CO FORM VK – IMPORTANT NOTES ON CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN FORM VK

If you are involved in the field of import-export or international trade, a Certificate of Origin (CO) is an indispensable document. There are various forms of CO, such as CO form A, CO form D, CO form E, and others. In this article, Smart Link Logistics will help you better understand CO form VK and the important considerations related to this form.

1. What is CO form VK?

The Certificate of Origin form VK (sometimes referred to as C/O form VK and still recognized) is a document issued for goods originating from Vietnam and exported to South Korea. C/O form VK is issued based on the Vietnam-Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA), which has been effective since December 20, 2015.

C/O form VK is regarded as a crucial document in the import-export activities between Vietnam and South Korea. Goods accompanied by this document benefit from tax incentives, often in the form of reduced tariffs. This agreement allows both exporters and importers to save on costs during the trade process.

C/O form VK is issued under the guidelines of the VKFTA and complies with specific legal documents, such as:

Circular 40/2015/TT-BCT: Regulations on the implementation of the rules of origin in the Vietnam-Korea Free Trade Agreement.
Circular 48/2015/BCT: Amendments to Circular 40/2015/TT-BCT (dated November 18, 2005) by the Ministry of Industry and Trade regarding the implementation of the rules of origin in the Vietnam-Korea Free Trade Agreement.
Decree 149/2017/NĐ-CP: Regulations on Vietnam’s special preferential import tariff schedule to implement the VKFTA for the period 2018 – 2022.

2. Application dossier for CO form VK

Similar to other CO forms, applying for C/O form VK requires a set of documents that provide detailed information about the goods, the importer, and the exporter. The information must be consistent to avoid rejection. Below is a list of documents needed for the application dossier:

Application for C/O issuance (1 copy, as per the template).
A fully completed C/O form. At least 4 copies are needed, including 1 original, 1 copy for the importer, 1 copy retained by the C/O issuing body, and 1 copy retained by the C/O issuing authority. If using the ICO form, an additional first copy for VCCI to send to the International Coffee Organization is required.

Export documents proving the goods have been exported from Vietnam:

Export license (if any).
Customs declaration for the exported shipment.
Export certificate (if any).
Invoice (or visa-invoiced for textiles exported to the USA under quota management).
Bill of lading.

Documents explaining and proving the origin of goods from Vietnam:

Documents related to the sale or delivery of goods for export.
Customs norms (if any).
Declaration of materials used in production.
Documents related to the import or purchase of materials.
Production process and any inspection certificates from relevant agencies (if other documents do not clearly explain the origin).

3. How to fill out CO Form VK

When filling out the C/O form VK, information must align with the documents specified in Circular 40/2015/TT-BCT. Details for each box are as follows:

(Goods sent from): Enter the exporter’s details: name, address, and exporting country.
(Goods sent to): Enter the recipient’s details: name, address, and importing country.

Top right box (C/O reference number): The reference number consists of 13 characters, divided into 5 groups. Group 1 and 2 are separated by a hyphen “-”, and groups 3, 4 are separated by a slash “/”. The details are:

Group 1: Exporting country code “VN”.
Group 2: Importing country code “KR”.
Group 3: Year of issuance (last 2 digits). E.g., “20” for 2020.
Group 4: Issuing organization code (2 characters), updated regularly by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Group 5: Sequential number of the C/O (5 digits).

For example, if the Hanoi Export-Import Management Office issues the 8th C/O form VK for a shipment to South Korea in 2020, the reference number would be: VN-KR 20/01/00008.

Issued at: Enter “VIET NAM”.

(Date of departure, transport, and unloading port): Enter the departure date, mode of transport (e.g., “By air” or the ship’s name), and unloading port.
(Authority’s information): Customs at the destination or import point will mark this when granting special tax benefits under VKFTA.
(Item numbers): List item numbers for each separate item in the shipment. Multiple items can be listed on one C/O.
(Marks and numbers of packages): Enter the marks and numbers on the packages.
(Quantity, type, goods name, HS code): Enter the quantity, type of packages, name of goods, and the first 6 digits of the HS code in the importing country.
(Origin criteria): Enter the origin criteria of the goods based on the guidelines:

Purely originated goods or entirely produced in the member countries’ territory: “WO”.
Goods meeting specific origin rules in Annex I:
Change in tariff classification: “CTC”.
Regional value content: e.g., “RVC 45%”.
Combination of both: e.g., “CTH + RVC 40%”.
Specific processing: “Specific Processes”.
Goods produced entirely in the exporting member country from materials originating in Vietnam or Korea: “PE”.
Goods meeting conditions in Annex I, Article 6: “Article 3.5”.

(Gross weight and FOB value): Enter the gross weight or other quantity of the goods and the FOB value if RVC criteria apply.
(Invoice date and number): Enter the date and number of the commercial invoice.
(Exporter’s authentication): Enter:

Line 1: “VIET NAM”.
Line 2: Full English name of the importing member country in uppercase (e.g., “KOREA”).
Line 3: Place, date, name, and signature of the applicant, along with the company’s seal.

(Certification by issuing body): Enter the date, full name, and signature of the issuing officer, along with the issuing organization’s seal.
(Remarks): Enter “Non-Party Invoicing” if the commercial invoice is issued in a non-member country, including the name of the issuing company and the country where it operates.

This detailed information on CO form VK provided by SmartLink Logistics aims to offer readers and clients essential knowledge. If you are seeking cooperation with a company that can support certifications and documents related to logistics, import, and export, Smart Link Logistics is an excellent choice for your needs.

Hotline: + 84 903 354 157 to know more about our services

If you require assistance with international import and export of goods, please contact our team at Smartlink Logistics. We are available to provide you with professional guidance on our services and the necessary customs procedures.

SMART LINK: BEST SERVICE BEST YOU