Vietnam Foreign Exchange Procedures to Be Simplified From July

Vietnam’s central bank will simplify 11 administrative procedures covering foreign exchange management from July 25, 2026, under a new circular aimed at improving efficiency and decentralising approvals.

The Vietnam foreign exchange procedures reforms cover foreign borrowing, overseas lending, international bond issuance, indirect investment and foreign currency accounts held abroad.

Circular No. 17/2026/TT-NHNN amends and supplements five legal documents and requires the State Bank of Vietnam to issue confirmation for complete and valid applications within five working days.

The Vietnam foreign exchange procedures overhaul also decentralises approval authority, allowing regional State Bank branch directors to confirm registrations and amendments for government-guaranteed foreign loans and international bond issuances.

For overseas lending, the Foreign Exchange Management Department will oversee loans exceeding USD10m, while regional branches will supervise loans of up to USD10m.

The reforms form part of broader efforts by Vietnam to modernise financial regulation, improve administrative efficiency and support cross-border investment activity.