Abolition of Re-issuance and Exchange of Tour Operator Licenses in Vietnam from 2026

In order to cut and simplify administrative procedures and regulations related to production and business activities, the Government has issued Resolution No. 66.16/2026/NQ-CP to abolish travel license procedures, which includes the abolition of re-issuance and exchange of tour operator licenses in Vietnam from 2026. In the following article, Viet An Law will update the new regulations concerning this content for enterprises holding a license in Vietnam, particularly an international tour operator license.

Overview of previous regulations on the procedure for tour operator license re-issuance and exchange in Vietnam

Previously, Article 34 and Article 35 of the Law on Tourism 2017 stipulated the procedure for the re-issuance and exchange of a travel business license as follows:

Abolition of tour operator license re-issuance and exchange from April 15, 2026

According to the provisions in Part B.III and B.IV Section 1 of Appendix I.12 on cutting and simplifying administrative procedures and regulations related to production and business activities under the management scope of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism promulgated together with Resolution 66.16/2026/NQ-CP:

“…B. TOURISM SECTOR

III. Do not carry out the procedure for re-issuance of an international travel business license, the procedure for re-issuance of a domestic travel business license specified in Article 34 of the Law on Tourism No. 09/2017/QH14.

IV. Do not carry out the procedure for exchange of an international travel business license, the procedure for exchange of a domestic travel business license specified in Article 35 of the Law on Tourism No. 09/2017/QH14.”

Therefore, from April 15, 2026, the procedure to exchange travel business license and the procedure for tour operator license re-issuance will officially be abolished. The reduction of the aforementioned procedures contributes to reducing legal compliance costs and saving time for enterprises and state management agencies, while aligning with the trend of increasing the use of electronic data in business management.

No requirement to perform administrative procedures for tour operator license re-issuance and exchange in Vietnam

Based on Resolution No. 66.16/2026/NQ-CP and Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Decision No. 1325/QD-BVHTTDL dated June 05, 2026, on announcing the abolished administrative procedures under the management functions of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Among these, the procedures for the re-issuance and exchange of a travel business license have been abolished as follows:

Administrative procedures at the Central level

• Procedure for re-issuance of an international tour operator license (1.004598).
• Procedure for exchange of an international tour operator license (1.004591).

Previous implementing agency: Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

Administrative procedures at the local level

• Procedure for re-issuance of a domestic tour operator license (2.001616).
• Procedure for exchange of a domestic tour operator license (2.001622).

Previous implementing agency: Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism or Department of Tourism.

Integration of 03 administrative procedures (initial issuance, exchange, and re-issuance) into the issuance of a travel business license in Vietnam

From April 15, 2026, enterprises no longer have to carry out the procedure for re-issuance or exchange of a travel business license.

However, according to Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP, three administrative procedures on initial issuance, exchange, and re-issuance have been integrated into a single procedure for the issuance of a travel business license. Specifically, Form No. 07 promulgated together with Appendix I.9 to Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP regarding the application form for the issuance of a travel business license specifies the reasons for requesting the license issuance:

• The enterprise is granted a license for the first time.
• The enterprise changes the enterprise registration certificate: Changed content:
• The enterprise changes the scope of international travel business.
• The enterprise loses or damages the issued travel business license.

Thus, if an enterprise falls into the cases of previous re-issuance or exchange of a travel business license such as loss, damage, change in the scope of international travel business, change in the enterprise registration certificate, etc., it must still carry out the procedure to request the issuance of a travel business license.

Latest sequence and procedures for the issuance of a travel business license in Vietnam

According to the provisions in Section C.VIII and Section C.IX of Appendix I.9 to Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP, there are new regulations on the latest sequence and procedures for the issuance of a travel business license, specifically:

International tour operator license in Vietnam

Dossier for requesting the issuance of an international travel business license

• Application form for the issuance of an international travel business license according to Form No. 07 promulgated together with Appendix I.9 to Resolution 66.18/2026/NQ-CP;
• A copy of the Enterprise Registration Certificate or Investment Registration Certificate issued by a competent state agency;
• The original certificate of deposit for international travel business (for cases where the enterprise requests the initial issuance of a travel business license or changes the scope of international travel business);
• A copy of a college degree or higher specializing in travel of the person in charge of the travel business; or a copy of a college degree or higher in another major and a copy of the certificate of international tourism operation profession.
• A copy of the appointment decision or labor contract between the travel business enterprise and the person in charge of the travel business (for cases where the enterprise requests the initial issuance of a travel license);
• The original issued travel business license (for cases where the enterprise changes the Enterprise Registration Certificate or changes the scope of international travel business).

Sequence and procedures:

• Submission of dossier: The enterprise requesting the issuance of an international tour operator license submits 01 dossier set directly or via postal service to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism or online on the National Public Service Portal.
• Resolution of dossier: Within 05 working days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid dossier, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall appraise and issue the international travel business license to the enterprise and notify the provincial-level specialized tourism agency where the enterprise is headquartered; in case of refusal, a written notice clearly stating the reason must be provided.

Domestic tour operator license

Dossier for requesting the issuance of a domestic travel business license

• Application form for the issuance of a domestic travel business license according to Form No. 07 promulgated together with Appendix I.9 to Resolution 66.18/2026/NQ-CP;
• A copy of the Enterprise Registration Certificate;
• The original certificate of deposit for domestic travel business (for cases where the enterprise requests the initial issuance of a travel business license);
• A copy of an intermediate degree or higher specializing in travel of the person in charge of the travel business; or a copy of an intermediate degree or higher in another major and a copy of the certificate of international or domestic tourism operation profession.
• A copy of the appointment decision or labor contract between the travel business enterprise and the person in charge of the travel business (for cases where the enterprise requests the initial issuance of a travel license);
• The original issued travel business license (for cases where the enterprise changes the Enterprise Registration Certificate).

Sequence, procedures, and competence

• Submission of dossier: The enterprise requesting the issuance of a domestic travel business license submits 01 dossier set directly or via postal service to the Public Administration Service Center where the enterprise is headquartered or online on the National Public Service Portal;
• Resolution of dossier: Within 05 working days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid dossier, the provincial-level specialized tourism agency shall appraise and issue the domestic travel business license to the enterprise; in case of refusal, a written notice clearly stating the reason must be provided.

Some related questions

Does the processing time for the procedure of issuing a travel business license change?

Yes. Previously, Article 33 and Article 33 of the Law on Tourism 2017 stipulated the processing time for the procedure of issuing domestic and international travel business licenses was 10 working days.

According to the new regulations in Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP, the processing time for the procedure of issuing domestic and international travel business licenses has been shortened to only 05 working days from the date the competent agency receives a complete and valid dossier.

How much is the fee for issuing a travel business license?

From January 1, 2026, the Ministry of Finance will reduce the appraisal fee for the new issuance, exchange, and re-issuance of an international travel business license and a domestic travel business license by 50%.

The current licensing fee level under the provisions of Circular No. 153/2025/TT-BTC dated December 31, 2025, and Circular No. 64/2025/TT-BTC dated June 30, 2025, is adjusted downward according to the new Circular as follows:

• Fee for the new issuance and exchange of an international travel license: 1,000,000 VND
• Fee for the exchange of an international travel license: 750,000 VND

The effective period of application of Circular 64/2025/TT-BTC dated June 30, 2025, is until the end of December 31, 2026.

Is it required to submit the original issued travel business license for cases where the enterprise changes the Enterprise Registration Certificate or changes the scope of international travel business?

No. For this dossier component, the agency resolving administrative procedures shall check the dossier and look up information on databases. In cases where the agency resolving administrative procedures cannot exploit the information or the exploited information is incomplete or inaccurate, it shall request the enterprise to supplement and complete the dossier, submit a copy accompanied by the original for comparison, or an electronic copy authenticated from the original, or a certified copy.

The above are notable contents related to the abolition of re-issuance and exchange of tour operator license in Vietnam from 2026. If clients and enterprises still have inquiries about travel business conditions, the procedure for issuing a travel business license under the new regulations, or any legal issues arising during operation alongside other Vietnamese travel license updates 2026, please contact Viet An Law for prompt, accurate, and effective advice and support from our team of lawyers and specialists.