Renewal of International Travel License in Vietnam

The procedure for renewing international travel licenses is a legal procedure to ensure legal operations for enterprises operating in the tourism industry when there are changes in the operation process. Especially for international travel licenses, with the participation of enterprises with foreign elements, the issuance and exchange procedures require high compliance. In the following article, Viet An Law will present the procedures for the renewal of international travel license in Vietnam according to current updated regulations.

Cases requiring renewal of international travel license in Vietnam

Enterprises request to renew travel license in the following cases:

• Change of Enterprise Registration Certificate or Investment Registration Certificate;
• Change the scope of the international travel service business.

Procedures for renewal of international travel licenses

Step 1: Change the travel deposit level (if needed)

In case the renewal is due to a change in the scope of the international travel business, leading to a change in the travel deposit level, the enterprise must re-deposit according to the newly registered level. The old deposit level will be refunded according to regulations.

Step 2: Apply for renewal of International travel license

The enterprise submits 01 set of registration documents for renewal to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (where the old License was issued).

Step 3: Process application and return results

Within 05 working days from the date of receiving valid documents, the competent state agency shall issue a new travel service business license to the enterprise; in case of refusal, a written notice must be given stating the reasons.

Vietnam National Authority of Tourism shall notify the Department of Tourism where the enterprise is headquartered when issuing a new International travel license.

Dossier to request renewal of international travel license in Vietnam

• Application for renewal of travel service business license according to form;
• International travel services license of the enterprise;
• Certified copy of Certificate of deposit for travel service business by the scope of business.
• Receipt of international travel license fee.

Renewal fee

The fee for issuing and changing an International travel license under Circular 33/2018/TT-BTC is 2,000,000 VND/license.

Note: This fee may change according to the Government’s adjustment policy each year. For example:

• In 2023, Circular 44/2023/TT-BTC stipulates the collection rates of several state fees to support people and enterprises, stipulating a 50% reduction in the above fees. That is, from July 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, businesses carrying out procedures to issue and change International travel licenses only need to pay a state fee of 1,000,000 VND/license.
• From July 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024: Circular No. 43/2024/TT-BTC reduces 50% of fees for new issuance – renewal – re-issuance of International travel license fees.

Conditions for international travel business

In the WTO commitments, in the field of travel services business, Vietnam currently only allows foreign investors to form joint ventures with Vietnamese investors to conduct international travel business in Vietnam. Although there is no restriction on capital contribution, foreign investors need to meet the following additional conditions:

• Tour guides in FDI enterprises must be Vietnamese citizens.
• FDI service providers are only allowed to provide services to bring tourists to Vietnam for tourism.
• Meet the same conditions for international travel business as domestic enterprises.

Regarding the conditions for international travel business in Vietnam under domestic regulations, enterprises must apply for a legal International travel license after establishment and before actually conducting business. The conditions for applying for an International travel license under the Law on Tourism  2017 include:

• Being an enterprise established in accordance with the provisions of the law on enterprises with tourism business lines. The business lines are shown in the Enterprise Registration Certificate issued by a competent authority in accordance with the provisions of the law;
• Deposit for international travel service business at the bank. The deposit level for international travel service business is stipulated in Decree 168/2017/ND-CP detailing several articles of the Law on Tourism.
• The person in charge of the travel service business must have a college degree or higher in travel; in case of a college degree or higher in another major, a certificate in international travel operations is required.

The deposit requirement for applying for an international travel license

The deposit reduction applied until the end of 2023: To recover the tourism industry after the Covid pandemic, Decree 94/2021/ND-CP was issued to amend and supplement Article 14 of Decree 168/2017/ND-CP detailing several articles of the Law on Tourism on the deposit level for a travel service business, with contents related to the reduction of the deposit level for international travel service business with the implementation period from October 28, 2021, to December 31, 2023.

The deposit level from January 1, 2024: There is currently no document extending the deposit level according to Decree 94/2021/ND-CP. Therefore, from January 1, 2024, enterprises need to apply the deposit level according to Decree No. 168/2017/ND-CP, specifically:

Enterprises shall make deposits in VND at banks or legal bank branches in Vietnam. The deposit must be maintained throughout the period the enterprise conducts travel services business.

Service to renewal of international travel license in Vietnam of Viet An Law

Clients can choose to use Viet An Law’s services in the field of changing travel business licenses including:

• Consulting on conditions and documents for changing International travel license;
• Requiring clients to provide information to complete the application for changing the International travel license;
• Drafting documents to change International travel license;
• On behalf of the business, carry out procedures to apply for changing the International travel license;
• Exchanging and providing information to clients in the process of changing their International travel license;
• Receiving and returning to clients the new International travel license.
• Revoking Travel License and withdraw deposit for company.

Please contact Viet An Law for advice and detailed instructions on the latest procedures for the renewal of international travel licenses!