Step by Step: How to Import Rice

To import Rice to Lao PDR, you need to obtain an import license from the Office of Industry and Commerce at Provincial level or Vientiane Capital or the Agricultre and Forestry Authority. You must present the import license along with other documents at the border. Failure to do so may result in the rejection or confiscation of your goods.

  1. Step 1

    Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC)

    • Prepare Applications along with all required documents.
    • Submit the application to the Department of Enterprise Registration, Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
    • If the application is approved, a Business Registration Certificate will be issued to the trader with a TIN
    • Register the TIN with the Tax Department, Ministry of Finance.

    See Procedure

  2. Step 2

    Department of Foreign Trade (DFT), Ministry of Industry and Commerce

    • Prepare Applications along with all required documents.
    • Submit the application to DFT.
    • The application is then evaluated by DFT.
    • If the application is approved, Traders become registered Importers. If not, the application is rejected with the reasons for the rejection.

    See Procedure

  3. Step 3

    Provincial/Vientiane Capital Agriculture and Forestry Division or, Department of Planning and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

    • Submit Application along with all required documents.
    • Review of the application by Department of Planning and Cooperation.
    • Submit additional information if required.
    • Collect the Business Licence after successful review.

    See Procedure

  4. Step 4

    Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry or, Office of Industry and Commerce at Provincial level or Vientiane Capital

    • Submission to the Office of Industry and Commerce at Provicial level or Vientiane Capital:

    (1) Application for import permit;

    (2) Copies of documents according to each case;

    (3) Enterprise registration or legal concession registration (for enterprises in Lao PDR); Or

    (4) Enterprise registration issued by the official of the relevant country in accordance with the law (for enterprises not located in Lao PDR). But must make a rice purchase-sale contract with a company that is authorized to conduct rice-sale business in Lao PDR.

    (5) In the case of documents in a foreign language, they must be translated into Lao with certification from the Lao PDR's court registry office.

    • Submission to the Agriculture and Forestry Authority:

    (1) application form;

    (2) Enterprise registration (for distribution or investment);

    (3) Agricultural and forestry business license (for doing a business);

    (4) Import and domestic use plan (in the case of importing several times per year);

    (5) Experimental research plan (for doing research);

    (6) Power of Attorney (representative);

    (7) Invoice (once only);

    (8) Packing slip (once only);

    (9) Agreement to implement import conditions (if any).

    • Collect the Import License when it is ready.

    See Procedure

  5. Step 5

    Lao PDR Customs or Inspection Authority at Border

    • At the check point the following documents are required for Agriculture and Forestry Authority Check:

    1) Import license issued by the Department of Agriculture or the Provincial/Vientiane Capital of Agriculture and Forestry Division;

    2) Phytosanitary certificate or Phytosanitary certificate for export to the exporting country;

    3) product list and invoice;

    4) Product treatment certificate;

    5) Certificate or report on field inspection results;

    6) Records of production facilities;

    7) Certificate of origin;

    8) Other relevant documents as determined by the Department of Agriculture in each period.

    • While inspecting the plant sanitary certificate, the plant quarantine officer checks the validity of the plant sanitary certificate which includes the following:

    1) A phytosanitary certificate is valid according to the type approved by the international standard for phytosanitary measures;

    2) The validity of the phytosanitary certificate must not exceed fourteen days from the date of issuance of the phytosanitary certificate and the shipment of the package from the exporting country;

    3) All information are in English;

    4) Include complete information, scientific name and common name of the product package;

    5) date, month, year of issue of plant Phytosanitary certificate;

    6) issuing and sealing by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of the exporting country;

    7) There are additional declarations as specified in the import license.

    • Approvals by the Agriculture Authority
    • Pay Customs Duty
    • Release Goods from Customs

    See Procedure