PROCEDURE FOR ISSUING A LICENSE ON INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL BUSINESS REGISTRATION IN VIETNAM

Its establishment in 1960 to when Vietnam's economy opened up, gradually transitioning to a socialist-oriented market mechanism, Vietnam's tourism industry has undergone a process of construction and growth. Tourism and travel become more vibrant with the development of businesses and workers in the industry, contributing to the sustainable development of the economy. With the advantages of geography, nature, and culture, Vietnam owns many world natural heritages, world cultural heritages, and world mixed cultural and natural heritages recognized by UNESCO as Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, Trang An Landscape Complex, Hue Monuments Complex. Besides, the diversity in cuisine, the friendliness of the people, and the stable political background have become a strong catalyst to attract international tourists to Vietnam over the years. In addition to developing tourism from international visitors to Vietnam, in recent years more and more people in the country are traveling abroad. With the development of the economy, making people's incomes increase, many individuals and groups need to travel abroad to explore new lands or participate in cheering teams. select sports combined with travel. There are many forms of travel, such as traveling in groups in large numbers or traveling individually under the guidance and responsibility of international travel agencies. Understanding the great needs of customers, over the years, more than 2000 international travel businesses have been established in various forms such as limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, and foreign-invested companies. out. Some prominent enterprises in this field can mention Saigontourist, Hanoitourist, Vietravel.

Under the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has had a serious impact on the tourism industry, the number of international visitors to Vietnam has decreased significantly due to restrictions on international flight routes to Vietnam, immigration regulations. The current quarantine and isolation only apply to international visitors entering Vietnam in the form of experts, diplomats, having relatives in Vietnam, or having investment activities in Vietnam about for 21 days after arriving in Vietnam. For domestic people today, with the control of epidemics in countries around the world, there are still great risks and strict regulations on entry, so the number of people traveling internationally does not increase. out, except in necessary cases to go abroad. Facing that situation, according to statistics of the General Department of Tourism in 2020, 95% of international travel service businesses across the country have stopped operating. There are 137 international tour operators applying to have their licenses revoked. Entering 2021, with positive signs in the research and production of Covid 19 vaccines, good disease control of countries, and supportive policies of the Government and related agencies will create money topics for many businesses to participate in international travel business services. However, to participate in this field, enterprises need to apply for an international travel business license. So how is the procedure done? With a team of experienced lawyers and professionals, Doanh Tri Law Firm  will answer your questions: Procedure for issuing a license on international travel business registration in Vietnam

1. Legal grounds

- Law on Enterprises 2020;

- Law on Investment 2020;

- Law on Tourism 2017;

- decree  No. 168/2017/ND-CP dated December 31, 2017 elaboration of the law on tourism;

- Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BTC dated March 30, 2018, of the Minister of Finance stipulating the collection rate, mode of collection, payment and management of fees for appraisal and granting of an international travel service business license, License for domestic travel service business; fees for assessment and issuance of tourist guide cards; fees for licensing the establishment of branches and representative offices of foreign tourism enterprises in Vietnam;

- Circular No. 06/2017/TT-BVHTTDL dated December 15, 2017, of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism detailing elaborating some articles of the law on tourism

2. Conditions for international travel businesses

According to Clause 3, Article 31 of the 2017 Law on Tourism, an enterprise that meets the following business conditions will be granted an international travel service business license:

- Being an enterprise established by the law on enterprises;

- Deposit for international travel service business at the bank;

* Note: Enterprises make deposits in Vietnam dong at commercial banks, cooperative banks, or branches of foreign banks established and operating in Vietnam and enjoy interest rates as agreed between enterprises and enterprises. businesses and the deposit receiving bank by the provisions of law. The deposit must be maintained for the duration of the international travel business. The deposit level includes:

Business travel services for international tourists to Vietnam;

Business travel services for tourists going abroad;

Business travel services for international tourists to Vietnam and tourists going abroad.

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

* Note: The person in charge of the travel service business must have a college degree or higher, majoring in travel, including one of the following majors: Tourism and travel service management; Travel management; Manage the tour; Tourism marketing; Travel; Travel and tourism; Tourism business and management.

- Fees for appraisal and grant of international travel service business licenses shall comply with the law on fees and charges.

3. The scope of the international travel business of the Enterprise

- According to Article 30 of the Law on Tourism 2017, the scope of international travel business includes:

Enterprises providing international travel services serving international tourists to Vietnam and tourists going abroad;

Enterprises providing international travel services may provide international travel services and domestic travel services;

Foreign-invested enterprises may only provide international travel services for international tourists to Vietnam, except in the case of an international treaty to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party. member has otherwise specified.

4. Dossier for registration of international travel business license

- An application form for an international travel service business license, made according to the form prescribed by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

- An application form for renewal/re-issuance of a travel service business license, made according to the form prescribed by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

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

- Certificate of deposit for travel service business;

- A certified true copy of the diploma or certificate of the person in charge of the travel business;

- 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. 

5. Procedures for registration of international travel business license

- In case of a new license for the international travel business

Step 1: Enterprises applying for an international travel service business license prepare documents according to the provisions of the Law on Tourism 2017

Step 2: The enterprise applying for an international travel service business license submits 1 set of documents to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Resumes can be sent by post

Step 3: Receive and process registration documents. Within 10 days from the day on which the valid application is received, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism shall appraise and grant an international travel service business license to the enterprise and notify the tourism authority of the province where it is located. enterprise is headquartered; In case of refusal, it must be notified in writing and clearly state the reasons.

- In case of renewal of license for international travel business in case of change of Certificate of Business Registration or Certificate of Investment Registration or Change of scope of international travel service business

Step 1: Enterprises applying for an international travel service business license to prepare documents by the provisions of the Law on Tourism 2017

Step 2: The enterprise applying for the renewal of an international travel service business license submits 1 set of documents to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Resumes can be sent by post

Step 3: Receive and process registration documents. Within 05 days from the day on which the valid application is received, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism shall appraise and grant an international travel service business license for the enterprise and notify the provincial-level specialized tourism agency. Where the enterprise is headquartered, when granting and renewing an international travel service business license, in case of refusal, a written notice must be given clearly stating the reason.

- In case of re-issuance of the license to the international travel business in case the license is lost or damaged

Step 1: Enterprises applying for re-issuance of an international travel service business license prepare documents by the provisions of the Law on Tourism 2017

Step 2: The enterprise applying for re-issuance of an international travel service business license shall submit 01 sets of documents to the National Administration of Tourism. Resumes can be sent by post

Step 3: Receive and process registration documents. Within 05 days from the day on which the valid application is received, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism shall appraise and re-issue the license to provide international travel services to the enterprise and notify the provincial-level specialized tourism agency. Where the enterprise is headquartered, when re-granting an international travel service business license, in case of refusal, it must notify in writing and clearly state the reason.

6. Fee for registration of international travel business license

- Enterprises are obliged to pay fees when carrying out procedures for the registration of international travel business licenses by law. 33/2018/TT-BTC dated March 30, 2018, of the Minister of Finance stipulating the collection rate, mode of collection, payment, and management of fees for appraisal and issuance of service business licenses. international travel, domestic travel service business license; fees for assessment and issuance of tourist guide cards; fee for granting a license to set up a branch or representative office of a foreign tourism enterprise in Vietnam

- According to the provisions of Article 4 of Circular 33/2018/TT-BTC, the fees and charges are regulated as follows:

• New issue: 3,000,000 VND/license;
• Exchange: 2,000,000 VND/license;
• Re-issue: 1,500,000 VND/license.

Above is the information for the Procedure for issuing a license on international travel business registration in Vietnam. For more detailed information and advice on this issue, please contact directly with Law Doanh Tri at one of the following methods:

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Best regards./.