Washing Machine Import Procedures According to Currently Effective Regulations in Vietnam

Washing Machine Import Procedures require high accuracy in identifying HS codes and meeting strict regulations on State quality inspection. Mastering this process not only helps enterprises clear customs quickly but also optimizes costs and avoids risks arising from technical standard deviations. The article below will help you clearly understand the detailed and accurate Washing Machine Import Procedures from A to Z.

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Table of contents

A washing machine is a household appliance pre-programmed to automatically perform stages such as water supply, soaking, washing, rinsing, and spin-drying clothes. Some high-end lines also integrate drying and ironing functions, using electricity as the main operating source. Currently, washing machines are divided into two popular types: Vertical-axis washing machines and Horizontal-axis washing machines.

Thủ tục nhập khẩu máy giặt — *A washing machine is a household appliance pre-programmed to perform activities such as soaking, washing, rinsing, and spin-drying clothes*

The basic structure of a household washing machine includes:

Motor: Available in 2 types, conventional and inverter, helping to rotate the agitator or washing drum;
Water inlet valve: Functioning to supply water into the washing drum;
Control panel: Managing all washing functions through a microcircuit system;
Washing drum: The place to contain clothes and perform washing steps;
Drivetrain: Transmitting rotational force from the motor to the washing drum;
Outer tub: Enclosing the washing drum, helping to prevent water leakage;
Drain valve: Used to drain water after each washing cycle;
Agitator/Pulsator (only in top-loading machines): Rotating to create a twisting motion to help clean clothes.

1. Legal Documents on the Import of Household Washing Machines

Before proceeding with Washing Machine Import Procedures, enterprises should refer to the following important legal documents to ensure full compliance with the law:

Decision No. 14/2023/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister issued on May 24, 2023 – Prescribing the list and roadmap of energy-using means and equipment to be discarded and low-efficiency power generating units not to be newly built.
Decision No. 04/2017/QĐ-TTg issued by the Prime Minister on March 9, 2017 – Prescribing the list of means and equipment subject to energy labeling, application of minimum energy performance standards, and the implementation roadmap.
Decision No. 1983/QĐ-TĐC issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality on October 15, 2014, prescribing the issuance of guidelines for certification in accordance with national technical regulation QCVN 9:2012 on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) for household electrical and electronic equipment and similar purposes.
Decision No. 3810/QĐ-BKHCN issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology on December 18, 2019 – Prescribing the announcement of Group 2 products and goods under the management responsibility of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Decision No. 1182/QĐ-BCT dated April 6, 2021, of the Ministry of Industry and Trade on the issuance of the list of imported items (with HS codes) subject to specialized inspection under the management responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Decision No. 2711/QĐ-BKHCN dated December 30, 2022, and Decision No. 367/QĐ-BKHCN dated March 12, 2024, issued by the Minister of Science and Technology, prescribing the announcement of the list of Group 2 products and goods within the management scope of the Ministry, to ensure quality and technical safety for items capable of causing insecurity during use.
Circular No. 36/2016/TT-BCT: Issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on December 28, 2016 – Prescribing energy labeling for means and equipment under the management scope of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (along with Consolidated Document No. 23/VBHN-BCT dated March 24, 2020).
Circular No. 11/2012/TT-BKHCN dated April 12, 2012, of the Ministry of Science and Technology issuing QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN – National technical regulation on electromagnetic compatibility for household electrical and electronic equipment and similar purposes.
Circular No. 07/2018/TT-BKHCN of the Ministry of Science and Technology dated June 6, 2018, issuing Amendment 01:2018 QCVN 09:2012/BKHCN – National technical regulation on electromagnetic compatibility for electrical and electronic equipment and similar purposes.
Circular No. 36/2019/TT-BCT issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on November 29, 2019 – Prescribing quality management of products and goods under the management scope of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Circular No. 38/2015/TT-BTC issued by the Ministry of Finance on March 25, 2015 – Prescribing customs procedures; customs inspection and supervision; export tax, import tax, and tax administration for exported and imported goods (amended and supplemented by Circular No. 39/2018/TT-BTC).
Circular No. 28/2012/TT-BKHCN issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology on December 12, 2012 – Prescribing declaration of standard conformity, declaration of regulation conformity, and methods for evaluating conformity with standards and technical regulations.
Decree No. 69/2018/NĐ-CP dated May 15, 2018, of the Government prescribing in detail a number of articles of the Law on Foreign Trade Management.
Decree No. 74/2018/NĐ-CP issued by the Government on May 15, 2018, amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 132/2008/NĐ-CP dated December 31, 2008, of the Government prescribing in detail the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality.
Consolidated Document No. 23/VBHN-BCT: Issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, prescribing in detail energy labeling for energy-using means and equipment under the management scope of the ministry.
TCVN 8526:2013 – Vietnam National Standard on household washing machines – Energy efficiency and method for determination of energy efficiency, compiled by the National Standard Technical Committee TCVN/TC/E1 Electrical machinery and apparatus, proposed by the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality, and announced by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Consolidated Text of Circulars No. 11/2012/TT-BKHCN, No. 13/2013/TT-BKHCN, and No. 07/2018/TT-BKHCN on technical regulations applied to household electrical and electronic equipment.
Value-Added Tax Law No. 13/2008/QH12 issued by the National Assembly, effective from January 1, 2009, clearly prescribing taxable objects, methods of calculation, and declaration of value-added tax, applied to production, business, and import activities of goods and services in the territory of Vietnam.
Consolidated Document No. 25/VBHN-BTC dated September 6, 2018, issued by the Ministry of Finance consolidating Circulars prescribing customs procedures; customs inspection and supervision; export tax, import tax, and tax administration for exported and imported goods.

Based on the above legal documents, washing machines belong to the list of products mandatory for quality inspection and energy labeling before being circulated on the market.

2. Customs dossiers for Washing Machine Import Procedures

To perform Washing Machine Import Procedures, enterprises must prepare dossiers as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 16 of Circular No. 38/2015/TT-BTC dated March 25, 2015, issued by the Ministry of Finance, prescribing customs procedures; customs inspection and supervision; export tax, import tax, and tax administration for exported and imported goods. This regulation was amended and supplemented in Circular No. 39/2018/TT-BTC dated April 20, 2018.

Based on that, the set of import-export documents for washing machines includes:

Customs declaration;
Commercial Invoice;
Bill of Lading;
Packing List;
Sale Contract;
Registration dossier for quality inspection;
Certificate of Origin (C/O), if any;
Product Catalog, if any.

In case the imported washing machines are subject to specialized inspection, enterprises need to supplement the following documents to complete the procedures:

Registration dossier for quality inspection of imported goods, with confirmation from the competent inspection authority.
Results of minimum energy performance testing, or a document confirming the completion of the energy performance declaration and energy labeling in accordance with legal regulations.

3. HS code and taxes when importing household washing machines

Clearly understanding the HS code helps enterprises accurately classify washing machines and determine the correct legal requirements when importing. Simultaneously, clearly understanding types of taxes will help calculate costs within the Washing Machine Import Procedures accurately, avoiding risks regarding taxes and fees. Below, we invite you to refer to the washing machine HS codes and how to determine import taxes:

3.1. Washing machine HS codes

Based on the 2025 Import-Export Tariff, household washing machines are classified under HS codes in Chapter 84 – the group of goods for nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances; and parts thereof.

Below is a summary table of HS codes for popular types of washing machines:

Product Code	Product Description
8450	Household or laundry-type washing machines, including machines with drying functions.
	– Washing machines, each of a dry linen capacity not exceeding 10 kg:
845011	– – Fully-automatic machines:
84501110	– – – Each of a dry linen capacity not exceeding 6 kg
84501190	– – – Other
845012	– – Other washing machines, with built-in centrifugal dryer:
84501210	– – – Each of a dry linen capacity not exceeding 6 kg
84501290	– – – Other
845019	– – Other:
	– – – Electrically operated:
84501911	– – – – Each of a dry linen capacity not exceeding 6 kg
84501919	– – – – Other
	– – – Other:
84501991	– – – – Each of a dry linen capacity not exceeding 6 kg
84501999	– – – – Other
84502000	– Washing machines, each of a dry linen capacity exceeding 10 kg
845090	– Components:
84509010	– – Of machines of subheading 8450.20.00
84509020	– – Of machines of subheading 8450.11, 8450.12 or 8450.19

3.2. Import taxes for household washing machines into the Vietnamese market

Import taxes for household washing machines in 2025 are applied as follows:

Ordinary import tax: 37.5%
Value-added tax (VAT): 10%

In addition, enterprises can refer to special preferential import tax rates from several main markets into Vietnam:

Note: For countries with Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), goods are only applied special preferential import tax rates if they meet the specific conditions of the agreement. If the requirements of the agreement are not met, the product will be subject to import tax according to the ordinary preferential tax rates.

4. Washing Machine Import Procedures

Procedures for importing washing machines into Vietnam require enterprises to fully comply with current legal regulations and customs documentation procedures to ensure goods are cleared in accordance with regulations. Below is a detailed guide to the necessary steps in washing machine customs procedures, helping enterprises optimize time and costs during the clearance process.

Step 1: Quality Inspection

According to Decision 3810/QĐ-BKHCN dated December 28, 2019, washing machines belong to Group 2, so quality inspection is mandatory before customs clearance. Enterprises need to register for inspection at the Department of Standards, Metrology and Quality in the same province/city where the customs declaration is opened.

Implementation steps:

1. Online dossier registration

Create an account on the National Single Window portal (vnsw.gov.vn).
After approval (approximately 24 hours), submit the inspection registration dossier and select a testing laboratory designated by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).
The dossier includes: Quality inspection registration form (4 original copies), sales contract, invoice, packing list, bill of lading, C/O.

2. Sampling and testing

Enterprises coordinate with the inspection unit to take samples at the port or warehouse.
Samples will be tested at a testing unit with sufficient capacity (designated or recognized).
Note: Washing machine test results only serve certification/declaration of conformity and do not replace the Certificate of Conformity.

3. Updating results and approval

When results are available, the enterprise/inspection unit uploads the data to the single window system.
The Department of Standards, Metrology and Quality will review and respond with approval or rejection of the dossier.

Step 2: Opening the customs declaration

After preparing the full set of documents for Washing Machine Import Procedures, enterprises can proceed with customs declaration via electronic declaration software. According to regulations, within 30 days from the date the goods arrive at the port, the customs declarant must complete the declaration. Beyond this time, the enterprise will be subject to administrative penalties according to the regulations of the customs authority.

After declaration, the system will return the results of the declaration flow (green, yellow, red). Based on this result, the enterprise needs to print the declaration and bring the dossier to the Customs Branch to open the declaration. Opening the declaration should be done within 15 days from the date of declaration. If the deadline is exceeded, the customs declaration will be canceled and the enterprise may be fined.

Note: Immediately after having the official declaration, enterprises need to quickly contact the Customs Branch to complete the Washing Machine Import Procedures, avoiding prolonged time, which affects delivery progress and incurs unnecessary costs.

Step 3: Proceed with Testing & Conformity Certification

After successful registration, the enterprise only needs to submit the testing laboratory confirmation slip to perform quality inspection sampling. Sampling can be performed at the port or at the warehouse where the washing machines are imported. If the enterprise wants to bring goods to the warehouse, please contact Phuc Gia for detailed advice.

In addition, washing machine products need to complete 3 mandatory certifications before being circulated on the Vietnamese market:

Electrical safety & electromagnetic compatibility certification – according to QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN, ensuring the device does not cause electromagnetic interference affecting other devices and is safe for users.
Energy labeling certification – according to energy-saving regulations, helping consumers identify the power consumption efficiency of the product.
Conformity certification & CR mark – according to the regulations designated by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) for washing machines to be circulated on the market.

If enterprises are wondering whether the intended testing laboratory is designated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), you can directly contact the testing unit to request the designation decision. Additionally, information can be looked up on the official website of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to ensure transparency and accuracy.

Phuc Gia® is one of the testing laboratories designated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) to perform energy efficiency testing for household washing machines under Energy Efficiency Testing Registration Certificate No. 15/GCN-BCT.

Phuc Gia® possesses a team of nearly 100 experienced experts and technicians with a modern laboratory system. We are ready to accompany enterprises in every stage – from technical consultancy and testing to preparing the dossier for Energy Labeling Declaration for Washing Machines, helping to optimize time and costs.

Step 4: Customs clearance of the declaration

The testing laboratory will issue the results for the enterprise to submit to the customs authority. Enterprises will use these results to complete the dossier. After checking the full dossier and finding no issues, the customs officer will accept the declaration and allow the clearance of the goods. At this point, the enterprise can perform import tax obligations to complete the procedures. In case your enterprise wants to bring goods to the warehouse, please contact Phuc Gia for specific guidance.

Step 5: Bringing goods to the warehouse

After the declaration is cleared, the enterprise will proceed to liquidate the declaration and perform necessary procedures to bring the goods to the warehouse. To ensure the process of receiving goods goes smoothly, enterprises need to prepare full documents such as the delivery order (D/O), arrange suitable transportation, and ensure that the goods have been allowed by the customs authority to leave the supervision area.

Note: In case an enterprise plans to distribute goods to the market, it is mandatory to complete the procedures as prescribed, including: testing and certification of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), conformity certification, energy efficiency testing, and energy labeling for the product. These are mandatory requirements to ensure the product meets technical standards and is allowed to circulate legally in Vietnam.

5. Things to note when performing Washing Machine Import Procedures

When performing Washing Machine Import Procedures, your enterprise needs to note several things:

Goods are only cleared once the enterprise completes all tax obligations to the State.
Used household washing machines are in the category of goods prohibited from import according to Decree 69/2018/NĐ-CP dated May 15, 2018, of the Government – Prescribing that used electronic, refrigeration, and household electrical items, including household washing machines, belong to the list of goods prohibited from import into Vietnam. Therefore, enterprises are not allowed to import them in any form.
Based on Decision No. 14/2023/QĐ-TTg dated May 24, 2023, household washing machine products are mandatory to undergo energy efficiency testing according to TCVN 8526:2013 and must reach the Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS).
To distribute washing machines on the market, the product must be affixed with a valid energy label according to Decision 04/2017/QĐ-TTg issued by the Prime Minister on March 9, 2017.
Validity of testing and energy labels: According to Chapter II, Article 4, in Circular 36/2016/TT-BCT issued on December 28, 2016, by the Ministry of Industry and Trade: “Test results are the basis for energy labeling for products with the same model, same technical specifications, same origin, and same manufacturing facility. Test results are valid indefinitely, except in cases where competent state agencies discover errors in the test results or errors/violations by the testing organization.” Therefore, the energy label for each model is valid indefinitely, unless the product has improvements or changes in efficiency and capacity.

We hope the information above has helped enterprises clearly understand the Washing Machine Import Procedures, from quality inspection, electromagnetic compatibility testing, conformity certification, and energy efficiency testing to the energy labeling declaration. If you are looking for a professional partner in the field of testing and certification, Phuc Gia is the reliable choice!

For more details, please contact us at:

PHUC GIA LABORATORY CORPORATION

PHUC GIA CERTIFICATION CENTER

PHUC GIA INSPECTION TESTING CENTER

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