FDI foreign-exchange registration (investment account / capital-inflow certificate / repatriation)
金融/外汇/支付许可
ການ ຄຸ້ມຄອງ ເງິນຕາ ຕ່າງປະເທດ ຂອງ FDI (ບັນຊີ ລົງທຶນ / ຢັ້ງຢືນ ນຳ ທຶນ ເຂົ້າ / ນຳ ທຶນ ກັບ ຄືນ)
Handling agency: Bank of the Lao PDR / MOF
Source: 老挝央行BOL/财政部官方站 (https://www.bol.gov.la/fileupload/09-10-2025_1760000599.doc)
Where to apply
Accounts are at a commercial bank; the capital-inflow certificate is issued by the BOL Foreign Exchange Management Department (provincial-licensed investors may use a BOL regional branch) (Arts.8, 9, 16).
Procedure
- Optionally open a prep account before the licence for interim payments (Art.4)
- Open the investment account within 15 working days of the licence; all FDI money flows through it (Art.5)
- Remit capital in full; certify each inflow within 30 days (form #238 + fund-use plan + licence/biz-licence/tax proof/inflow proof) (Art.8)
- BOL issues the inflow certificate within 5 working days (Art.9); report capital structure on first inflow and on ≥5% changes (Art.7)
- To repatriate later, attach the most recent inflow certificate + distribution/dissolution docs; meet state obligations and transfer via the investment account (Art.10)
Statutory time limit
Investment account within 15 working days (Art.5); certify each inflow within 30 days (Art.8); BOL issues the certificate within 5 working days (Art.9). Review fee per the Forex Dept schedule.
Common questions and pitfalls
- Certify every inflow or you cannot repatriate later (Arts.8-10)
- Open the investment account within 15 working days; route FDI only through it (Art.5)
- Certify each inflow within 30 days (Art.8); report capital structure on first inflow and ≥5% changes (Art.7)
- Convert to kip for domestic payments (Art.6); external loans/trade credit are a separate certificate
17 items to fill in