Industrial design registration in Vietnam in 2026: Latest requirements, procedures & costs

Did you know that securing an industrial design registration in Vietnam not only safeguards your product’s aesthetic appeal but also serves as a critical “competitive weapon” in modern commerce? As digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshape industries, the demand for industrial design protection in Vietnam continues to surge. Under the latest provisions of the Vietnamese Intellectual Property Law, the scope of protection now encompasses non-physical products and AI-generated industrial designs.

This guide outlines Industrial Design Registration in Vietnam: 2026 Requirements & Costs, providing essential insights for businesses, startups, and creators aiming to protect their intellectual assets. With over 19 years of dedicated experience, Viet An Law provides premier legal consulting services to successfully support thousands of clients through this precise legal framework.

Quick summary of industrial design registration in Vietnam

• Definition: An industrial design is the external appearance of a product (shape, lines, colours) protected under industrial design protection in Vietnam
• Protection requirements: Novelty – creativity – industrial applicability
• Eligible applicants: Individuals, companies, or organisations owning the design
• Dossier includes: Application form, description, photo/drawing set, power of attorney (if any)
• Procedure: Filing → formality examination → publication → substantive examination → grant
• Processing time: Approximately 9-12 months
• Protection term: 5 years, renewable up to 15 years
• industrial design registration cost: From approximately VND 1,000,000 (official fees only), excluding attorney fees
• Filing method: Online at the National Office of Intellectual Property

Important note:

The earlier you register industrial design in Vietnam, the better, to avoid copying or losing the filing right to competitors.

Conditions for the grant of an Industrial Design Patent Certificate

Conditions for industrial design protection in Vietnam

To obtain an Industrial Design Patent Certificate, the product must satisfy all legal requirements under the Vietnamese Intellectual Property Law. These are criteria to ensure that the design has creative value and practical commercial application.

Below are the mandatory conditions businesses and individuals must note when filing an industrial design application.

The industrial design must be novel

Unlike trademark registration, novelty is the key factor for industrial design registration in Vietnam.

Under Vietnamese law, an industrial design is considered new when:

• It is significantly different from designs previously disclosed
• It has never been publicly disclosed in Vietnam or internationally before the filing date
• It is not identical or confusingly similar to any existing design

If the design has been disclosed before filing, the possibility of refusal is extremely high.

This is especially important for AI-generated industrial design and AI-generated design protection, where prior public posting may destroy novelty.

The industrial design must be creative

In addition to novelty, the design must have creativity, meaning:

• A person with average knowledge in the relevant field cannot easily create it
• It must be clearly different from known designs
• It must show a unique design concept rather than copying

This is what distinguishes ordinary design from a protectable patent design.

Industrial applicability

The industrial design must be capable of actual production:

• It can be used as a model for mass production
• Industrial or manual methods can be applied
• It must be capable of realisation, not just a concept

This requirement ensures commercial value and supports product design protection.

Not subject to excluded cases

Under Vietnamese law, certain subjects are excluded from industrial design protection in Vietnam, including:

• Product shapes dictated solely by technical function
• External appearance of civil or industrial construction works
• Invisible parts during product use

These cases will be rejected during examination.

Quick summary of protection requirements

• Novelty
• Creativity
• Industrial applicability
• Not excluded by law

Who has the right to register an industrial design in Vietnam?

Under Article 86 of the Intellectual Property Law:

• The creator who invests effort and cost
• Organisations or individuals funding the creator
• Co-creators or co-investors jointly
• Rights transferred by written agreement
• This applies equally to patent design, AI-generated industrial design, and product design protection matters.

Industrial design registration dossier

According to Articles 100 and 103 of the IP Law, the industrial design application includes:

• Industrial design application form
• 01 description
• 04 photo/drawing sets
• Power of attorney
• Documents proving filing rights
• Priority documents (if any)
• Fee payment receipt

This dossier is essential for successful industrial design registration in Vietnam.

Common mistakes to avoid in 2026

Many commercial entities commit procedural errors that precipitate the outright refusal of their industrial design protection in Vietnam.

Public disclosure before filing

This remains the most detrimental error an applicant can make:

• Publishing the design on websites or social media platforms.
• Exhibiting the product at public trade fairs.

Consequence: Loss of novelty → rejection.

This presents a pronounced risk particularly within AI-generated design protection workflows.

Failure to conduct a prior search

Many businesses skip:

• Checking existing designs
• Evaluating registrability

Consequence:

• Similar design → rejection
• Loss of 9–12 months

Incorrect description

• Insufficient detail
• Unclear drawings
• Inconsistency between text and images

Consequence:

• Multiple amendment requests
• Longer processing time
• Higher industrial design registration cost

Confusing technical function with design

Many applicants attempt to file:

• Mandatory technical shapes
• Purely functional elements
• These are not eligible for patent design or product design protection.

Consequences:

• Does not meet the protection requirements under the Vietnamese Intellectual Property Law.

Failure to identify the correct applicant/right holder

• The design is created by an employee, but the company is listed as the owner without a clear contractual basis
• No assignment or transfer of rights document is available

Consequences:

• Ownership disputes may arise
• The protection certificate may be invalidated or revoked

Filing the application too late

• Waiting until the product becomes commercially successful before filing
• Failing to prioritise early protection

Consequences:

• A competitor may file first
• Loss of lawful exclusive rights

This is one of the most common risks in industrial design registration in Vietnam and may seriously affect industrial design protection in Vietnam.

Failure to monitor the application process

• Ignoring notifications from the National Office of Intellectual Property
• Failing to respond within the prescribed deadline

Consequences:

• The application may be rejected due to failure to submit amendments or supplements on time.
• This can also increase the overall industrial design registration cost and delay IP protection.

Expert recommendations

To circumvent the aforementioned pitfalls, proactive businesses should:

• Execute a comprehensive prior art search before submitting the industrial design application.
• Prepare an exhaustive and strictly compliant dossier from the outset.
• Execute the filing process at the earliest possible juncture.
• Utilize professional legal consulting services to navigate the procedural complexities

Early administrative action represents the most effective strategy to secure robust product design protection in the Vietnamese jurisdiction.

Online procedure for industrial design registration in Vietnam

At present, the procedure for industrial design registration in Vietnam has been fully digitalised. Applicants may complete the process 100% online through the Public Service Portal of the National Office of Intellectual Property.

Below is the detailed procedure for industrial design registration in Vietnam:

Step 1: Submit the industrial design application

• Submit online through the Public Service Portal of the National Office of Intellectual Property
• Paper applications are no longer accepted

Important note:

• The dossier must be complete and compliant from the outset
• Any mistakes may prolong the processing time

This is the first and most important stage of the industrial design application process.

Step 2: Formality examination (1 month)

The National Office of Intellectual Property will review the validity of the application dossier:

• If valid → a decision on acceptance of the application will be issued
• If invalid → amendments and supplements must be submitted within 2 months

If no amendment is made, or if the amendment remains unsatisfied → the application will be rejected.

This step directly affects the success of industrial design protection in Vietnam.

Step 3: Publication of the application (within 2 months)

After the application is accepted:

• The application will be published in the Industrial Property Gazette
• Including: application details + design images/drawings

This step serves to publicly record the applicant’s filing rights and strengthen IP protection.

Step 4: Substantive examination (5–7 months)

The examining authority will assess the protectability of the design based on:

• Novelty
• Creativity
• Industrial applicability

This is the most critical stage in deciding whether the industrial design registration in Vietnam will be granted.

This step is important for patent design, product design protection, and AI-generated design protection matters.

Step 5: Grant of protection title or refusal

• If all legal requirements are met → an Industrial Design Patent Certificate will be granted
• If not → a refusal decision will be issued.

After the grant:

• The design will be recorded in the National Register
• Published in the Industrial Property Gazette

This completes the industrial design registration in Vietnam process.

Filing fees for industrial design registration in Vietnam

Pursuant to the Schedule of Industrial Property Fees enacted alongside Circular No. 263/2016/TT-BTC, the standard industrial design registration fee includes:

• Filing fee: VND 150,000
• Industrial design classification fee: VND 100,000 / classification
• Examination fee: VND 700,000 / object
• Publication fee: VND 120,000
• Publication fee from the second image onward: VND 60,000 / image
• Search fee for examination purposes: VND 480,000 / object
• Priority claim examination fee (if any): VND 600,000 / priority application
• Certificate issuance fee: VND 350,000 / certificate
• Intellectual property representative fee: according to the service provider’s pricing

These official state levies form the baseline industrial design registration cost, independent of professional legal representation expenses.

Term of industrial design protection in Vietnam

• Governed by Clause 4, Article 93 of the Vietnamese Intellectual Property Law, the Industrial Design Patent Certificate enters into force upon its grant date. It maintains validity for a primary term of five years calculated from the filing date and is eligible for two consecutive renewals, with each renewal period extending protection for an additional five years.
• Consequently, an industrial design may command exclusive legal protection for an aggregate maximum of 15 years. Upon expiration of this absolute term, the design transitions into the public domain.

This is a key advantage of industrial design protection in Vietnam and broader product design protection.

Industrial design classification table

• When executing industrial design registration in Vietnam, applicants must perform accurate classification relying on the Locarno International Classification This globally unified mechanism dictates the correct product categorizations necessary for processing an industrial design application.
• Under prevailing legal standards, applicants are mandated to utilize the contemporary iteration of the Locarno system (currently Version 13) to secure formal dossier validity.

What does the Locarno classification include?

The structural framework divides industrial designs into:

• Primary classes determined by broad product types.
• Specialized subclasses governed by specific functions and inherent characteristics.

Example encompass:

• Furniture
• Electronic devices
• Packaging
• Software interfaces and digital products

This taxonomy holds specific relevance for digital patent designs and AI-generated industrial designs.

Why is correct classification important from the beginning?

Incorrect classification may lead to:

• Formal rejection of the application
• Amendment requests → prolonged processing time
• Negative impact on the future scope of protection

Therefore, correct classification is an important factor in increasing the success rate of industrial design registration in Vietnam.

It also helps reduce industrial design registration costs arising from amendments.

Expert advice on industrial design classification

• Identify the correct product group under the Locarno standards
• Compare with similar registered designs
• Ensure the dossier is consistent with the classification group

In practice, many businesses choose to use IP representative services to ensure accurate classification and immediate acceptance.

This is highly recommended for registering industrial design in Vietnam procedures.

3 breakthrough changes under the 2025 Intellectual Property Law

The recent overhauls embedded within the Vietnamese Intellectual Property Law have introduced profound shifts regarding industrial design protection in Vietnam, specifically engineered to accommodate digital transformation and AI integration.

Expansion of industrial design protection in Vietnam for non-physical products

One of the most significant changes is the expansion of the scope of industrial design protection in Vietnam to include non-physical products.

Previously, Vietnamese law only protected industrial designs for tangible products.

However, under the new regulations:

• Industrial designs may exist in physical or non-physical form
• This includes interface designs, applications, digital products, and virtual environments (metaverse)

This expansion significantly strengthens industrial design registration in Vietnam for technology businesses.

This helps:

• Protect designs in the technology and software sectors
• Create opportunities for digital enterprises and startups
• Improve product design protection
• Strengthen ip protection

This legal reform also helps Vietnam align with international standards such as those in the US, EU, and Japan.

This is important for AI-generated industrial design and AI-generated design protection.

Digitalisation of the industrial design application process and shorter processing time

The new law promotes digital transformation in industrial property registration.

The entire industrial design application process is now fully digitalised.

Key changes include:

• 100% of dossiers submitted online
• Reduced administrative procedures
• Faster processing time
• Lower compliance costs

In particular: Substantive examination time has been reduced from 7 months to 5 months

Benefits include:

• Businesses receive industrial design protection in Vietnam more quickly
• Reduced risk of design copying
• Faster product launch to market

For companies concerned about industrial design registration costs, this digital system helps reduce both time and legal expenses.

A faster industrial design application process also improves IP protection strategies.

Businesses seeking to register industrial design in Vietnam should take advantage of this streamlined procedure.

This also reduces the industrial design registration cost for many applicants.

New legal framework for AI-Generated industrial design

For the first time, Vietnamese law officially recognises the role of artificial intelligence in the field of intellectual property.

This is important for AI-generated industrial design and AI-generated design protection.

Specifically:

• Allows the establishment of protection mechanisms for products created with AI support
• Authorises the Government to issue detailed guidance on protection conditions
• Includes an assessment of the level of human creativity involved

This is a major step forward for AI-generated design protection.

In addition:

• Legally published data and images may be used for AI training
• This is not considered copyright infringement if it does not adversely affect the rights of the owner

This is particularly relevant to AI-generated industrial design.

These changes help:

• Promote innovation
• Create a legal framework for technology companies
• Support global AI trends
• Improve IP protection
• Strengthen product design protection

For businesses using AI tools, AI-generated design protection is becoming increasingly important.

Companies working with AI-generated industrial design should consider industrial design registration in Vietnam as early as possible.

This is now one of the most important areas of industrial design protection in Vietnam.

Real case: Late industrial design registration in Vietnam – an important lesson for businesses

In practice, many businesses in Vietnam have faced major risks because they failed to complete industrial design registration in Vietnam on time or followed the wrong procedure.

Below is a typical case that clearly demonstrates the importance of early filing.

This is also a strong example of why registering industrial design in Vietnam should always be done before market launch.

Situation from a client consulting at Viet An Law

A household goods manufacturing company independently created a new product design and launched it on the market. The product achieved immediate commercial traction and generated substantial sales volume.

However:

• The company did not complete industrial design registration in Vietnam prior to market release
• The product’s aesthetics were simultaneously broadcast across corporate websites and heavily promoted on social media

This immediately affected the possibility of industrial design protection in Vietnam.

The business also lost strong IP protection opportunities.

This is a common issue involving patent design and product design protection.

The problem that arose

After approximately 6 months:

• A direct competitor reverse-engineered the design, replicated it flawlessly, and preemptively filed an industrial design application.
• By filing first, the competitor established a dominant legal position regarding the specific product design protection.

Result

• The competitor was legally recognized as the lawful proprietor of the design
• The original manufacturing entity irrevocably forfeited its registration rights due to the complete loss of statutory novelty

This is one of the most serious risks in industrial design protection in Vietnam.

Failure to register an industrial design in Vietnam early may lead to the complete loss of rights.

Consequences

The company then faced the following consequences:

• An absolute inability to compel the competitor to cease manufacturing operations.
• The looming threat of retaliatory infringement litigation if they continued utilizing their own original design.
• The loss of their market competitive advantage

This also significantly increased the industrial design registration cost if attempting later legal remedies.

This is why patent design, product design protection, and IP protection should be addressed at the earliest stage.

Solution (If handled properly from the beginning)

If the company had:

• completed industrial design registration in Vietnam before disclosure
• or used professional legal consulting services

Then:

• It would have been granted exclusive protection
• It would have the right to prevent copying
• It could increase brand and product value

This would significantly improve industrial design protection in Vietnam.

It would also reduce long-term industrial design registration costs.

The industrial design application should always be filed before public release.

This applies equally to AI-generated industrial design and conventional patent design.

Lessons learned

• Complete industrial design registration in Vietnam as early as possible (before disclosure)
• Do not wait until the product becomes successful
• Conduct prior searches and prepare the dossier correctly from the beginning
• Prioritise professional legal consultation to reduce risk

For maximum IP protection, businesses should always register industrial design in Vietnam as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about industrial design registration in Vietnam

How long does the industrial design registration take in Vietnam?

The processing time for industrial design registration in Vietnam is usually 6–12 months, depending on the examination process and the status of the application dossier.

The exact timeline may vary based on:

• Formal examination
• Substantive examination
• Amendments or supplementary requests
• The complexity of the industrial design application

For businesses seeking fast industrial design protection in Vietnam, submitting a complete and accurate dossier from the beginning is highly recommended.

What is the industrial design registration cost?

• The official state industrial design registration fee generally ranges from approximately VND 1,000,000 to VND 3,000,000.
• This estimate solely reflects governmental charges and explicitly excludes professional service fees levied by intellectual property law firms or legal representatives

Where should the industrial design application be filed?

• The industrial design application must be submitted online to the National Office of Intellectual Property through its public service portal.
• Currently, this is the official channel to register industrial design in Vietnam.
• Applicants should ensure that all documents are complete before filing the industrial design application.

Should you register industrial design in Vietnam before launching the product to the market?

Yes. It is highly recommended to complete industrial design registration in Vietnam before publicly disclosing or launching the product.

Can the design be copied if it is not registered?

Yes. If you do not complete industrial design registration in Vietnam, you do not have exclusive rights.

Is international protection available for industrial designs?

• Yes, but not automatically.
• If you want international industrial design protection, you must file applications in each relevant country or through an appropriate international filing system.
• Protection granted in Vietnam only covers industrial design protection in Vietnam.

Is it possible to register an AI-designed product?

Yes. Under modernized regulations, an AI-generated industrial design may qualify for patent protection provided that the asset demonstrates a sufficient, demonstrable threshold of human creativity and meticulously satisfies all distinct protection requirements mandated by Vietnamese legislation.

Free consultation for industrial design registration in Vietnam

Receive a free consultation on industrial design registration in Vietnam within 24 hours here: (+84)9 61 37 18 18 (WhatsApp / Zalo)