C/O form S (Vietnam – Laos; Vietnam – Cambodia)

June 3, 2023

1. Concept of C/O Form S

C/O form S is used for goods exported to Laos. Accordingly, when Vietnamese goods are exported to Laos, they will enjoy preferential tariffs according to the Vietnam - Laos Agreement. The agency competent to issue certificates of origin form S is the agency authorized by the Ministry of Trade to issue C/O form S.

2. Procedures for applying for C/O Form S

Businesses that want to apply for C/O form S need to prepare some documents as follows:

Proposal Issue C/O form S with complete information declared.
C/O form S has been declared The information is complete and correct.
Notarized copy of customs declaration have completed all customs procedures or equivalent documents.
Commercial invoice (Commercial invoice)
Bill of lading – Bill of lading – Airway bill or notarized copy of equivalent transport document.
Detailed calculation table regional content or declaration of HS codes of input materials and HS codes of output products or declaration of pure "WO" origin criteria.
Invoice for purchase of raw materials, goods or import customs declaration raw materials and spare parts used in the production of goods (if the production unit must import raw materials).
Specific product production process.
Other types of documents. The C/O issuing organization may request the C/O form S applicant to issue additional documents related to exported products such as: Raw material import customs declaration, export license, sales contract, etc. Value-added invoice... to prove the origin of goods.

3. Procedure for applying for C/O Form S

Step 1: The person applying for a C/O will register a trader profile for the first time at the ecosys.gov.vn system and send it to the C/O issuing organization for approval. After your account is approved, you will submit an application for electronic C/O issuance or send paper documents directly to the C/O application receiving department of the C/O issuing organization.

Step 2: Next, the trader will have to send an attached file of the application for C/O form S to the C/O issuing organization. You can submit your application in 3 ways: submit your application online at ecosys.gov.vn, send it by post or submit your application on paper at the headquarters of the C/O issuing organization (where you have registered your trader profile). )

Step 3: The C/O issuing organization will check the validity of the dossier. Depending on the status of each application, the C/O issuing organization will notify the trader with one of the following contents:

Accept the C/O and specifically inform the time the trader will receive the C/O.
Please request additional documents (if any are missing).
Request to re-check documentary information (attached to a document clearly stating the content that needs to be checked as a basis for the request).
Refuse to issue C/O (cases specifically stipulated in Decree No. 31/2018/ND-CP).
The C/O issuing organization requests to inspect the trader's production facility.

Step 4: The C/O issuing officer will check the information, enter data into the system and submit it to the person with authority to issue and sign the C/O.

Step 5: The authorized person of the C/O issuing organization will sign the C/O.

Step 6: After issuing C/O, the C/O issuing organization will stamp it, enter it in the book and keep one copy to keep in the book and the remaining copy will be issued to the trader.

4. Time limit for issuance of Certificate of Origin (C/O) Form S

The deadline for issuing C/O form S will be no more than 3 days from the time the applicant submits a complete and valid application.

In some necessary cases, the C/O issuing organization can also conduct a direct inspection of the production facility when detecting signs of violation. The inspection results must also be clearly recorded in the minutes and signed by the inspection officer and the person requesting the C/O. If the C/O applicant does not sign, the officer will check and sign for confirmation after clearly stating the reason. C/O issuance deadline in this case will not exceed 5 days from the time the applicant submits a complete application.

In all cases, the C/O verification time limit must not hinder the exporter's transportation and payment of goods, unless this effect is due to the exporter's fault.