Vietnam tightens App Store game rules – Apple requires licenses

Apple has reminded game studios that they need a special license to distribute games on the Vietnamese market. This requirement has existed before, but now Apple is officially implementing a mechanism to block games that do not have the approval of Vietnamese authorities.

The rules come from Decree 147/2024/ND-CP, which took effect on 25 December 2024. It sorts online games into four categories — G1 needs a publishing decision from the authorities, G2 to G4 need a publishing confirmation — and obliges foreign app stores to distribute licensed titles only and to pull unlicensed ones serving Vietnamese users within 24 hours of an official request.

On 4 February 2025, Apple published instructions for developers, which describe the steps to comply with the new rules:

• Obtain a license from the Vietnamese authorities.
• In App Store Connect, add the license number and its associated URL to the game’s product page description for the Vietnam storefront.
• Submit an updated version of the game for review.

Failure to comply with the new requirements may result in the removal of games from the App Store. Developers are advised to contact the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information (ABEI) for clarification.

"The video game market in Southeast Asia continues to grow and attract the attention of regulators. Therefore, some degree of control from the state is inevitable."
"The system with game licensing (similar to distribution certificates for films) is understandable for government agencies and optimal for market participants. If your studio plans to enter the Vietnamese market, we recommend obtaining the necessary permission for the game in advance to avoid obstacles to the distribution of the game later."

As of August 2026, the licensing requirement is in force and the regulator is changing address. The Ministry of Information and Communications was folded into the Ministry of Science and Technology in the March 2025 government overhaul, and ABEI is being moved to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism: Decree 43/2025/ND-CP, signed on 28 February 2025 and in force from 1 March 2025, lists the Authority among that ministry's units. The reorganisation is not finished, though — ABEI keeps operating until the Minister issues the decisions setting up its successor body, so it remains the address for licensing questions. Vietnam has also gained its own age ratings on the App Store: since 18 June 2026, apps on the Vietnamese storefront carry a local rating of 00+, 12+, 16+ or 18+ under Article 38 of Decree 147.

By contacting us, you will receive:

• Consultation on obtaining a license to distribute games in Vietnam.
• Analysis of the risks and opportunities for entering the Vietnamese market, taking into account the new rules.
• Support in the licensing process and interaction with the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information (ABEI).
• Development of strategies to comply with Apple requirements and local legislation to avoid blocking games in the App Store.