You have the capital, the curriculum, and the vision for a language training center in Vietnam. What you do not have is a clear map of which government office handles what, which decree applies to your situation, and why the minimum investment requirement seems to shift depending on whether you own or rent your premises. The regulatory landscape changed significantly in 2026: Decrees 360 and 361/2026/NĐ-CP took effect on September 17, 2026, replacing earlier provisions and reshaping the licensing pathway for education projects. A foreign-invested language center is classified as a short-term training and development facility under Article 2.2 of Decree 86/2018/ND-CP, which means you must clear two distinct licensing hurdles: an Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) and a Decision to Permit Educational Activities. This guide walks you through the exact conditions, the required dossier, a copyable project proposal template, the step-by-step filing procedure, and the common mistakes that send applications back for revision.
Legal Framework and Classification of a Foreign-Invested Language Center
The establishment of a foreign-invested language training center in Vietnam is governed by a layered legal framework. The foundational instruments are:
- Law on Education No. 43/2019/QH14, which establishes the general legal basis for continuing education activities at Article 42.
- Decree 86/2018/ND-CP on foreign cooperation and investment in the field of education, which classifies a foreign-invested language center as a short-term training and development facility under Article 2.2.
- Decree 125/2024/ND-CP, effective October 5, 2024, which sets the conditions, authority, and procedures for investment and operation in the education sector, replacing Decree 46/2017/ND-CP and its amendments.
- Decree 360/2026/ND-CP, effective September 17, 2026, which addresses continuing education institutions, including language centers, and sets financial conditions for private education projects.
- Circular 21/2018/TT-BGDDT, which provides the organizational and operational regulations for foreign language and informatics centers.
Under Article 31.1 of Decree 86/2018/ND-CP, the licensing procedure involves two steps: first, obtaining the Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) from the provincial Department of Planning and Investment; second, obtaining the Decision to Permit Educational Activities from the Director of the provincial Department of Education and Training (DOET) or the university council, depending on where the center is located.
Conditions for Establishing a Foreign-Invested Language Center
To establish a foreign-invested language training center, you must satisfy conditions across five categories: naming, investment capital, facilities, educational program, and personnel. These conditions are set by Decree 86/2018/ND-CP and Decree 125/2024/ND-CP.
1. Name of the Center
The center's name must follow a specific order: "Education or training center" + "Main training sector or group of sectors" + proper name. The name must not be identical to or confusing with a registered educational institution or the enterprise implementing the investment project. It must not use words or symbols that violate Vietnamese historical traditions, culture, ethics, or customs.
2. Investment Capital
- Building a headquarters: The minimum investment must be 20 million VND per student, excluding land use costs. The total minimum investment capital is calculated based on the highest projected enrollment scale.
- Renting a head office: The investment level must reach at least 70% of the prescribed investment capital levels for building a headquarters.
- Capital commitment: By the time of appraisal for permission to operate education, the investment value must be over 50% of the total investment capital, and the investor must commit to investing enough capital within 5 years from the date of the decision to allow operation.
3. Facilities and Equipment
- The center must have a stable location with classrooms, functional rooms, and teaching equipment that meet the requirements of the specific continuing education program.
- The area used for learning and teaching must be at least 2.5 m² per student on average.
- There must be offices for the board of directors, leaders, a teachers' room, a library, and other functional rooms.
- If renting facilities, the lease term must be for a period of at least 5 years.
4. Educational Program
The center may teach the Vietnamese education program according to Vietnamese law, and short-term foreign language training and development programs within the framework of training partnerships with foreign countries.
5. Personnel and Staff
- The organizational structure includes a Manager, Deputy Director (if any), professional and technical departments, and advisory boards (if any).
- Teachers must have a college degree in foreign languages or equivalent, with training appropriate to the assigned teaching specialty.
- The student-to-teacher ratio is 25 students per teacher.
- For native foreign language teachers: a college degree or higher and a suitable certificate in foreign language teaching.
- For non-native foreign teachers: a diploma in foreign language pedagogy at the college level or higher, or a college degree in foreign languages plus a suitable teaching certificate, or a college degree plus a language proficiency certificate of level 5 or above plus a suitable teaching certificate.
Required Documents Checklist for the Educational Activities License
The dossier for the Decision to Permit Educational Activities is filed with the provincial Department of Education and Training. Under Clause 2, Article 44 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP, the required documents are:
- Submission form (Form No. 01, Appendix I): Request for establishment or permission for establishment of the center.
- Establishment scheme (Form No. 02, Appendix I): Detailing the necessity, objectives, scale, and operation plan, clarifying the capacity to meet conditions under Article 43 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP.
- Legal documents for location: Copies of documents proving land use rights, house ownership, or location lease contracts ensuring stability.
- Investment confirmation: For private centers or university centers outside the campus, a document confirming the investment amount is mandatory.
- Draft regulations on organization and operation: Clearly defining the organizational structure, functions, tasks, and powers of the departments within the center.
- Personal profile of the proposed director: Including their CV, degree, and relevant qualifications.
- List and qualifications of teaching staff: Evidence of degrees, teaching certificates, and language proficiency for all proposed teachers.
For the IRC application (Step 1), the dossier typically includes the investment registration application form, a copy of the investor's passport or enterprise registration certificate, the project proposal, financial capacity evidence, and documents on the proposed location. The exact components should be confirmed with the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, as requirements can vary slightly by locality.
Copyable Establishment Scheme Template
Below is a copyable template for the Establishment Scheme required under Form No. 02, Appendix I of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP. Replace every bracketed placeholder with your own information.
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SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Independence – Freedom – Happiness
---ESTABLISHMENT SCHEME FOR A FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRAINING CENTERTo: [Name of Provincial Department of Education and Training]SECTION 1: GENERAL INFORMATIONCenter name: [Proposed Center Name, following naming order]Type of center: Foreign-invested short-term training and development facilityProposed location: [Full Address of Center]Legal basis: SECTION 2: NECESSITY AND LEGAL BASIS FOR ESTABLISHMENT[Demonstrate the local demand for foreign language training in theproposed area, the absence or insufficiency of existing centers, andthe legal grounds for establishment.]SECTION 3: OBJECTIVES, FUNCTIONS, AND TASKSTraining objectives: [Describe the language programs to be offered]Target students: [Vietnamese and/or foreign learners]Scope of training: [Number of students, course levels]SECTION 4: TRAINING SCALE AND CURRICULUMPlanned enrollment: [Number of students at maximum scale]Courses offered: [List specific languages and levels]Curriculum framework: [Describe alignment with MOET regulations]SECTION 5: FACILITIES PLANLocation stability: [Owned or leased premises, lease term]Classroom area: [Total area in m², average m² per student]Functional rooms: [List of offices, library, teachers' room, etc.]Teaching equipment: [Description of equipment to be installed]SECTION 6: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTUREDirector: [Full Name], [Qualifications]Deputy Director (if any): [Full Name], [Qualifications]Professional departments: [List]Advisory boards (if any): [List]SECTION 7: FINANCIAL PLANTotal investment capital: [Amount in VND]Investment per student: [Amount in VND, not less than 20 millionVND/student for construction; not less than 70% of that for rental]Capital committed by operating approval date: [Percentage, minimum 50%]Capital commitment period: [Maximum 5 years from operating license]SECTION 8: CONCLUSION[Summarize the center's capacity to meet all conditions under Article 43of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP and request approval.][City], [Date]Signature[Applicant Name / Authorized Representative]Step-by-Step Licensing Procedure: From IRC to Operating License
The licensing process follows a mandatory two-step sequence under Decree 86/2018/ND-CP. Understanding each stage helps you prepare a complete filing and avoid delays.
Step 1: Obtain the Investment Registration Certificate (IRC)
File the IRC application with the provincial Department of Planning and Investment (DPI) where the center will be located. The dossier includes the investment registration application, investor identification documents, project proposal, financial capacity evidence, and location documentation. The DPI reviews the application and, subject to compliance with investment conditions, issues the IRC. This certificate establishes the legal basis for your foreign-invested entity to operate in Vietnam.
Step 2: Apply for the Decision to Permit Educational Activities
Once the IRC is obtained, prepare the dossier for the educational activities license as listed in the required documents section. File this dossier with the provincial Department of Education and Training (DOET).
The processing timeline for the educational activities license is:
- 10 working days from receipt of a valid and complete dossier for appraisal.
- 5 working days thereafter for issuance of the decision if the center meets conditions.
If the dossier is incomplete or the center does not meet conditions, the DOET will issue a written notice specifying what needs to be revised or supplemented. You generally have one opportunity to complete the dossier without restarting the process.
Step 3: Post the License and Begin Operations
After receiving the Decision to Permit Educational Activities, the licensing authority will post a notice on its website. The center may then officially commence operations in accordance with its approved scheme and regulations.
Common Mistakes That Delay or Derail a Language Center Application
- Using the wrong investment threshold: A language center is classified as a continuing education institution, not a general school. Applying the VND 50 million per student threshold for general schools instead of the VND 20 million per student threshold for language centers will result in a rejected scheme.
- Renting premises without a 5-year lease: Foreign-invested educational institutions are allowed to rent stable facilities for a period of at least 5 years. A lease for a shorter term will fail the location stability requirement.
- Insufficient classroom space: The 2.5 m² per student average area requirement is strictly enforced. A center with cramped classrooms will fail the facility appraisal.
- Unqualified teaching staff: Each teacher must meet the specific degree and certificate requirements. For non-native foreign teachers, a college degree alone is not sufficient—a language proficiency certificate of level 5 or above and a suitable teaching certificate are also required.
- Filing the educational license before obtaining the IRC: The two-step process requires the IRC first. Filing the educational activities dossier without the IRC will cause the DOET to return the application.
- Incomplete establishment scheme: The scheme must clearly address necessity, objectives, scale, facilities, personnel, and financial plan. A vague or incomplete scheme will be returned for revision, delaying the process by weeks.
- Submitting uncertified translations: All foreign-language documents must be translated with notarization or authentication. Freelance translations without a seal are not accepted.
Processing Time, Fees, and Submission Locations
Processing time: The educational activities license procedure under Decree 125/2024/ND-CP involves a 10 working day appraisal period from receipt of a valid dossier, followed by 5 working days for issuance of the decision. The IRC timeline at the Department of Planning and Investment is separate and should be confirmed with the DPI directly, as it depends on the completeness of the investment dossier and the complexity of the project.
Fees: Vietnamese law does not specify a single fixed fee for the language center establishment procedure. Costs may arise from translation and notarization of foreign documents, legal representation if you engage a Vietnamese education attorney, and facility preparation costs. Confirm all applicable fees with the receiving authority before submission.
Submission locations:
- Department of Planning and Investment (DPI): For the Investment Registration Certificate. File at the provincial DPI where the center will be located.
- Department of Education and Training (DOET): For the Decision to Permit Educational Activities. File at the provincial DOET. The Director of the DOET has authority to decide for centers proposed by private organizations or individuals located in the province.
- University or Academy Councils: For centers located within the campus of a university or pedagogical college, the university or academy council has the authority to decide on establishment.
Applications may be submitted in person, by postal service, or through the online public service portal, depending on the receiving authority's accepted channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum investment for a foreign-invested language center in Vietnam?
If you build a headquarters, the minimum investment is 20 million VND per student, excluding land use costs. If you rent a head office, the investment must reach at least 70% of that level. By the time of appraisal for the operating license, the investment value must be over 50% of the total investment capital.
How long does it take to get a language center license in Vietnam?
The educational activities license procedure involves a 10 working day appraisal period from receipt of a valid dossier, followed by 5 working days for issuance of the decision. The IRC timeline at the Department of Planning and Investment is separate and depends on the investment dossier.
Can I rent premises for a foreign-invested language center in Vietnam?
Yes, you may rent premises. However, foreign-invested educational institutions are allowed to rent stable facilities for a period of at least 5 years. A shorter lease term will not meet the location stability requirement.
What qualifications do foreign teachers need to teach at a language center in Vietnam?
For native foreign language teachers: a college degree or higher and a suitable certificate in foreign language teaching. For non-native foreign teachers: a diploma in foreign language pedagogy at the college level or higher, or a college degree in foreign languages plus a suitable teaching certificate, or a college degree plus a language proficiency certificate of level 5 or above plus a suitable teaching certificate.
Which authority issues the language center operating license in Vietnam?
The Director of the provincial Department of Education and Training (DOET) issues the Decision to Permit Educational Activities for centers proposed by private organizations or individuals. For centers located within a university or pedagogical college campus, the university or academy council has the authority to decide.