The National Assembly approved 38 sectors and professions that are exempt from business licensing requirements.

The amended Investment Law officially reviews and reduces business licenses for 38 sectors and professions; it also reviews and amends the scope of 20 other sectors and professions.

On the morning of December 11th, the National Assembly approved the amended Investment Law , which will take effect from March 1st, 2026. Notably, the law officially reviews and reduces 38 conditional investment and business sectors. The list of conditional business sectors will be applied from July 1st, 2026.

Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang

PHOTO: PHAM THANG

Accordingly, 38 industries and professions will not require business licenses, including: tax procedure services; customs clearance services; insurance auxiliary services; and commercial inspection services.

Business activities include temporary import and re-export of goods subject to excise tax; temporary import and re-export of frozen food; energy auditing; employment services, etc.

Business activities include: providing warranty and maintenance services for automobiles; providing services for the construction, modification, repair, and restoration of inland waterway vessels; providing air traffic control services; providing multimodal transport services; providing architectural services; and construction activities by foreign contractors...

In addition, businesses providing apartment building management and operation services; crematorium management and operation services; data center services; study abroad consulting services; land database construction services; printing and minting of money, etc., also do not require a business license.

The law also reviews and amends the scope of 20 professions, including changing the profession "Practicing as a bailiff" to "Practicing as an enforcement officer bailiff".

Specifically, the business sector "Trading in tobacco products, tobacco raw materials, machinery and equipment related to the tobacco industry" is amended to "Trading in tobacco products, tobacco raw materials, machinery and equipment related to the tobacco industry, excluding e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products"...

In a report summarizing and explaining the draft law, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang stated that, based on the proposed cuts, reductions, and amendments to conditional investment and business sectors as mentioned above, the Government will instruct relevant ministries and agencies to urgently study management methods according to regulations and standards for the sectors proposed for reduction and amendment in this document.

The goal is to shift strongly from "pre-inspection" to "post-inspection," from "licensing" to "registration" or "notification," towards management primarily based on regulations and standards, with important and necessary contents requiring state management and regulation.

Previously, the reviewing agency also requested the Government to direct the drafting agency to continue researching, reviewing, streamlining, and reducing the number of conditional investment and business sectors and professions, substantially reducing investment and business conditions, and retaining only those conditions that are truly necessary for constitutional reasons such as ensuring national defense, security, order, morality, and public health.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/quoc-hoi-thong-qua-38-nganh-nghe-duoc-mien-giay-phep-kinh-doanh-185251211091402341.htm