diff --git a/odoo/addons/base/res/res_partner_view.xml b/odoo/addons/base/res/res_partner_view.xml
index 9535e63af70..baacb91bf49 100644
--- a/odoo/addons/base/res/res_partner_view.xml
+++ b/odoo/addons/base/res/res_partner_view.xml
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@
                                 <field name="country_id" placeholder="Country" class="o_address_country" options='{"no_open": True, "no_create": True}'
                                     attrs="{'readonly': [('type', '=', 'contact'),('parent_id', '!=', False)]}"/>
                             </div>
-                            <field name="vat" placeholder="e.g. BE0477472701"/>
+                            <field name="vat" placeholder="e.g. BE0477472701" attrs="{'readonly': [('parent_id','!=',False)]}"/>
                             <field name="website" widget="url" placeholder="e.g. www.odoo.com"/>
                             <field name="category_id" widget="many2many_tags" placeholder="Tags..." options="{'no_create_edit': True}"/>
                         </group>