A Certificate of Free Sale (CFS) confirms that the products it identifies are legally permitted to be sold in the issuing market. For a business exporting from Vietnam, the certificate may be requested by an overseas distributor or product regulator. For a business importing into Vietnam, a CFS issued abroad may be part of the Vietnamese product registration dossier.
Vietnam's general CFS procedure changed under Decree 292/2026/ND-CP, effective from 5 September 2026. This guide explains the current export application, its documents and form, and the information importers need to obtain from overseas suppliers.
Key Takeaways
- The export application uses Form 02 in Appendix VII, completed in Vietnamese and English.
- The core dossier includes the application, a manufacturing-site list where applicable, and the product's applicable published standard, declaration or marketing authorisation with supporting presentation details.
- The provincial People's Committee is the competent authority under the general export procedure.
- The statutory issue period is two working days after receipt of a complete, compliant dossier.
- The general validity period is five years from issue, unless another applicable law provides otherwise.
When Does a Business Need a CFS?
For exports, the starting point is the destination market's product registration or import requirement. An overseas buyer may need the CFS before registering a Vietnamese-manufactured cosmetic, food product or other regulated good. Obtain the required product names, certificate wording and destination-country details before preparing the Vietnamese application.
Under the general Vietnamese procedure, an exporter requests the certificate and the goods must have the applicable published standard, product declaration or marketing registration required by law. This eligibility test appears in Article 12.
For imports into Vietnam, the foreign manufacturer or exporter arranges the certificate with its home-market issuing authority. The Vietnamese importer then uses it in the relevant product registration dossier. The required CFS format and supporting approvals depend on the product category.
Who Issues an Export CFS in Vietnam?
The provincial People's Committee is the competent authority for the general export CFS procedure. Applications are received through the designated provincial administrative service handling that procedure.
The decree permits online filing through the National Public Service Portal, National Single Window or the licensing authority's service portal; direct submission at the designated one-stop office; or submission by post. For an online application, the dossier uses a compliant digital signature and electronic copies. The general filing rules are in Article 2.
What Documents Are Required for an Export CFS?
Prepare one dossier in Vietnamese, with the application itself bilingual. The legal representative or an authorised representative signs the documents. If an authorised representative signs, include the written authorisation. Documents in another language must be translated into Vietnamese and authenticated by the legal or authorised representative.
|
Required document |
Copy requirement |
Information to include |
|---|---|---|
|
Form 02 application |
One original |
Vietnamese and English company and product information, requested destination and certificate details |
|
Manufacturing-facility list, if applicable |
One original |
Facility names, addresses and the goods each site produces for export |
|
Published applicable standard, product declaration or marketing authorisation |
One trader-stamped copy |
The applicable product document plus how it is displayed on the label, packaging or accompanying materials |
|
Written authorisation, if someone signs for the legal representative |
Include with the dossier |
Authorised person, scope of authority and signature arrangements |
|
Vietnamese translations of foreign-language supporting documents |
Include with the relevant document |
Authentication by the legal or authorised representative |
Prepare the product names from the actual labels and registrations. If the applicant is a trading company and the factory is a separate entity, include the factory's details in the manufacturing section. Differences in manufacturer names, product variants or registered addresses should be resolved before filing.
For cosmetics, align the product list with the underlying cosmetics registration. For food supplements, use the names and authorisation details in the health-supplement registration.
How Do You Complete the CFS Application Form?
Use the current Form 02, Appendix VII of Decree 292. It has company information followed by the product schedule and declarations.
Company and Manufacturer Information
Enter the trader's registered name, enterprise identification number, address, telephone number and email. If the exporter and manufacturer differ, complete the manufacturer fields too. Indicate whether the CFS should show the trader's or the manufacturer's information.
Product Information
Enter the product name, standard certificate or registration or notification number, standard number where applicable, ingredients or active ingredient content where applicable, HS code and importing country. Use a separate product entry for each item that needs to be clearly identified.
Certificate Request and Signature
Complete the requested certificate details and declaration, then have the authorised signatory sign and apply the seal as specified on the form. Review the English wording with the overseas recipient before submission; a mismatch can delay the destination-country registration even when the Vietnamese certificate is issued promptly.
Official Form Preview
Official company-information fields from Form 02, Appendix VII, PDF page 74. Enter the trader details here and complete the manufacturer section when the exporter is not the manufacturer.
Official product schedule from PDF page 75. Complete the product identifiers, HS code and importing country. The official decree PDF (Form 02, Appendix VII) contains the complete blank form, including the declaration and signature section.
What Are the Application Steps?
Step One: Confirm the Goods and Destination
List the products, manufacturer, importing country and any certificate wording required by that country. Assemble the Vietnamese standard, declaration or marketing authorisation for each product.
Step Two: Prepare and Sign the Dossier
Complete Form 02, attach the manufacturing list where applicable and add the stamped product-document copy with label or packaging evidence. Include written authorisation if the representative signs on behalf of the legal representative.
Step Three: Submit the Application
Choose the online, in-person or postal route offered for the provincial procedure. Retain the receipt or electronic application reference so that the filing date and any request for corrections are traceable.
Step Four: Respond to Corrections or Inspection
For an incomplete or non-compliant dossier, the authority must request completion within two working days of receipt. An on-site manufacturing inspection is permitted if documentary review does not provide enough evidence or if there are signs of violations relating to previously issued certificates.
Step Five: Receive and Check the Certificate
The issue period is two working days from receipt of a complete and compliant dossier. If the authority refuses, it must provide written reasons. Check product names, manufacturer details, destination and certificate number immediately on receipt.
What Are the Fees and Validity Period?
The Ministry of Industry and Trade's published general export CFS procedure lists no government fee. Translation, delivery, legalisation and professional service charges are separate commercial costs.
The default validity is five years from issue, unless applicable legislation provides another period. A destination regulator may nevertheless require a recently issued certificate for its own registration process. Where a destination requires its own CFS template, the Vietnamese issuing authority can issue based on that requested format under the decree.
What Must an Imported CFS Contain?
Under Article 11, the baseline information includes the issuing authority, certificate number and date, product names, manufacturer details, confirmation of free sale and the issuing signatory's authentication. Sector rules may prescribe additional information or their own certificate template.
If the CFS is in a language other than English, it must be translated into Vietnamese with the importer's authentication. Consular legalisation is required where the responsible ministry requires it, unless an applicable exemption applies. Ask the overseas supplier for the original certificate and the required authentication at the same time to avoid repeating the document process.
FAQs
Can a Trading Company Apply for an Export CFS?
Yes, an eligible exporting trader can apply. Where it is not the manufacturer, the application must identify the manufacturer and include the applicable supporting product documents.
Is a Separate CFS Needed for Every Product?
The application includes a product schedule. Products can be listed together where the issuing procedure and the destination's requirements permit. Each product must be identifiable and supported by its relevant documents.
Is the Application Entirely in English?
No. Form 02 is bilingual Vietnamese and English, and the general dossier is prepared in Vietnamese. Supporting foreign-language documents require the prescribed Vietnamese translation.
How Long Does the Application Take?
The statutory issue period is two working days after a complete, compliant dossier is received. Preparation, corrections, postal delivery and any necessary inspection are additional stages.
Can an Old Application Form Still Be Used?
For a new application under Decree 292, prepare the current Form 02. It includes the company and product information required by the new general procedure.
Conclusion
A CFS application is most straightforward when the product names, manufacturer details and underlying registrations match. Exporters should assemble the complete dossier and current bilingual form before filing, while importers should obtain the right foreign-issued certificate as part of product registration. InCorp Vietnam can help coordinate the company and product documentation required for market entry and export operations.
