Real-world scenario: A Chinese manufacturer of smart LED lamps (built-in WiFi + Bluetooth) already has a factory in Guangdong. They want to expand into Southeast Asia and are torn between placing an assembly line in Vietnam or Thailand — and their biggest worry is not tax, but: what inspection gates will their product face in each country, how long will it take, and will inspectors come into the factory?
That question hits the core difference between the two systems. Thailand assesses the factory itself — mandatory TISI certification for many electrical-electronic product groups requires testing at domestic labs plus an on-site assessment of the production facility. Vietnam assesses the product sample — the Ministry of Information and Communications’ type-certification system focuses on whether the sample meets the applicable national technical regulation (QCVN), tested at a designated laboratory. Misunderstand this and the whole preparation goes wrong: one company scrubs its factory for an audit team when it only needed to send samples for testing, while another sends samples and waits, its factory unprepared for an audit.
Legal position updated to 18 October 2026. The Thailand section is framework-level; confirm per-product-group details with Thai local counsel.
Vietnam: sample-based certification, tiered by product group
Vietnam’s framework was covered in the Malaysia comparison, but placed next to Thailand, its tiered logic deserves emphasis:
Circular 02/2024/TT-BTTTT splits products into two obligation tiers. For the smart LED lamp in our scenario: the WiFi/Bluetooth module (short-range radio device, 2.4 GHz band) falls in the mandatory type certification + declaration of conformity tier; the lamp itself as a pure electrical device (no radio emission) sits outside the Ministry of Information and Communications and may fall under quality management of another line ministry depending on type — the company must split the product into “regulated functions” and determine each part’s obligations, rather than treating the whole lamp as a single certification object.
The procedure under Circulars 30/2011/TT-BTTTT and 10/2020/TT-BTTTT: send samples to a designated/recognised test lab → receive the type certificate from the certification body → complete the declaration dossier. No factory visit by an assessment team is part of this standard process. What the company must prepare is a representative sample matching mass production — a specially “tuned” sample that passes testing while mass output differs in design is a violation, and regulators may inspect and sample products on the market for post-market surveillance.
One more point: type certification attaches to each specific QCVN. A smart LED lamp can touch several QCVNs (electromagnetic compatibility, electrical safety, radio equipment) — each is a separate testing item, and a missing item means an incomplete dossier.
Thailand: TISI plus NBTC, assessed all the way to the factory floor
Thailand runs two parallel gates:
Gate 1 — TISI (Thai Industrial Standards Institute). For product groups under mandatory standards, companies must earn the mandatory TIS mark before manufacturing, importing or selling. The biggest differences from Vietnam:
– The application is held by a Thai company (a foreign manufacturer needs a local partner/importer in Thailand);
– Testing at a domestic Thai laboratory — foreign lab reports cannot substitute;
– Factory assessment: an assessment team appointed from Thailand visits the production site (including an overseas factory such as the Guangdong plant in our scenario) to check the quality management system, quality control plans and production processes;
– After certification, ongoing surveillance and periodic inspection continue.
Gate 2 — NBTC (National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission). All telecom/radio devices (WiFi, Bluetooth, RFID and the like) need NBTC type approval before import or sale. The dossier needs technical documentation and frequency-compliance reports; filing is done by a local agent or importer; approved devices must carry the NBTC compliance label.
For the smart LED lamp: the electrical part (electrical safety) goes through the TISI gate, the WiFi/Bluetooth part through the NBTC gate — two independent gates, not merged.
Process comparison along the preparation timeline
| Stage | Vietnam | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Dossier prep | Identify the QCVN for each product function | Identify applicable mandatory TIS + NBTC requirements; sign a Thai application holder |
| Testing | Send samples to a designated/recognised lab | Send samples to a domestic Thai lab; prepare to host the factory assessment team |
| Assessment | Certification body reviews dossier + test results | TISI reviews dossier, test results and factory assessment findings |
| Issuance | Type certificate → declaration of conformity | TISI certificate; separate NBTC type approval |
| After issuance | Market surveillance, market sampling | Surveillance, periodic inspection; maintain the factory quality system |
The practical consequence: a Thailand-bound company must “open its factory doors”, while a Vietnam-bound company must “keep its samples honest”. Project schedules differ accordingly: the Thailand side needs extra weeks to arrange the factory assessment (usually booked well in advance), travel and working costs with the assessment team, and time to close non-conformities found at the plant. The Vietnam side needs investment in sample management and consistency between tested samples and mass output — because post-market surveillance is the main risk.
Worked scenario: what the smart-lamp maker should do
If choosing Vietnam: (1) Split the product into functions: the 2.4 GHz radio module (type certification + declaration under Circular 02/2024’s list), the lamp’s electrical part (determine quality obligations under the competent line ministry); (2) pick a designated test lab and send samples truly representative of mass-production design; (3) complete the declaration before market launch; (4) build process controls so mass output always matches the certified sample — the defence line for post-market checks.
If choosing Thailand: (1) Sign a Thai company to hold the TISI and NBTC applications immediately — this comes first, not after samples exist; (2) pre-audit the Guangdong factory against a quality-management checklist (documents, control plans, record-keeping) before the assessment team arrives; (3) send samples to a Thai lab for testing; (4) apply the TIS mark and NBTC label correctly before entering the Thai market.
In both scenarios, any post-certification design change affecting radio or electrical safety must be re-assessed — do not let R&D swap the WiFi module without telling legal.
Electronics companies needing to pin down the right QCVN per model in Vietnam, or comparing certification timelines when considering expansion into Thailand, can speak with our legal team.
Frequently asked questions
1. Will an assessment team visit our Vietnam factory during telecom type certification?
No. Under the type-certification procedure (Circulars 30/2011 and 10/2020), assessment is dossier- and sample-based at a designated lab. The main risk is post-market surveillance — tested samples and mass output must be consistent.
2. Does TISI require a Thai company?
Yes. The TISI application is held by a Thai company; likewise, the NBTC filing goes through a local agent or importer. Foreign manufacturers must arrange a local partner from the start.
3. Can CE/FCC test reports be used for a TISI dossier?
Not as substitutes. TISI dossiers require testing at designated domestic Thai laboratories. International reports serve only as internal technical reference.
4. A product is both TISI-mandatory and has WiFi — how to proceed?
Two independent gates: TISI certification for the electrical/product-safety part, NBTC type approval for the radio function. Schedule them in parallel to avoid stretching the total timeline.
5. After TISI certification, is there anything to maintain?
Yes. TISI certification comes with surveillance and periodic inspection — the factory must keep its quality management system at the assessed level. Letting the system degrade after certification is the fastest way to lose it at a surprise inspection.
6. Does selling on Thai e-commerce marketplaces escape TISI/NBTC?
No. Certification obligations attach to placing the product on the market, regardless of sales channel. Imports are additionally controlled at the border.
This article has been quality-reviewed by the FLAW AI Legal Council