Postal service business licence: international, nationwide, provincial and postal financial or product services in Laos: statutory documents, competent authority and legal basis

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Who can apply

Both Lao citizens and foreigners may apply; the documents differ.

Competent authority: The Postal Department issues, renews, suspends, withdraws or revokes licences for international and nationwide delivery and full postal services, notifying the planning and industry sectors (Art. 42), while the provincial departments do the same for within-province delivery and agency services and report monthly, quarterly and annually (Art. 43). Applications run in three steps under Art. 26: the investment licence where the service is listed, enterprise registration, then the postal licence, with provincial departments guiding applicants on a one-stop basis in three stages (2020 guidance, Art. 5)

At a glance

Statutory document list

International postal delivery, filed centrally

• The investment licence, needed only if the service falls on the controlled or concession list (Art. 26.1): centrally for international delivery and locally for domestic, and skipped entirely if it is not listed (optional)
• The enterprise registration from the industry and commerce sector (Arts. 26.2 and 32.2) (required)
• Copies of the investment licence and enterprise registration (Art. 32.3.1) (required)
• The service standards set by the postal authority and the Universal Postal Union (Art. 32.3.2), detailed by the 2020 guidance as a technical standards report covering packaging, forms, safety and pricing (required)
• The appointment or authorisation letter from the business partner, only where you act as agent under a foreign company name (Art. 32.3.3) (optional)
• The trademark (Art. 32.3.4); the 2020 guidance also requires a shop sign whose wording matches the operator type (required)
• The list of technical staff with proof of qualifications (Art. 32.3.5), with identity documents and diplomas added by the 2020 guidance (required)
• The economic analysis report on the postal department form, covering services, activities, investment, revenue structure, budget and timetable (2020 guidance, Art. 9) (required)
• Proof of the office address down to street, village, district, province and postcode, with a GPS point (2020 guidance, Art. 9) (required)
• The enterprise establishment form, stating the operator type among the six categories and whether the scope is domestic, international or provincial (2020 guidance, Art. 9) (required)
• Any other necessary documents (Art. 32.3.6), as the receiving authority determines (optional)

Nationwide domestic delivery, filed centrally

• The investment licence, needed only if the service falls on the controlled or concession list (Art. 26.1): centrally for international delivery and locally for domestic, and skipped entirely if it is not listed (optional)
• The enterprise registration from the industry and commerce sector (Arts. 26.2 and 32.2) (required)
• Copies of the investment licence and enterprise registration (Art. 32.3.1) (required)
• The service standards set by the postal authority and the Universal Postal Union (Art. 32.3.2), detailed by the 2020 guidance as a technical standards report covering packaging, forms, safety and pricing (required)
• The appointment or authorisation letter from the business partner, only where you act as agent under a foreign company name (Art. 32.3.3) (optional)
• The trademark (Art. 32.3.4); the 2020 guidance also requires a shop sign whose wording matches the operator type (required)
• The list of technical staff with proof of qualifications (Art. 32.3.5), with identity documents and diplomas added by the 2020 guidance (required)
• The economic analysis report on the postal department form, covering services, activities, investment, revenue structure, budget and timetable (2020 guidance, Art. 9) (required)
• Proof of the office address down to street, village, district, province and postcode, with a GPS point (2020 guidance, Art. 9) (required)
• The enterprise establishment form, stating the operator type among the six categories and whether the scope is domestic, international or provincial (2020 guidance, Art. 9) (required)
• Any other necessary documents (Art. 32.3.6), as the receiving authority determines (optional)

Delivery within a single province, filed with that province

• The investment licence, needed only if the service falls on the controlled or concession list (Art. 26.1): centrally for international delivery and locally for domestic, and skipped entirely if it is not listed (optional)
• The enterprise registration from the industry and commerce sector (Arts. 26.2 and 32.2) (required)
• Copies of the investment licence and enterprise registration (Art. 32.3.1) (required)
• The service standards set by the postal authority and the Universal Postal Union (Art. 32.3.2), detailed by the 2020 guidance as a technical standards report covering packaging, forms, safety and pricing (required)
• The appointment or authorisation letter from the business partner, only where you act as agent under a foreign company name (Art. 32.3.3) (optional)
• The trademark (Art. 32.3.4); the 2020 guidance also requires a shop sign whose wording matches the operator type (required)
• The list of technical staff with proof of qualifications (Art. 32.3.5), with identity documents and diplomas added by the 2020 guidance (required)
• The economic analysis report on the postal department form, covering services, activities, investment, revenue structure, budget and timetable (2020 guidance, Art. 9) (required)
• Proof of the office address down to street, village, district, province and postcode, with a GPS point (2020 guidance, Art. 9) (required)
• The enterprise establishment form, stating the operator type among the six categories and whether the scope is domestic, international or provincial (2020 guidance, Art. 9) (required)
• Any other necessary documents (Art. 32.3.6), as the receiving authority determines (optional)

Postal financial services or postal product services

• The investment licence, needed only if the service falls on the controlled or concession list (Art. 26.1): centrally for international delivery and locally for domestic, and skipped entirely if it is not listed (optional)
• The enterprise registration from the industry and commerce sector (Arts. 26.2 and 32.2) (required)
• Copies of the investment licence and enterprise registration (Art. 32.3.1) (required)
• The service standards set by the postal authority and the Universal Postal Union (Art. 32.3.2), detailed by the 2020 guidance as a technical standards report covering packaging, forms, safety and pricing (required)
• The appointment or authorisation letter from the business partner, only where you act as agent under a foreign company name (Art. 32.3.3) (optional)
• The trademark (Art. 32.3.4); the 2020 guidance also requires a shop sign whose wording matches the operator type (required)
• The list of technical staff with proof of qualifications (Art. 32.3.5), with identity documents and diplomas added by the 2020 guidance (required)
• The economic analysis report on the postal department form, covering services, activities, investment, revenue structure, budget and timetable (2020 guidance, Art. 9) (required)
• Proof of the office address down to street, village, district, province and postcode, with a GPS point (2020 guidance, Art. 9) (required)
• The enterprise establishment form, stating the operator type among the six categories and whether the scope is domestic, international or provincial (2020 guidance, Art. 9) (required)
• Any other necessary documents (Art. 32.3.6), as the receiving authority determines (optional)

Renewal, filed thirty days before expiry

• The renewal application, filed thirty days before expiry (Art. 34) (required)
• The business report for the previous period (Art. 34.2) (required)
• Proof of tax compliance (Art. 34.3); the 2020 guidance adds four cumulative renewal conditions covering tax, court orders, prior suspensions and unpaid fees (required)
• If no investment licence was obtained in the earlier period, one must be secured from the planning and investment sector before the renewal is granted (Art. 34) (optional)

Changing the company or owner name

• The application to change the company or owner name, filed with the postal authority (2020 guidance, Art. 12) (required)

Statutory requirements

Common issues

• The three steps sit at different levels (Art. 26): the investment licence depends on the list, registration is with Industry and Commerce, the postal licence with Post and Telecommunications, and international or all-province service is central while single-province service is provincial — filing at the wrong level gets it sent back
• Validity depends heavily on which class you hold (Art. 33): five, three, two or one year for classes one to four — do not work yours out from someone else’s certificate

The full list has 6 items; work through them in the guided form — Open the guided form

Legal basis (Lao Official Gazette texts)

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for a Postal service business licence: international, nationwide, provincial and postal financial or product services in Laos?

Both Lao citizens and foreigners may apply; the documents differ. Competent authority: The Postal Department issues, renews, suspends, withdraws or revokes licences for international and nationwide delivery and full postal services, notifying the planning and industry sectors (Art. 42), while the provincial departments do the same for within-province delivery and agency services and report monthly, quarterly and annually (Art. 43). Applications run in three steps under Art. 26: the investment licence where the service is listed, enterprise registration, then the postal licence, with provincial departments guiding applicants on a one-stop basis in three stages (2020 guidance, Art. 5).

What documents are required for a Postal service business licence: international, nationwide, provincial and postal financial or product services in Laos?

12 statutory items: The enterprise registration from the industry and commerce sector (Arts. 26.2 and 32.2); Copies of the investment licence and enterprise registration (Art. 32.3.1); The service standards set by the postal authority and the Universal Postal Union (Art. 32.3.2), detailed by the 2020 guidance as a technical standards report covering packaging, forms, safety and pricing; The trademark (Art. 32.3.4); the 2020 guidance also requires a shop sign whose wording matches the operator type; The list of technical staff with proof of qualifications (Art. 32.3.5), with identity documents and diplomas added by the 2020 guidance; The economic analysis report on the postal department form, covering services, activities, investment, revenue structure, budget and timetable (2020 guidance, Art. 9); Proof of the office address down to street, village, district, province and postcode, with a GPS point (2020 guidance, Art. 9); The enterprise establishment form, stating the operator type among the six categories and whether the scope is domestic, international or provincial (2020 guidance, Art. 9); The renewal application, filed thirty days before expiry (Art. 34); The business report for the previous period (Art. 34.2); Proof of tax compliance (Art. 34.3); the 2020 guidance adds four cumulative renewal conditions covering tax, court orders, prior suspensions and unpaid fees; The application to change the company or owner name, filed with the postal authority (2020 guidance, Art. 12). Competent authority: The Postal Department issues, renews, suspends, withdraws or revokes licences for international and nationwide delivery and full postal services, notifying the planning and industry sectors (Art. 42), while the provincial departments do the same for within-province delivery and agency services and report monthly, quarterly and annually (Art. 43). Applications run in three steps under Art. 26: the investment licence where the service is listed, enterprise registration, then the postal licence, with provincial departments guiding applicants on a one-stop basis in three stages (2020 guidance, Art. 5).

What is the legal basis for a Postal service business licence: international, nationwide, provincial and postal financial or product services in Laos?

Based on Agreement on Licensing of Postal Service Operations (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Communications, No. 199/MPTC) Article 6; Agreement on Licensing of Postal Service Operations (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Communications, No. 199/MPTC) Article 26; Agreement on Licensing of Postal Service Operations (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Communications, No. 199/MPTC) Article 27; Agreement on Licensing of Postal Service Operations (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Communications, No. 199/MPTC) Article 28; Agreement on Licensing of Postal Service Operations (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Communications, No. 199/MPTC) Article 32; Agreement on Licensing of Postal Service Operations (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Communications, No. 199/MPTC) Article 33; Agreement on Licensing of Postal Service Operations (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Communications, No. 199/MPTC) Article 34; Agreement on Licensing of Postal Service Operations (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Communications, No. 199/MPTC) Article 36; Agreement on Licensing of Postal Service Operations (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Communications, No. 199/MPTC) Article 38; Agreement on Licensing of Postal Service Operations (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Communications, No. 199/MPTC) Article 39; Agreement on Licensing of Postal Service Operations (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Communications, No. 199/MPTC) Article 42; Agreement on Licensing of Postal Service Operations (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Communications, No. 199/MPTC) Article 43; Agreement on Licensing of Postal Service Operations (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Communications, No. 199/MPTC) Article 45; Agreement on Licensing of Postal Service Operations (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Communications, No. 199/MPTC) Article 51; Guidelines on Implementing the Decision on Postal Service Operation Permits Article 5; Guidelines on Implementing the Decision on Postal Service Operation Permits Article 8; Guidelines on Implementing the Decision on Postal Service Operation Permits Article 9; Guidelines on Implementing the Decision on Postal Service Operation Permits Article 10; Guidelines on Implementing the Decision on Postal Service Operation Permits Article 12; Guidelines on Implementing the Decision on Postal Service Operation Permits Article 13; Postal Law ( Amended ) Article 65; Decree of the President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on Fees and Service Charges (No. 002/PP) Article 31. The full texts are available in the LaoPaniti law library, sourced from the Lao Official Gazette.

Are there time limits or hard requirements for a Postal service business licence: international, nationwide, provincial and postal financial or product services in Laos?

Three steps at different levels (Art. 26): the investment licence only if the service is on the controlled or concession list, then enterprise registration, then the postal licence — centrally for international and nationwide delivery, provincially for single-province delivery. Four service categories (Art. 6) — delivery, electronic, financial and products — with delivery operators further split into six types (Post, Courier, Delivery, Express, Agent, Logistic) named on the form. Validity depends on the class (Art. 33): five years for class one, three for class two, two for class three and one for class four. The licence may be suspended, withdrawn or revoked where the holder does not operate or breaches the agreement or the law, and service must stop immediately on receipt of the notice (Art. 36). Fees are annual and paid to the issuing authority (Arts. 38 and 39) at the rates in Art. 31 of the 2021 ordinance; the domestic logistics figure in our copy breaks the pattern of the table and is probably a misreading, so confirm it at the counter. The provincial department must guide applicants on a one-stop basis in three steps — guidance, review and processing — starting by identifying which article of the decision your service falls under (2020 guidance, Art. 5). Whoever issues the licence supervises it (Arts. 42 and 43): the ministry for international and nationwide delivery and the provincial department for within-province services, each notifying the planning and industry sectors. The governing text is agreement No. 199 of 9 April 2019, which replaced the No. 2555 agreement of 29 August 2016 (Art. 51), supplemented by the implementation guidance of 4 December 2020 under the Postal Law of 2013. Renewal turns on four cumulative conditions (2020 guidance, Art. 10) — no tax arrears, no court order, no prior suspension and no unpaid fees — filed with the authority that first issued the licence.

How much does a Postal service business licence: international, nationwide, provincial and postal financial or product services cost in Laos and how long does it take?

Cost: The fee is annual and paid to the body that issued your licence (Arts. 38, 39); the agreement gives no amount and points to the fees decree. The 2021 decree (No. 002/PPT), Art. 31, charges by operator class each year: international air post — letters 2,000,000 kip, parcels 4,000,000, logistics 6,000,000; regional post — letters 500,000, parcels 1,000,000, logistics 2,000,000; domestic post — letters 100,000, parcels 300,000; a branch service point of an authorised operator is 10,000 a year and a barcode or QR code 50 kip each. The domestic logistics line reads 8,500,000 in our copy, tens of times above letters and parcels in the same group and inconsistent with the 90,000 written elsewhere, so we treat that line as unreadable and do not rely on it — go by what the counter posts.. How long: The agreement sets no decision period for a first application — Arts. 26 to 34 give principles, conditions and documents but no number of working days — so none is invented here; go by what the counter posts. Validity is clear (Art. 33): class one five years, class two three, class three two, class four one. Renewal is filed with the same body that first issued the licence and must clear four conditions: no tax arrears; no court order suspending or ending the business; no order from the ministry suspending or withdrawing an earlier licence; and no arrears of the annual fees and charges (Implementing Guidance, Art. 10)..

Can LaoPaniti obtain the Postal service business licence: international, nationwide, provincial and postal financial or product services for me?

LaoPaniti organises the document list, offers online form filling, document upload and pre-check hand-off by staff. It is not a government filing, does not represent acceptance or approval by any authority, and promises neither results nor expedited handling. Formal processing follows the current requirements of the The Postal Department issues, renews, suspends, withdraws or revokes licences for international and nationwide delivery and full postal services, notifying the planning and industry sectors (Art. 42), while the provincial departments do the same for within-province delivery and agency services and report monthly, quarterly and annually (Art. 43). Applications run in three steps under Art. 26: the investment licence where the service is listed, enterprise registration, then the postal licence, with provincial departments guiding applicants on a one-stop basis in three stages (2020 guidance, Art. 5).

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