawyers Could Help Your Business?

Please click here to learn more about ANT Lawyers IP Practice or contact our IP lawyers in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at (+84) 24 32 23 27 71

Author:Lisa Parmley

Source: Articlecitydate

Read More

Procedures to Apply for Temporary Residence Card in Vietnam

Temporary Residence Card in Vietnam

For foreigners wishing to reside in Vietnam, they must belong to the subjects to be granted temporary residence card.  For most of the case, the temporary residence card holder are investors whom invest to establish company in Vietnam, or employee being employed and sponsored by an organization in Vietnam.

The following shall details the procedures to be implemented for applying for temporary residence card in Vietnam.

I. Subjects to be Granted Temporary Residence Card

• Issued to members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations affiliated to the UN, representative offices of intergovernmental organizations and their spouses, children under 18 years of age, and housemaids during their term of office. (NG3)
• Issued to people who come to work with units affiliated to Vietnam’s Communist Party; the National Assembly, the government, Central Committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front, the People’s Supreme Court, the People’s Supreme Procuracy, State Audit Agency, Ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, the People’s Councils, the People’s Committees of provinces. (LV1)
• Issued to people who come to work with socio-political organizations, social organizations, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (LV2)
• Issued to foreign investors in Vietnam and foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam. (DT)
• Issued to Managers of representative offices or projects of international organizations and foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam. (NN1)
• Issued to heads of representative offices, branches of foreign traders, representative offices of other foreign economic, cultural, professional organizations in Vietnam. (NN2)
• Issued to people who come to study or serve internship. (DH)
• Issued to journalists who have permanent residences in Vietnam. (PV1)
• Issued to people who come to work. (LD)
• Issued to foreigners that are parents, spouse, and children under 18 years of age of the foreigners issued with LV1, LV2, DT, NN1, NN2, UNIVERSITY, PV1, LD visas, or foreigners that are parents, spouse, and children of Vietnamese citizens. (TT)

II. Conditions for Implementation

• Time to stay in Vietnam more than 01 year;
• Valid passport more than 01 year;
• In case of having a work permit, the work permit of the foreigner must be valid for 01 year from the date of the application for a temporary residence card. For investors, there must be written documents proving that foreigners contribute capital to, or invest in, enterprises in Vietnam (business registration certificates, investment licenses …).

III. Required Documents to Apply Temporary Residence Card

• A written request of agencies, organizations and individuals offering, guarantee and propose for temporary residence card (form NA7)
• 01 declaration of information of foreigners who apply for temporary residence, with photos and sealed by the agency or organization: A written request for temporary residence card (Form NA8); a declaration about Foreigners applying for temporary resident card (Form N7B)
• Two 3 x4 cm size photographs;
• Passport, valid visa, immigration cards (bring original for comparison);
• Notice of use of the seal of the enterprise
• 01 copies or photo (bring the original for comparison) proof of purpose to stay in Vietnam.

Depending on situations, the following documents would be required: investment licenses, permits the establishment of enterprises, work permit in Vietnam, certificate of board members and permits the establishment of representative offices, marriage/birth registration.

IV. Implementing Agencies to Apply Temporary Residence Card:

Immigration management Department, Police provinces and cities directly under the Central Government.

V. Duration to Obtain Temporary Residence Card in Vietnam: 05 to 07 days;

How ANT Lawyers Could Help Your Business?

Please click here to learn more about ANT Lawyers IP Practice or contact our IP lawyers in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at (+84) 24 32 23 27 71

Read More

Conditions of Foreigner on Adoption in Vietnam

Nowadays, foreigners from other countries wish to adopt children in Vietnam and bring them up to his/her country for custody.  Vietnam in the meantime encourages the adoption for the better conditions on life environment, education system which would bring to the children when living with the new family.  However, the adoption conditions are still regulated strictly and its acceptance procedures are considered and controlled stringently by competent authorities of the Government.

ANT Lawyers will provide to you the regulated conditions of the adoptive parents need to be met as below:

I. GENERAL CONDITIONS OF THE ADOPTIVE PARENT:

The adoptive parent has to meet fully conditions as below for adoption:

• Having full civil act capacity;
• Being 20 years or more older than the adopted person;
• Having health, financial and accommodation conditions for assuring the care for and nurture and education of the adopted child.
• Having good ethical qualities.

And not being one these following cases:

• Having some of the parental rights over a minor child restricted:
• Currently serving an administrative handling decision at an educational institution or medical treatment establishment;
• Currently serving an imprisonment penalty:
• Having a criminal record of commission of any of the crimes: intentionally infringing upon another’s life, health, dignity and honor; maltreating or persecuting one’s grandparents, parents, spouse, children, grandchildren or caretaker; enticing or compelling a minor to violate the law or harboring a minor violator; trafficking in. fraudulently swapping or appropriating children, which has not been remitted yet.

II. CONDITIONS OF THE FOREIGNER ADOPTIVE PARENTS:

After meeting fully conditions above, Vietnamese living abroad, foreigners permanently living abroad will be entitled to adopt identified Vietnamese children if they fall into the following cases:

• Being the step father or step mother of the to-be-adopted child;
• Being natural aunt or uncle of the to-be-adopted child;
• Having adopted a child who is a sibling of the to-be-adopted child;
• Adopting a child who is disabled or infected with HIV/AIDS or another dangerous disease, including: children with cleft lip and cleft palate, children who are blinded with one or two eyes; mutism, deaf; dumb; children with curved arms or legs, children with missing fingers, hands, foot (feet), toes, children infected with HIV; children with heart diseases; children with navel, groin, belly hernia; children without an anus or sexual organ; children with blood disease; children with diseases requiring life-long treatment; children with other disabilities or dangerous disease which restricting the chances of adoption;
• Being foreigners currently working or studying in Vietnam for at least 1 year.

How ANT Lawyers Could Help Your Business?

Please click here to learn more about ANT Lawyers IP Practice or contact our IP lawyers in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at (+84) 24 32 23 27 71

Read More