Notable changes to construction capacity requirements under Decree 212

On 17 June 2026, the Government issued Decree No. 212/2026/ND-CP (“Decree 212”) prescribing requirements on construction activity capacity, the information system, and the national database on construction activities. Decree 212 consists of 06 Chapters, 58 Articles, and 04 Appendices, takes effect from 1 July 2026, and replaces Decree No. 111/2024/ND-CP and the relevant provisions of Decree No. 175/2024/ND-CP. Key points regarding the Information System and National database on construction activities, construction activity capacity of individuals and organizations, and construction operation permits for foreign contractors are as follows:

• The information systems developed and implemented by the Ministry of Construction include:
  • The Information System on Construction Activities, operated at https://csdlhdxd.gov.vn, comprising the national database on construction activities and related data; information technology infrastructure serving data storage, processing, connection and sharing; application software, software services, and cloud computing platforms serving the management, operation and use of information. 
  • The information system and database on construction norms, construction prices, and construction price indices, which are developed and operated independently at https://cemia.gov.vn.
• The national database on construction activities is collected, established, and updated based on the results of administrative procedures processed, issued and standardized by competent state authorities and specialized construction authorities, as well as other sources into the Information System. It comprises the following four main groups of data:
  • Data on urban and rural planning
  • Data on construction investment projects and construction works
  • Data on construction norms, construction prices, and construction price indices
  • Data on construction activity capacity
• Each urban and rural planning scheme, construction investment project, construction work, organization and individual participating in construction activities will be assigned a unique identification code once the relevant information is created or updated on the system. This identification code shall be used throughout the management process of the relevant entity to ensure the data consistency and synchronisation, and to minimize duplication of information among authorities and localities. The results of administrative procedure processing and related dossiers must be associated with the assigned identification code and updated on the Information System on Construction Activities. Competent state authorities and relevant organizations and individuals are responsible for integrating the creation, update, and management of identification codes into the administrative procedure processing process in accordance with the law. 
  Accordingly, Decree 212 reflects the policy direction of further promoting the digitalisation of state management in the construction sector through the Information System on Construction Activities, thereby establishing a foundation for the comprehensive implementation of administrative procedures in the construction sector, in line with the national digital transformation agenda and the current administrative procedure reform policy.

Based on Clause 1, Article 88 of the 2025 Law on Construction regarding positions required to hold a construction practising certificate (“CPC”), Decree 212 narrows the scope of CPC issuance to 04 fields, namely: construction surveying, urban and rural planning, construction design, and construction supervision. Accordingly, CPCs are no longer applicable to the fields of construction valuation and construction investment project management; instead, the requirement for a project management CPC has been replaced with professional practice conditions for project management. For individuals who submitted applications for CPC issuance in these two fields prior to the effective date of Decree 212, the competent authority shall not issue such CPCs.

Decree 212 abolishes the examination requirement for applicants seeking CPC issuance. Accordingly, individuals applying for a CPC are no longer required to participate in an examination, as previously required, in order to be considered for certificate issuance. For applications submitted prior to the effective date of the Decree and meeting the conditions for examination, the issuance of CPCs shall continue to be carried out based on the assessment results of the Council without conducting an examination. For individuals who participated in an examination but did not achieve a passing result prior to the effective date of the Decree, CPC issuance shall be carried out in accordance with the new regulations.

Another notable change under Decree 212 is that the provincial-level People’s Committee is now the sole competent authority responsible for organizing the issuance of CPCs, while professional social organizations no longer have such authority. Based on local conditions and practical circumstances, provincial-level People's Committees may decentralise or delegate the authority to issue CPCs to local government bodies.

The above changes demonstrate a trend toward administrative procedure reform in the construction sector in a more transparent, simplified, and efficient manner, thereby not only facilitating individuals engaged in professional practice but also contributing to enhancing the effectiveness of state management over construction activities.

Decree 212 elaborates on Clause 6, Article 88 of the Law on Construction 2025 regarding the complete abolition of the requirement for Construction Activity Capacity Certificate; instead, organizations participating in construction activities are required to self-disclose information on their construction activity capacity on the website of the Ministry of Construction, including: name, address, legal representative, enterprise code or establishment decision, construction activity capacity, grade, and scope of practice according to the capacity certificate previously issued (if any).

Accordingly, organizations participating in construction activities shall access the System at https://csdlhdxd.gov.vn/enterprise/ to register an account and update and disclose capacity information in accordance with the regulations and guidance of the Ministry of Construction.

The legal representative of the organization shall bear full responsibility for the accuracy and truthfulness of the disclosed information. Any update, amendment, or correction of information must be recorded in the log on the System.

This regulation contributes to the establishment of a centralized database on the capacity of organizations engaged in construction activities, supporting project owners in assessing and selecting contractors, while enhancing the responsibility of organizations to maintain and disclose capacity information in a truthful, accurate, and up-to-date manner.

A notable point of Decree 212 is the significant reduction in the time limit for processing applications for the issuance or amendment of Construction Permits for foreign contractors. Specifically, the competent authority has a maximum of 06 working days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid application dossier to review and issue or amend the permit.

This contributes to the simplification of administrative procedures, accelerates the implementation of construction activities involving foreign elements, and facilitates the participation of foreign contractors in projects in Vietnam. The reduction of the dossier processing time also demonstrates the efforts of state authorities to improve the investment and business environment and enhance the efficiency of administrative procedure settlement in the construction sector.