On December 31, 2024, the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IP Vietnam) issued Notice No. 4090/TB-SHTT, announcing that the 50% reduction in certain Industrial Property (IP) fees will officially end on January 1, 2025. This marks the conclusion of a fee reduction policy that has been in effect for six consecutive periods, introduced to support businesses during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Effective January 1, 2025, standard IP fee rates outlined in Circular No. 263/2016/TT-BTC, issued by the Ministry of Finance on November 14, 2016, will resume.
Continued Fee Reductions for Online IP Procedures
Despite the end of the general fee reduction policy, businesses can still benefit from a 50% reduction in fees for online IP procedures. This ongoing reduction, established under Circular No. 63/2023/TT-BTC, will be effective from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025. The reduced fees apply to procedures listed in Item A of Circular No. 263/2016/TT-BTC and aim to encourage the use of online public services.
Applicable Online Procedures
The fee reduction applies to the following online IP procedures:
- Filing of IP applications
- Granting of patents and trademark certificates
- Records of IP assignments
- Payment of annuities and renewals for patents and trademark certificates
- Terminations and invalidations for patents and trademark certificates
- Granting of IP attorney certificates
- Publication and registration of IP agents
Currently, the availability of online IP services is limited to filing patents, industrial design, and trademark applications. However, additional procedures are being developed and launched for official use.
The conclusion of Vietnam’s general IP fee reduction policy reflects a return to pre-pandemic norms. However, the continuation of fee reductions for online IP procedures highlights the government’s efforts to modernize and encourage the use of digital public services. Businesses are encouraged to leverage these ongoing incentives to streamline their IP-related activities and reduce costs during the transition.
