License For Receiving Foreign Television Programs Directly From Satellites

1. The below applicants shall submit dossiers of application for licenses to receive foreign television programs directly from satellites to the Press Department of the Ministry of Culture and Information:
   • Leaders of the Communist Party, State and central socio-political organization from Deputy head of the Communist Party Committee or equivalent; Deputy Minister or equivalent; Vice Chairman of the socio-political organization and equivalent);
   • Functional divisions of Ministry of Police, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Central specialized agency of the Party and State;
   • Editorial office of daily newspapers; Central, Hanoi and Hochiminh city foreign relation newspaper; newspaper of the central socio-political organizations;
   • Vietnam Television; Voice of Vietnam; Regional television and radio under the national television and radio; Television and radio of the province and central-governed cities;
   • Foreign organizations in Vietnam;
   • Permanent office of the foreign press and news agencies.
2. The below applicants shall submit dossiers of application for licenses to receive foreign television programs directly from satellites to the Culture and Information Services of the provinces or centrally-run cities where the equipment for receiving foreign television programs directly from satellites is to be installed:
   • Provincial leaders from Deputy Secretary of the Party’s provincial committee, municipal committee of the Party, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee, Provincial People’s Council, central-governed city and above;
   • Specialized agencies of Provincial Committee of the Party, Municipal committee of the Party, the People’s Committee, the People’s Council of the Province and central-governed cities;
   •  Offices of enterprises with 100 percent foreign invested; offices of Vietnamese economics, culture, science, tourist organizations cooperation with foreign party and have foreign expatriates working;
   • Foreigner permanently resides in Vietnam; foreigners stay in hotel/motel with 1 star rated and above.

Fee: Unspecified

Duration: 5 years

• The Dossiers for the subjects granted by Ministry of Culture and Information shall consist of:
  1. A declaration applying for a license, made according to a set form;
  2. The written certification of the location of installation of the equipment for receiving foreign television programs directly from satellites (a notarized copy of the decision on the establishment of the applying agency or organization, house ownership certificate, house-renting contract?);
  3. A copy of the appointment decision or a written proposal of the head of the managing agency;
  4. The written certification and proposal of the Foreign Ministry of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,
• The Dossiers for the subjects granted by Provincial Department of Culture and Information shall consist of:
  1. A declaration applying for a license, made according to a set form;
  2. The written certification of the location where the equipment for receiving foreign television programs directly from satellites is to be installed (a notarized copy of the decision on the establishment of the applying agency or organization, house ownership certificate, house-renting contract);
  3. The written proposal of the head of the managing agency,
  4. A notarized copy of the investment license or operation license,
  5. The written certification of the reason for permanent residence in Vietnam, issued by competent authorities, for the subjects being foreigners permanently residing in Vietnam;
  6. A notarized copy of the decision recognizing one-star or higher class, issued by the agency performing the State management over tourism, and a notarized copy of the dossier on the setting up of the tourist accommodation establishment, for the subjects being tourist accommodation establishments where stay foreign tourists

1. Applicants submit the dossier to the Ministry of Culture and Information (the Press Department) or the provincial/municipal Culture and Information Services;
2. Within 15 days after receiving the valid dossiers, the Ministry of Culture and Information or the provincial/municipal Culture and Information Services shall have to consider and grant licenses to receive foreign television programs directly from satellites. In case of refusal to grant such licenses, the Ministry of Culture and Information or the provincial/municipal Culture and Information Services shall reply and clearly state the reasons therefore. Organizations and individuals that are not granted the licenses shall be entitled to lodge complaints according to law provisions.

Ministry of Culture and Information

• Only after obtaining the licenses to receive foreign television programs directly from satellites can the licensed subjects proceed with the installation and use of the equipment for receiving foreign television programs.
• For the subjects that are licensed to receive foreign television programs directly from satellites but operate or reside in Vietnam for less than 5 years, the validity of their licenses shall correspond to their operation or residence duration (on the basis of the operation licenses, residence permits, house-renting contracts)
• Upon the expiry of their licenses, if the licensed subjects wish to continue receiving foreign television programs directly from satellites they shall fill in the procedures of application for licenses as for the first-time application.
• If the licensed subjects no longer need to receive foreign television programs directly from satellites, they must dismantle by themselves the equipment for receiving foreign television programs and return their licenses to the licensing bodies