Registering copyright and related rights
Copyright arises automatically when a work is created and fixed; registration is not a condition of protection. You register to obtain a certificate — the document that spares you from having to prove ownership when a dispute arises.
- Competent authority: Copyright Office of Vietnam — Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Steps
| # | Steps | Contents | Timeline | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify the correct category of work | The category determines the fee and the form of the copy you must submit. Confusing "applied art" with "computer program" shifts the fee by VND 200,000 and can get the dossier returned. | Before filing | Điều 14 Luật SHTT; Nghị định 17/2023/NĐ-CP |
| 2 | Prepare the dossier | The application form must be signed or fingerprinted by the author or rights holder in person. If someone files on their behalf, a power of attorney is required. | 1–3 days | Điều 50 Luật SHTT; Nghị định 17/2023/NĐ-CP (sửa đổi bởi Nghị định 134/2026/NĐ-CP) |
| 3 | File the dossier and pay the fee | Choose one of the three channels: in person, by post, or the online public service portal. | 1 day | |
| 4 | Dossier review | Incomplete or incorrect dossiers trigger a request for supplementation. The clock only starts from the date the dossier is valid, so one round of corrections can add significant delay. | As notified by the authority | |
| 5 | Issuance of the registration certificate | Under Article 52 of the IP Law the deadline is 15 working days from receipt of a valid dossier; a refusal must be notified in writing with reasons. Note: some 2026 articles describe different timings following digitisation of the procedure — confirm with the Copyright Office before relying on a specific issue date. | 15 working days from receipt of a valid dossier | Điều 52 Luật SHTT |
Documents required
| Documents required | Required | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Application form for copyright / related rights registration | Required | Signed or fingerprinted by the author or rights holder in person. |
| Copies of the work (or the fixation of the performance, recording or broadcast) | Required | The format depends on the category: software is filed with source or object code plus a description; applied-art works with photographs or prints. |
| Power of attorney | Case by case | Required where the filer is not the author or the rights holder. |
| Evidence of ownership (contract, work assignment decision, inheritance document) | Case by case | Needed where the rights holder is not also the author. |
| Consent of co-authors or co-owners | Case by case | Needed for works of joint authorship or joint ownership. |
Fees and charges
| Fees and charges | VND | Legal basis | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literary and scientific works, textbooks; lectures and speeches; journalistic works; musical works; photographic works | 100.000 / VND per certificate | Thông tư 211/2016/TT-BTC | |
| Architectural works; plans, sketches, maps and drawings relating to topography or scientific works | 300.000 | Thông tư 211/2016/TT-BTC | Pick the line matching your category of work — each dossier pays only one of these. |
| Works of fine art; works of applied art | 400.000 | Thông tư 211/2016/TT-BTC | |
| Cinematographic works; theatrical works fixed on tape or disc | 500.000 | Thông tư 211/2016/TT-BTC | |
| Computer programs, data collections, and programs running on computers | 600.000 | Thông tư 211/2016/TT-BTC | The highest rate in the schedule — it applies to software and databases. |
| Related rights — a performance fixed in a sound recording, or a sound recording | 200.000 | Thông tư 211/2016/TT-BTC | |
| Related rights — a performance fixed in an audiovisual recording, or such a recording | 300.000 | Thông tư 211/2016/TT-BTC | |
| Related rights — a performance fixed in a broadcast, or a broadcast programme | 500.000 | Thông tư 211/2016/TT-BTC |
Filing channels
- In person at the head office or a representative office
- By postal service
- Online through the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism public service portal
Filing addresses
- Hanoi head office: 33, Alley 294/2 Kim Ma Street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
- Representative office in Ho Chi Minh City: 170 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3
- Representative office in Da Nang: 58 Phan Chu Trinh, Hai Chau
Common mistakes
- Registration does not create the right — it records a right you already hold. Filing late does not forfeit the right, but it costs you the evidentiary advantage in a dispute.
- Registering a logo as an "applied-art work" will not stop someone using a similar logo on the same class of goods. Commercial exclusivity requires a trademark registration.
- The form must be signed by the author personally. A manager or director signing on the author's behalf is a very common reason for rejection.
- Re-issuing a certificate costs 50% of the original fee — do not lose the original.