Conditional Business Lines: Full List & Regulations

1. What Are Conditional Business Lines?

Under the Law on Investment, conditional business lines refer to sectors where investment and business activities must satisfy specific statutory requirements for reasons of:

• National defense and security.

• Social order and safety.

• Social morality.

• Public health.

Enterprises are only permitted to engage in these sectors once all regulatory conditions are met and consistently maintained throughout operations.

2. Forms of Business Conditions

Depending on the specific sector, business conditions are applied through one or more of the following forms:

• Licenses: Business licenses, operational permits (sub-licenses).

• Eligibility Certificates: Certificate of food safety compliance, fire safety certificate, certificate of satisfaction of security conditions.

• Practice Certificates: Mandatory professional qualifications for directors or specialized personnel (e.g., medical practice, legal, auditing).

• Written Approvals/Confirmations: Official written confirmation of qualified premises or technical facilities.

• Self-Compliant Conditions: Statutory standards regarding legal capital or foreign ownership caps that must be satisfied without requiring prior written approval.

3. List of Conditional Business Lines

The comprehensive list of conditional business lines is stipulated in Appendix IV of the Law on Investment (as amended and supplemented).

To review the full catalog along with detailed regulatory conditions, access the reference document below:

📥 Download: Comprehensive List of Conditional Business Lines (Updated Version).

See more at: 

1) Vietnam’s new investment framework in 2026: Key changes foreign investors should know

2) Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Foreign Investment Capital Transfer in FDI Enterprises

3) Procedures for transferring capital contributions to a foreign investor

4) Guarantees on Investment Incentives in the Event of Changes in Law: Latest Rights and Procedures

5) Procedures for Adjustment of Investment Projects under the new Law on Investment