International Travel Service License Fees in Vietnam from July 1, 2024

From July 1, 2024, international travel service businesses will enjoy a reduction in license fees. Applying for a license is a prerequisite for conducting international travel business in Vietnam. Therefore, this regulation has promoted the establishment of new international travel companies in Vietnam, attracting foreign investment capital to contribute to the development of the tourism industry. This regulation is applied until the end of 2024 according to Circular No. 43/2024/TT-BTC. In the article below, Viet An Law will inform about regulations on reducing International Travel Service License fees in Vietnam from July 1, 2024, according to the above Circular.

New regulations on reducing fees for issuing international travel business licenses

From July 1, 2024, the Ministry of Finance will reduce the following fees by 50%:

• Fees for filing applications for intellectual property rights protection
• Fees for issuance of industrial property representative practice certificates, publication and registration of industrial property representatives
• Fees for appraisal and issuance of international travel service business license and domestic travel service business license.

These are some important state fees mentioned in Circular No. 43/2024/TT-BTC regulating the collection rates of several state fees to continue to remove difficulties and support production activities, issued by the Minister of Finance on June 28, 2024, and effective from July 1, 2024.

International travel service license fees in Vietnam from July 1, 2024

The current licensing fee according to Circular 33/2018/TT-BTC is adjusted to decrease according to the new Circular as follows:

• New issuance: 1,500,000 VND/license
• Renewal: 1,000,000 VND/license
• Re-issuance: 750,000 VND/license

When do businesses receive a reduction in fees for issuing international travel business licenses?

The effective period of Circular No. 43/2024/TT-BTC is from July 1 to December 31, 2024.

Thus, from January 1, 2025, if there are no new regulations, the state fee for international travel licensing will return to the fixed level specified in Circular 33/2018/TT-BTC regulating collection rates, collection, payment, and management of appraisal fees for issuance of international travel business licenses taken effect from May 14, 2018.

Where to apply for an International Travel Service License in Vietnam?

Enterprises wishing to be granted an international travel service business license submit a license application to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to be considered for an International Travel License.

Contact information for Vietnam National Authority of Tourism

• Address: 80 Quan Su, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• Phone: (84-24) 3942 3760
• Fax: (84-24) 3942 4115
• Email: contact@vietnamtourism.gov.vn

Contact information professional and operational departments of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism

Phone: (84-24) 3942 3760

• Travel Management Department (ext: 162)
• Tourist Accommodation Management Department (ext: 133)
• Tourism Promotion Management Department (ext: 176)
• Financial Planning Division (ext: 151)
• International Relations Department (ext: 123)
• Personnel Organization Department (extension: 141)
• Office (ext: 103)

Other authorities of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (former General Department of Tourism)

• Allows the establishment of representative offices in Vietnam for foreign tourism organizations;
• Re-issuance, renewal, and revocation of international travel service business licenses;
• Organizes inspection of international and domestic travel service business activities nationwide;
• Appraisal of applications for recognition of national tourist areas in two or more provinces;
• Organize seminars and conferences on tourism, and develop a national tourism brand;
• Appraise, decide to recognize, and revoke decisions for tourist accommodation establishments rated 04 stars, 05 stars.
• Resolve complaints or coordinate to resolve complaints and petitions from tourists.

Legal basis: Decision No. 1536/QD-BVHTTDL dated June 15, 2023, effective July 1, 2023.

Can foreigners receive a reduction in the fee for issuing an International Travel Business License?

Currently, according to WTO commitments, foreign investors are allowed to invest in the business of Travel agencies and tour operator services (CPC 7471) in Vietnam in the form of joint ventures with Vietnamese partners at the rate own up to 99% capital in business registration information.

How to look up travel businesses operating in Vietnam:

• Method 1: Look up public information online;
• Method 2: Look up the database of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism at https://csdl.vietnamtourism.gov.vn/dnlh

Regarding the scope of service provision, according to current regulations, joint venture enterprises that are foreign-invested are only allowed to provide services to bring tourists to Vietnam (inbound) and domestic travel for tourists traveling into Vietnam. Accordingly, when applying for an international travel business license for inbound activities, foreign-invested companies established by foreigners are also entitled to a reduction in licensing fees according to regulations.

Preparation for applying for an International Travel Service License in Vietnam

When applying for a license, a travel company must submit a set of documents that fully meet the business conditions according to the provisions of the 2017 Tourism Law and its implementation guidance documents. When using the services of Viet An Law Firm, you will only need to provide the following information so that our experts can draft documents following regulations.

Prepared documents for travel companies with 100% Vietnamese capital

• Copy of Enterprise Registration Certificate (must have corresponding international travel industry registration); List of branches and representative offices of travel businesses;
• Copy of personal legal documents of the legal representative of the enterprise (ID card/Valid passport).
• Copy of college diploma or higher with a major in travel of the person in charge of the travel service business; or a certified copy of a college diploma or higher in another major and a certified copy of an international tourism operations certificate;
• Foreign language certificates issued by competent authorities. Diplomas issued by foreign training institutions must be recognized according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs;
• Travel business deposit certificate issued by the bank with deposit level:
• 250 million VND for inbound tourist service.
• 500 million VND including outbound tourist service.

Prepared documents for foreign-invested travel companies

• Copy of Enterprise Registration Certificate (must have corresponding international travel industry registration); List of branches and representative offices of travel businesses;
• Copy of personal legal documents of the legal representative of the enterprise (ID card/Valid passport).
• Copy of college diploma or higher with a major in travel of the person in charge of travel service business; or a certified copy of a college diploma or higher in another major and a certified copy of an international tourism operations certificate; Foreign language certificates and certificates issued by competent authorities. Diplomas issued by foreign training institutions must be recognized according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs;
• Information that tour guides in foreign-invested enterprises are Vietnamese citizens.
• Travel business deposit certificate issued by the bank with a deposit of 250 million VND for inbound tourist services.

Licensing process for international travel business in Vietnam

In case of re-issuance and renewal of a license, will the fee be reduced?

Current fee reduction regulations apply to all three cases:

• New issuance;
• Renewal;
• Re-issuance.

Therefore, in case an enterprise wants to renew/re-issue a license, the fee will also be reduced according to the new regulations.

Above are some updated contents of Viet An Law on regulations on reducing International Travel Service License Fees in Vietnam from July 1, 2024. If you need to apply for a travel business license or to establish a company for travel service in Vietnam, please contact Viet An Law for the most direct and accurate advice!