Guide to Establishing a Real Estate Brokerage Company in Vietnam

Establishing a real estate brokerage company in Vietnam offers strong business potential but requires careful compliance with specific legal and procedural rules. This article provides a clear overview of the key requirements, licensing steps, and post-establishment obligations under current regulations - from meeting statutory conditions and appointing a certified broker to completing the application and starting operations - so you can launch your brokerage smoothly and confidently.

Conditions for establishing a real estate brokerage company in Vietnam

To legally operate a real estate brokerage in Vietnam, your enterprise must satisfy several mandatory legal and operational prerequisites. These conditions are designed to ensure professionalism, transparency, and accountability in the real estate market.

Legal requirements of the enterprise

The enterprise must comply with several key legal requirements, such as having the correct business registration, appointing a certified broker, and establishing internal company regulations.

• Legal establishment: The company must be legally established under the Law on Enterprises of Vietnam. You can choose from several types of legal entities, such as a limited liability company, a joint-stock company, or a partnership.
• Business line registration: The Business Registration Certificate must include the real estate brokerage business line (Code 6820 - Real estate consultancy, brokerage, auction of real estate, and auction of land use rights).
• Internal regulations: The enterprise must have internal regulations or rules governing its real estate brokerage activities. This ensures standardized and compliant operational procedures.

Core legal requirements for a real estate brokerage company in Vietnam

Licensed real estate broker

A critical component of your company structure is having a certified professional on board:

• Under the 2023 Law on Real Estate Business, the company must have at least one person holding a Real Estate Brokerage Practicing Certificate, who must be a formal employee with at least 1 year of experience. This individual must be formally working for the enterprise.
• Note: This is a significant change from the previous law, which required a minimum of two certified brokers. The new regulation simplifies the barrier to entry while still upholding professional standards.

Facilities and technical requirements

Your business must have a proper physical presence and the necessary tools to operate effectively:

• The company must have a fixed head office or branch, office equipment, IT tools with a stable internet connection, and a website or online information page.
• Necessary equipment for brokerage activities must be available in accordance with government regulations.

Information disclosure

Transparency is a key requirement before you can begin serving clients:

• Before officially providing services, the enterprise must submit its company information dossier to the provincial real estate management authority. This information will be published on the official housing and real estate market information system.

Restrictions / prohibited acts

To maintain fairness and prevent conflicts of interest, a specific restriction applies to all transactions:

• The enterprise must not act as both the broker and a contracting party in the same transaction.

Procedures for establishing a real estate brokerage company

Registering your real estate brokerage company involves a clear, sequential process. Following these steps carefully will ensure your application is processed efficiently.

Sequential process to establish a real estate brokerage company in Vietnam

Step 1: Prepare the application dossier

The application dossier requires several key documents, including the application for enterprise registration, the company charter, and notarized copies of identification documents. A complete dossier consists of:

• Application for enterprise registration.
• Company charter (also known as the articles of association).
• List of members or shareholders, depending on the company type.
• Notarized copies of valid identification documents of the legal representative and all founding members or shareholders (e.g., ID card, passport).
• Power of attorney if submitted by an authorized person.
• Documents related to the Real Estate Brokerage Practicing Certificate for the certified individual working in the company.

Step 2: Submit the application

Once your dossier is complete, you must submit it to the appropriate government body.

• Submit the dossier to the Business Registration Office under the Department of Planning and Investment (DPI) where the company’s head office is located.
• You have two options for submission:
  • Submit directly at the office.
  • Submit online via the National Business Registration Portal.

Step 3: Receive the result

The processing time for a valid application is swift.

• Within 3–5 working days, the business registration authority will issue the Enterprise Registration Certificate if the application dossier is complete and valid.

Step 4: Post-licensing procedures

After receiving your Enterprise Registration Certificate, you must complete several critical post-licensing tasks, such as engraving the company seal, publishing your registration, registering for tax and bank account, notifying the electronic seal, and registering with the real estate authority.

• Engrave the company seal: The company has the right to decide on the design and quantity of its official seal.
• Publish enterprise registration information: You must publicly announce your new company's formation on the National Business Registration Portal.
• Submit company information to the real estate authority: Before commencing operations, you must send your company's information to the provincial real estate management authority for publication on the real estate market information system, as mentioned in the conditions.

Establishing a real estate brokerage company in Vietnam is a feasible undertaking with a clear understanding of the applicable legal framework. Key requirements include properly incorporating the enterprise with the appropriate business line, appointing at least one certified real estate broker, notifying the provincial Department of Construction, and completing the registration procedures with the Department of Planning and Investment in accordance with regulations. Compliance with these conditions not only ensures legal validity but also lays a solid and credible foundation for operations from the outset.

Ready to start your journey in Vietnam? Contact G2B today for a consultation on how to establish a company in Vietnam and to follow annual compliance requirements during operations. Let us handle the bureaucracy so you can focus on your business.