BIS Certification for Vietnam: A 2026 Guide for Exporters Eyeing the Indian Market

If you are a Vietnamese company looking into opportunities within the rapidly expanding consumer market in India, then here is one three-letter abbreviation which is absolutely non-negotiable: BIS. Regardless of whether you deal in steel, footwear, toys, chemicals, electronics or any other goods, your product is most likely to be covered by a Quality Control Order requiring compulsory BIS certification vietnam before even a single box can leave the country.

UMSPCS has seen how many Vietnamese companies have delayed their shipments by months – sometimes even by whole seasons – just because they were not aware of what is required from BIS.

What Exactly Is BIS Certification?

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the national standardisation body of India, and according to the BIS Act of 2016, products available in India should conform to certain Indian Standards (IS) in terms of their safety, quality, and performance. This is required to make sure that the products available in India conform to legal requirements and build up brand reputation for companies with the certification.

However, for foreign manufacturers, including those from Vietnam, this would be possible using the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS). The FMCS is operated by Schedule II of the BIS Act, 2016 and allows foreign manufacturers to use the ISI Standard Mark when the products conform to certain Indian standards. However, in some other product categories, the exporters have to register with the BIS using the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS).

Why Vietnamese Exporters Specifically Need to Pay Attention

The steel, footwear, tyres, toys, chemicals, and artificial fibre industries are highly dependent on each other; moreover, the above-mentioned types of products are subject to mandatory BIS compliance. Indian trade representatives have stated that the number of mandatory BIS products keeps increasing, and now it mostly consists of those products which are exported by Vietnam to India – such as chemicals, toys, tyres, and artificial fibres.

It is not an insignificant technicality. Some Vietnamese producers of iron and steel products, as well as footwear manufacturers, have complained that they had difficulties in applying for the license or renewal. The necessary paperwork had been completed, but the delay still takes place.

However, there is good news as well. Before that, BIS used to impose additional scrutiny and operational restrictions on manufacturers from some ASEAN countries, like Vietnam. These restrictions specific to countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Turkey have been withdrawn now. That means that the door to India is now more open than it has been for quite a while, but the right way into it has to be followed.

Read more:- BIS ISI consultant

The FMCS Process, Step by Step

Here's roughly how the journey looks for a Vietnamese manufacturer:

1. Appoint an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR). This is a mandatory requirement for foreign manufacturers — importers and traders cannot apply for BIS certification on your behalf.
2. Prepare your documentation. This typically includes an application form, factory address verification, machinery and testing equipment lists with calibration certificates, product manuals, raw material certificates of analysis, factory layout plans, and process flowcharts with quality control checkpoints.
3. Submit your application to BIS through your AIR.
4. Factory inspection. BIS-appointed officials visit your facility in Vietnam to verify that manufacturing processes and quality assurance systems match Indian Standard requirements.
5. Product testing against the applicable Indian Standard, often at a BIS-recognized lab.
6. Certification grant. Once everything checks out, you receive your license to use the ISI mark, or your CRS registration number, depending on the product category.

Validity typically runs one to two years, with renewal periods extending up to five years depending on annual license fees and marking fee payments.

Common Roadblocks (And How to Avoid Them)

Our primary challenges are not those related to the quality of products but rather the process. Lack of proper documentation, inconsistent test reports, delay in scheduling the factory inspection, and uncertainty regarding the Indian Standard applicable to our product variation are the typical reasons. This is where the importance of having a qualified BIS certification partner cannot be underestimated.

How UMSPCS Helps

As UMSPCS, we work alongside the Vietnamese factories to make the whole FMCS certification and CRS process clear — from finding the right product standard, to producing documentation for audit, to conducting factory inspections and communicating with the BIS on your behalf. It's our mission to get you certified quickly, with few rejections and little surprise down the line, ensuring that your product gets to India without delay.

Conclusion

BIS Certification is more than mere paperwork; it will give you access to one of the largest consumer markets in the world. Given the relaxation in regulations for Vietnamese producers and the constant demand from India for steel, footwear, toys, and chemicals, this is really an appropriate time to become certified. There are certain procedures to follow, but it is an endeavour that favours being prepared and discourages any attempt to cut corners. This is where the expertise of a consulting firm like (UMSPCS) comes into play.

FAQs

Q1: Is BIS certification mandatory for all Vietnamese exports to India?
 No — only products falling under a Quality Control Order (QCO) or a notified mandatory standard need it. However, the list keeps expanding, so it's worth checking your specific HS code and product category.

Q2: What is the difference between FMCS and CRS?
 FMCS grants the ISI mark for products under Schedule II of the BIS Act, while CRS (Compulsory Registration Scheme) applies mainly to electronics and IT products, requiring registration rather than a mark.

Q3: Can a Vietnamese company apply for BIS certification directly?
 No. Foreign manufacturers must appoint an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) to submit and manage the application on their behalf.

Q4: How long does BIS certification take?
 Timelines vary by product and current application backlogs, but factory inspection, testing, and document review together typically take several months. Working with an experienced consultant can shorten this significantly.

Q5: How long is a BIS certificate valid?
 Generally one to two years initially, with renewals possible for up to five years depending on fee payments and compliance history.

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