Legal basis

• Press law 2016
• Circular on guidelines for issuance of licenses for operating print newspaper, print magazine, electronic newspaper or electronic magazine, publishing additional publication, operating two types of new media, opening special page for an electronic newspaper or electronic magazine, publishing supplement, publishing paper newsletter and publishing special issue.

Conditions

• The principles and purposes are consistent with the functions and tasks of the governing body; for those serving; domain name, where the server is located and the connection service provider.
• Having a plan on organization and personnel to ensure the operation of the press agency; having a person who fully meets the criteria specified in Clause 2, Article 23 of the Press Law to assume the position of head of a press agency.
• Having the name and form of presentation of the name of the press agency; name and form of presentation of press publications.
• Having a head office and physical and technical facilities; financial plan; have technical solutions to ensure information safety and security; have at least one registered domain name “.vn” following the press name and use the server system located in Vietnam.
• Conform to the national planning on press development and management approved by the Prime Minister.

The procedure

Agencies or organizations specified in Article 14 of the Law on Press, fully satisfying the conditions prescribed in Article 17 of the Law on Press, and wishing to operate printed and electronic magazines, shall make 01 application for a license of printed and electronic magazines are sent directly, via the postal system or through the electronic environment to the Ministry of Information and Communications. If a press agency that is operating a printed or an electronic magazine has one or two licenses that are about to expire and wishes to continue its journalism activities, the press-managing agency shall make 1 set of application documents for a license to operate printed and electronic magazines shall be sent directly, via the postal system or the electronic environment to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

If a press agency operating a printed or electronic magazine fully meets the conditions prescribed in Article 17 of the Press Law and wishes to conduct another type of journalism, the press-managing agency shall make 1 set of application for operating licenses of printed and electronic magazines shall be sent directly, via the postal system or through the electronic environment, to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

The press agency shall re-grant the operation license of printed and electronic magazines, the press-managing agency shall make 1 set of dossiers of application for re-grant of the operation license of printed and electronic magazines and send it directly to to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Within 90 days from the date of receipt of complete and valid dossiers, the Ministry of Information and Communications is responsible for granting and re-granting operating licenses for printed and electronic magazines; In case of refusal, a written notice must be given, clearly stating the reasons therefor.

The dossier

• An application form for a license to conduct two types of journalism
• Operational scheme (signed by a competent person and stamped or digitally signed by the agency or organization applying for the license) summarizing the contents of the project specified at Point b, Clause 1, Article 6 and of the project specified at point b, clause 1, Article 11 of the Circular No. 41/2020/TT-BTTTT dated December 24, 2020, of the Minister of Information and Communications and attached documents.
• Expected list of personnel of print and electronic magazine agencies
• Curriculum vitae of the person expected to be the Editor-in-Chief
• The form for presenting the name of the printed magazine as specified at Point dd, Clause 1, Article 6, the form for presenting the interface of the homepage of the electronic magazine as prescribed at Point dd, Clause 1, Article 11 of Circular No. 41/2020/ TT-BTTTT dated December 24, 2020, of the Minister of Information and Communications, certified by the agency or organization applying for a license.

The competent authority

Ministry of Information and Communication

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