Procedures for granting central-level international travel service business licenses in Vietnam

Procedures for granting central-level international travel service business licenses in Vietnam (Internet image)

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam issued Decision 3684/QD-BVHTTDL dated December 27, 2022 on standardized administrative procedures in 2022 under the management function of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Accordingly, the procedures for granting a central-level international travel service business license are regulated as follows:

1. Requirements and conditions for carrying out procedures for granting central-level international travel service business licenses in Vietnam

- Being an enterprise established in accordance with the law on enterprises;

- Deposit for international travel service business at commercial banks, cooperative banks or branches of foreign banks established and operating in Vietnam:

+ Business travel services for international tourists to Vietnam: 50,000,000 (fifty million) VND;

+ Business travel services for tourists going abroad: 100,000,000 (one hundred million) VND;

+ Business travel services for international tourists coming to Vietnam and tourists going abroad: 100,000,000 (one hundred million) VND.

- The person in charge of the travel service business must have a college degree or higher, majoring in travel; If you graduate from a college or higher in another major, you must have an international tourism management certificate.

+ The person in charge of the travel service business is the person holding one of the following titles: chairman of the board of directors; chairman of the members' council; company president; owner of a private business; general manager; director or deputy director; head of the travel service business.

+ The major in tourism is shown on the diploma of one of the following professions or majors:

++ Management of tourism and travel services;

++ Travel management;

++ Tour operator;

++ Tourism marketing;

++ Tourism;

++ Travel and tourism;

++ Management and business of tourism.

++ MICE tourism management;

++ Travel agency;

++ Tour guide;

++ Sectors, professions or majors that can show one of the phrases "du lịch" (tourist), "lữ hành" (travel), "hướng dẫn du lịch" (tour guide) trained and awarded by an educational institution in Vietnam before the effective date of Circular 06/2017/TT-BVHTTDL (February 1, 2018);

++ Sectors, professions and majors that can show one of the phrases "du lịch" (tourist), "lữ hành" (travel), "hướng dẫn du lịch" (tour guide) which are trained and awarded diplomas by foreign training institutions.

In case the diploma does not show the branches, occupations, or majors specified at Points l and m, the graduation transcripts or diploma appendices showing the branches, professions, and specialties shall be added; including one of the phrases "du lịch" (tourist), "lữ hành" (travel), "hướng dẫn du lịch" (tour guide).

2. Application for a central-level international travel service business license in Vietnam

Components of an application for a central-level international travel service business license include:

(1) An application form for an international travel service business license (Form No. 04, Appendix II issued together with Circular 06/2017/TT-BVHTTDL);

Application form for an international travel service business license

An application form for an international travel service business license

(2) A certified true copy of the Certificate of Business Registration or the Certificate of Investment Registration issued by a competent state agency;

(3) Certificate of deposit for international travel service business;

(4) A certified true copy of the college diploma or higher in tourism of the person in charge of the travel service business; or a certified true copy of a college degree or higher in another major and a certified true copy of the certificate of international tourism operations.

Diplomas issued by foreign training institutions must be recognized according to regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

(5) A certified copy of the appointment decision or the labor contract between the tour operator and the person in charge of the travel service business.

3. Procedures for granting central-level international travel service business license in Vietnam

The steps for granting a central-level international travel service business license are as follows:

- Enterprises applying for an international travel service business license shall submit a dossier to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism;

- Within 10 days from the date of receipt of valid dossiers, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism shall appraise and grant an international travel service business license to the enterprise and notify the Department of Tourism/Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism where the enterprise is located.

In case of refusal, it must be notified in writing and clearly state the reason.

* Submission methods: Send in person, online via the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, or by postal mail to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (via the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism).

* Processing time: 10 days from the date of receiving valid dossiers.

* Fees and charges: 3,000,000 VND/license (Circular 33/2018/TT-BTC).

More details can be found in Decision 3684/QD-BVHTTDL effective from 01/01/2023, replacing Decision 3506/QD-BVHTTDL dated December 29, 2021, Decision 1785/QD-BVHTTDL dated July 28, 2021, Decision 2289/QD-BVHTTDL dated September 20, 2021.

Thanh Rin

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE