Requirements for International Conference License in Vietnam

According to Vietnamese law, the first step in holding any conference or seminar is to have approval from the competent authority. Especially when organizing these events related to foreign elements. What are the procedures and Requirements for International Conference License in Vietnam? In the following article, Viet An Law will provide information on this issue according to current regulations.

Does organizing an international conference in Vietnam require a license?

An international conference is a conference of organizations, individuals, or official representatives of two or more countries in the world. This is a large-scale event, with a large number of participants including both Vietnamese and many international friends. In addition, the content conveyed can easily influence the audience’s views and perceptions of the issue being discussed.

Therefore, when organizing international conferences, enterprises need permission from competent authorities to control and limit situations such as spreading illegal ideas such as superstition or distorted ideas, deviating from legal standards.

Requirements for International Conference License in Vietnam

Currently, Vietnamese law does not have specific regulations on the requirements for applying for a license to organize an international conference. However, based on the legal provisions on definitions and applicable subjects in Decision 06/2020/QD-TTg, enterprises organizing international conferences need to meet the following requirements:

• This must be an international conference or seminar, which can be organized in person or online, but must be held in Vietnam or have a broadcast point in Vietnam;
• The conference must have foreign participation or sponsorship or be organized by foreign organizations;
• The conference is not an international press conference or of the nature of an international press conference.

Authority to grant licenses to organize international conferences in Vietnam

According to Article 3 of Decision 06/2020/QD-TTg, it is clearly stated that the authority to grant licenses to organize international conferences and seminars in Vietnam is the Prime Minister and the competent person to grant licenses in the locality, specifically:

Prime Minister

The Prime Minister allows the organization of the following international conferences and seminars:

• International conferences and seminars with participants being heads or officials at the Ministerial level or equivalent or higher of countries, territories, and international organizations.
• International conferences and seminars with topics and content related to issues of national sovereignty, security, defense, ethnicity, religion, human rights or within the scope of state secrets according to the law on protection of state secrets.

Local licensing authority

The person with authority to decide on the organization of international conferences and seminars of his/her agency or locality and to allow the following organizing units to organize international conferences and seminars in cases not under the authority of the Prime Minister, including:

• Agencies and units under the authority of the competent person.
• Vietnamese and foreign agencies and organizations permitted to operate by competent authorities, except for the case at Point c, Clause 2, Article 3, Decision 06/2020/QD-TTg.
• For associations, social funds, and charity funds established under the provisions of Vietnamese law, the competent person is the Head of the state management agency for the industry and field of operation of the association, social fund, or charity fund according to the list prescribed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Procedures for applying for a license to organize an international conference

Processing time

Pursuant to Article 5 of Decision 06/2020/QD-TTg, the time limit for processing applications for licenses to organize international conferences is as follows:

• After receiving a complete application as prescribed, the licensing authority will issue a document asking for opinions from specialized and local agencies. Within 15 days from the date of receipt of the request, specialized and local agencies will respond in writing.
• Within 02 working days, the licensing authority shall review and respond in writing upon receiving comments from specialized and local agencies.
• Actual time: approximately 15 working days.

Notes after being granted a license to organize an international conference

After being granted a license to organize an international conference, the enterprise is responsible for:

• Conduct international conferences and seminars according to approved content and projects; comply with current financial regulations;
• Responsible for the content of documents, reports, presentations, materials, and related data released before, during, and after international conferences and seminars and ensuring compliance with regulations on protecting state secrets;
• Report the results of conferences and seminars according to form No. 02 of Decision 06/2020/QD-TTg after completion.

Penalty for organizing international conferences without a license

Pursuant to Point b, Clause 3, Article 50 of Decree 82/2020/ND-CP stipulating penalties for infringements of regulations on management of international cooperation in law, specifically:

“3. A fine of from VND 5,000,000 to VND 10,000,000 shall be imposed for one of the following acts:

b) Organizing international conferences and seminars without permission from competent authorities as prescribed.”

Thus, enterprises that organize international conferences without a license will be subject to an administrative fine of VND 5,000,000 to VND 10,000,000.

Above is all the information on Conferences License Requirements for International Conference License in Vietnam. If you have any related questions or need legal support regarding international conference licenses, please contact Viet An Law for the best support!

Update: 8/2024