VI From 2026, a number of new regulations governing the online procedures for the issuance of Investment Registration Certificates (IRCs) officially take effect under Decree No. 96/2026/ND-CP, directly impacting the implementation process of investment projects by thousands of domestic and foreign investors. These changes are intended not only to simplify administrative procedures, enhance transparency, and help investors reduce costs, but also to demonstrate the Government’s commitment to accelerating digital transformation and attracting foreign investment. Let Pham Consult walk you through the most notable changes to the online IRC application procedures from 2026 so that you can promptly stay informed and ensure compliance with the applicable legal regulations.
- New regulations on the online IRC application procedures from 2026
From 31 March 2026, a number of new policies relating to investment registration procedures officially take effect under Decree No. 96/2026/NĐ-CP, most notably the introduction of regulations allowing investors to apply for an IRC online through the National Investment Information System.
Specifically, pursuant to Article 42 of Decree No. 96/2026/NĐ-CP, for investment projects that are not subject to investment policy approval, investors may choose either to submit a paper application dossier or to submit an online application dossier through the National Investment Information System in one of the following two methods:
– Applying for an IRC using a digital signature; or
– Applying for an IRC without using a digital signature.
- IRC application procedures using a digital signature
This is the most efficient option for enterprises that are familiar with electronic transactions and possess a valid digital signature, as it eliminates geographical barriers when submitting application dossiers. Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 43 of Decree No. 96/2026/ND-CP, from 31 March 2026, investors applying for an IRC using a digital signature shall follow the procedures below:
– Register an account on the National Investment Information System;
– Declare the required information and upload electronically signed documents to the National Investment Information System;
– Upon successful submission of the application dossier, the investor will receive an electronic acknowledgement of receipt through the National Investment Information System;
– Where the dossier is incomplete or requires clarification, the investment registration authority shall notify the investor through the National Investment Information System to supplement or amend the dossier within five (05) working days from the date of receipt of the dossier;
– Where the dossier is valid and satisfies the prescribed conditions, the investment registration authority shall issue the IRC within ten (10) working days from the date of receipt of the valid dossier.
Under this procedure, investors are permitted to complete the entire application process online through the National Investment Information System without being required to submit hard-copy documents for verification. All application documents must be prepared in electronic format and authenticated by the investor using a valid digital signature. This mechanism provides the highest level of efficiency in terms of time while significantly reducing administrative costs for investors.
- IRC application procedures without using a digital signature
In addition to the online IRC application procedure using a digital signature, the Government continues to maintain an online application procedure without requiring a digital signature in order to provide greater flexibility for foreign investors who are entering the Vietnamese market for the first time and have not yet obtained a recognized digital signature.
Pursuant to Clause 2, Article 43 of Decree No. 96/2026/ND-CP, from 31 March 2026, investors applying for an IRC without using a digital signature shall follow the procedures below:
– Register an account on the National Investment Information System;
– Declare the required information and upload electronic documents to the System;
– Upon successful submission of the application dossier, receive an electronic acknowledgement of receipt through the System;
– Where the dossier is incomplete or requires clarification, the investment registration authority shall notify the investor through the System to supplement or amend the dossier within five (05) working days from the date of receipt of the dossier;
– Where the dossier satisfies the conditions for the issuance of an IRC, the investment registration authority shall notify the investor through the System.
Upon receiving the notification confirming that the application dossier satisfies the conditions for the issuance of an IRC, the investor shall submit one set of hard-copy application documents together with a printed copy of the acknowledgement of receipt to the investment registration authority, either in person or through the postal service, for comparison with the electronic dossier submitted through the System. If the investment registration authority does not receive the hard-copy dossier for verification within thirty (30) days from the date on which the notification confirming the satisfaction of the IRC issuance conditions is sent, the investor’s electronic application dossier shall cease to be valid.
– The investment registration authority shall issue the IRC within ten (10) working days (excluding the time taken by the investor to submit the hard-copy dossier for comparison with the electronic dossier) from the date of receipt of a valid dossier, provided that the hard-copy dossier is consistent with the electronic dossier.
Note: The investor shall be responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the hard-copy dossier in comparison with the electronic dossier submitted through the System. Where the hard-copy dossier is inconsistent with the electronic dossier, the investment registration authority shall have the right to refuse to issue the IRC.
Similar to the digital-signature method, investors are still required to fully declare the project information on the National Investment Information System. However, instead of digitally signing the application, the investor simply submits the dossier through the System for preliminary review by the competent authority. Although this procedure requires an additional step of submitting hard-copy documents, it enables the investment registration authority to conduct a preliminary review of the dossier’s validity, thereby reducing the risk of investors having to make multiple visits to amend or supplement paper documents due to errors, as was common under the previous traditional submission methods.
- Notes on the requirements applicable to online application dossiers
Pursuant to Article 42 of Decree No. 96/2026/ND-CP, in order to facilitate the prompt receipt and appraisal of application dossiers and minimize repeated requests for supplementation, an online IRC application dossier will be considered valid by the investment registration authority only if it satisfies the following conditions:
– It contains all documents and information required for a paper application dossier, all of which are presented in electronic form and named consistently with the corresponding document type;
– The information declared on the National Investment Information System is complete and accurate, consistent with the information contained in the paper application dossier, and is either authenticated by the investor’s valid digital signature or verified as being fully consistent with the corresponding hard-copy dossier.
Preparing a complete and compliant application dossier from the outset is a key factor in enabling investors to minimize the licensing timeline and bring their investment projects into operation as quickly as possible.
