Procedures for customs processes when the VNACCS/VCIS system experiences disruptions

Professional activities of civil servants of Hanoi Customs Department. Photo: N.Linh

This procedure provides guidelines for handling customs for exported, imported, and transited goods when the VNACCS/VCIS system is fully down, rendering electronic customs processing impossible, while other customs support systems remain operational.

When the VNACCS/VCIS system is down, the following procedures will be conducted on paper:

Customs procedures for export and import goods (including goods transported from border gate to border gate carrying out customs procedure under the type of combined transportation).

Customs procedures for goods in transit, transshipment, or transported independently across border checkpoints, including: export and import goods transported independently; goods in transit through Vietnam’s land territory; transshipment goods transported between sea ports and within the same port.

For low-value goods sent via postal and express delivery services, customs procedures follow separate guidelines from the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Regarding the general principles, when the VNACCS/VCIS system experiences disruptions, customs procedures, inspections, and supervision follow these principles:

For export and import declarations already registered and assigned a declaration number in the VNACCS system, customs officials retrieve information and print two copies of the export/import goods declaration (including the results of customs clearance status) via the electronic clearance system (V5) to continue processing as outlined in this procedure.

Once the system is restored, assigned officers update the processing results in the system and resume standard procedures.

For declarations that were not registered or assigned a number in the VNACCS system, customs officials guide the declarant to complete a paper-based declaration, following Article 25 of Decree No. 08/2015/ND-CP (amended by Decree No. 59/2018/ND-CP) and continue with customs processing as specified.

For independently transported goods, declarations are completed using transport form 21a/BKVC/GSQL, Appendix V issued with Circular No. 38/2015/TT-BTC (amended by Circular No. 39/2018/TT-BTC).

For anti-dumping tax declarations and information not listed on the paper customs declaration, customs officials guide the declarant to fill in any remaining fields and specify the type of information provided.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs also includes guidelines covering general principles, channeling rules, specific processes for export customs procedures, and procedures for export, import, and transit goods transported independently.

Decision No. 2537/QD-TCHQ takes effect when the VNACCS/VCIS system encounters a disruption as announced by the General Department of Vietnam Customs. Once the system is operational again, the General Department of Vietnam Customs will issue a notification to discontinue the decision.