Tourism business licence: accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, guiding, travel agency and other categories in Laos: statutory documents, competent authority and legal basis
Who can apply
Both Lao citizens and foreigners may apply; the documents differ.
Competent authority: Tourism administration runs at four levels (Art. 117): the ministry, provincial and capital divisions, district and municipal offices, and village administrations. Arts. 119.4 and 120.4 both provide that provincial divisions and district offices consider, issue, suspend and revoke tourism business licences, so the ministry is not the only door. Controlled-list businesses must first register the enterprise and obtain an investment licence (Art. 100)
At a glance
Where to apply: Tourism administration runs at four levels (Art. 117): the ministry, the provincial and capital divisions, the district and municipal offices, and village administrations. The licence need not be sought at the ministry: Arts. 119.4 and 120.4 both provide that provincial divisions and district offices consider, issue, suspend and revoke tourism business licences in coordination with other bodies. Controlled-list businesses must also register the enterprise and obtain an investment licence first (Art. 100).
Steps:
- Check whether your business is on the controlled list: if it is you need enterprise registration and an investment licence first, if not just the registration (Art. 100)
- Match your business to the nine categories in Art. 101; accommodation also matches the eleven types in Art. 35 and entertainment the eight in Art. 47
- Meet the four conditions in Art. 102: registration or investment licence, registered capital matching the category and scale, premises, and the other conditions for the category
How long: The only fixed periods are the decision times in Art. 104: seven working days for a general activity and fifteen for a concession, from a correct and complete application, with written reasons within the same period if the licence is refused. Art. 105 says only that the term follows the business category and is renewable, without fixing a number of years.
Cost: The Tourism Law sets no charges. In the 2021 fees ordinance the information, culture and tourism section (Arts. 38 to 40) prices imported media products and broadcasting or website approvals, with no entry for a tourism business licence, and the service-charge detail in Art. 39 is untranslated in our copy. Rely on the rate posted at the counter.
Statutory document list
General tourism business, not on the controlled list
- Business application on the form set by the Tourism Business Management Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (Art. 103.A.1) (required)
- Copy of the enterprise registration certificate or the investment licence (Art. 103.A.2) (required)
- Other documents in the set for your business category (Art. 103.A.3). The law does not itemise this set, so follow what the counter says (optional)
- Power of attorney, if someone files on your behalf (optional)
Tourism business on the controlled list, requiring enterprise registration and an investment licence first
- Business application on the form set by the Tourism Business Management Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (Art. 103.A.1) (required)
- Copy of the enterprise registration certificate or the investment licence (Art. 103.A.2) (required)
- Other documents in the set for your business category (Art. 103.A.3). The law does not itemise this set, so follow what the counter says (optional)
- Power of attorney, if someone files on your behalf (optional)
Concession activity, which additionally requires the techno-economic report, the environmental impact report and the concession contract
- Business application on the form set by the Tourism Business Management Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (Art. 103.A.1) (required)
- Copy of the enterprise registration certificate or the investment licence (Art. 103.A.2) (required)
- Other documents in the set for your business category (Art. 103.A.3). The law does not itemise this set, so follow what the counter says (optional)
- Techno-economic analysis report (Art. 103.B.2) (required)
- Environmental impact assessment report (Art. 103.B.3), obtained through the environmental certificate matter first (required)
- The concession contract (Art. 103.B.4) (required)
- Power of attorney, if someone files on your behalf (optional)
Operating inside protected, conservation or production forest
- Business application on the form set by the Tourism Business Management Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (Art. 103.A.1) (required)
- Copy of the enterprise registration certificate or the investment licence (Art. 103.A.2) (required)
- Other documents in the set for your business category (Art. 103.A.3). The law does not itemise this set, so follow what the counter says (optional)
- Power of attorney, if someone files on your behalf (optional)
Operating inside a special or specific economic zone
- Power of attorney, if someone files on your behalf (optional)
Tour guide card, a personal credential rather than a business licence
- Evidence of completing a guiding course or training in Laos or abroad (Art. 74.4) (required)
- Health certificate (Art. 74.7) (required)
- Evidence of no custodial sentence for an intentional offence (Art. 74.2) (required)
- Art. 74 lists only the seven standards and conditions and no attachment schedule; its closing sentence refers the level-specific standards to separate regulations, so ask at the counter (optional)
- Power of attorney, if someone files on your behalf (optional)
Staging a concert: no business licence, a separate approval instead
- Power of attorney, if someone files on your behalf (optional)
Renew the business licence
- Business application on the form set by the Tourism Business Management Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (Art. 103.A.1) (required)
- Copy of the enterprise registration certificate or the investment licence (Art. 103.A.2) (required)
- Other documents in the set for your business category (Art. 103.A.3). The law does not itemise this set, so follow what the counter says (optional)
- Power of attorney, if someone files on your behalf (optional)
Statutory requirements
- First decide whether your business is on the controlled list, because the two routes have different prerequisites (Art. 100). On the list, you first register the enterprise with the Industry and Commerce sector under the Enterprise Law and obtain an investment licence from the Planning and Investment sector under the Investment Promotion Law, and only then apply to the Information, Culture and Tourism sector. Off the list, you register the enterprise and then apply for the business licence.
- Four conditions (Art. 102): lawful enterprise registration or investment licence; registered capital matching the category and scale; premises; and the other conditions for each category. The fourth is not itemised in the law, so ask at the counter.
- The deadlines are firm and come in two tiers (Art. 104): seven working days for general activities and fifteen for concession activities, counted from a correct and complete application. If the licence cannot be issued, the reasons must be given in writing within the same period, which is your right.
- The licence may not be transferred or lent (Art. 105); its term follows the business category and it is renewable under the rules. The law does not fix the number of years per category, so rely on the licence itself and the counter.
- There are two grounds for revocation (Art. 108): failing to correct after a suspension order, and serious breach of law. After revocation the tourism sector must notify the industry and commerce sector within five working days, so it reaches your enterprise registration too.
- The most direct prohibition is operating a tourism business without a licence (Art. 115.1); the same article also forbids services below standard. Art. 113 adds general prohibitions including damaging tourism resources, sites and the beauty of the environment.
- Cost: the Tourism Law sets no charges. In the 2021 fees ordinance the information, culture and tourism section (Arts. 38 to 40) prices imported media products and broadcasting or website approvals, and shows no entry for a tourism business licence; the service-charge detail in Art. 39 is untranslated in our Chinese text. Rely on the rate posted at the counter.
- For a tourist site or activity inside protected, conservation or production forest, the tourism sector must coordinate with the agriculture and forestry sector and the natural resources and environment sector before licensing (Art. 100), so allow extra time for those clearances.
- For tourism inside a special or specific economic zone, Art. 100 says only that the relevant laws and rules apply; this law sets out no separate procedure or documents, so follow the zone management body.
- The guide card is a personal credential rather than a business licence, and Art. 74.1 requires a Lao citizen aged eighteen or over residing in Laos, so foreigners cannot hold it. Running a guiding business instead means the licence for category seven of Art. 101, which is a different thing.
- Concerts are the single exception among the eight entertainment services in Art. 47: every entertainment service needs a business licence except a concert, which instead needs approval from the tourism sector, the public security sector and the local administration, three bodies rather than one.
Common issues
- The step most often missed on the controlled list: Art. 100 requires both the enterprise registration and the investment licence before the tourism licence, so bringing only the registration means being turned away
- The licence may not be transferred or lent (Art. 105), so buying or borrowing someone else licence is not allowed
Legal basis (Lao Official Gazette texts)
Excerpt: Article 3 (Amendment) Interpretation of Terms The terms used in this Act shall have the following meanings: 1. Hotel means a type of accommodation premises, having a building or architectural structure, with more than fi …
Excerpt: Article 35 (New) Categories of Accommodation Establishments Categories of accommodation establishments are as follows: 1. Hotels; 2. Boutique hotels; 3. Resorts; 4. Inns; 5. Motels; 6. Mobile accommodation units; 7. …
Excerpt: Article 47 (Amended) Categories of Entertainment Services The categories of entertainment services are as follows: 1. Discotheques; 2. Nightclubs; 3. Bar halls; 4. Snack bars; 5. Bars; 6. Karaoke; 7. Concerts; 8. …
Excerpt: Article 74 (Amended) Standards and Conditions for Tour Guides The general standards and conditions for tour guides are as follows: 1. Be a Lao citizen, aged eighteen years or older, and have a residence in the Lao People …
Excerpt: Article 75 (New) Rights of Tour Guides Tour guides have the following rights within their scope of responsibility: 1. To receive labor fees or service fees from the tour guide service enterprise in accordance with the co …
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for a Tourism business licence: accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, guiding, travel agency and other categories in Laos?
Both Lao citizens and foreigners may apply; the documents differ. Competent authority: Tourism administration runs at four levels (Art. 117): the ministry, provincial and capital divisions, district and municipal offices, and village administrations. Arts. 119.4 and 120.4 both provide that provincial divisions and district offices consider, issue, suspend and revoke tourism business licences, so the ministry is not the only door. Controlled-list businesses must first register the enterprise and obtain an investment licence (Art. 100).
What documents are required for a Tourism business licence: accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, guiding, travel agency and other categories in Laos?
8 statutory items: Business application on the form set by the Tourism Business Management Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (Art. 103.A.1); Copy of the enterprise registration certificate or the investment licence (Art. 103.A.2); Techno-economic analysis report (Art. 103.B.2); Environmental impact assessment report (Art. 103.B.3), obtained through the environmental certificate matter first; The concession contract (Art. 103.B.4); Evidence of completing a guiding course or training in Laos or abroad (Art. 74.4); Health certificate (Art. 74.7); Evidence of no custodial sentence for an intentional offence (Art. 74.2). Competent authority: Tourism administration runs at four levels (Art. 117): the ministry, provincial and capital divisions, district and municipal offices, and village administrations. Arts. 119.4 and 120.4 both provide that provincial divisions and district offices consider, issue, suspend and revoke tourism business licences, so the ministry is not the only door. Controlled-list businesses must first register the enterprise and obtain an investment licence (Art. 100).
What is the legal basis for a Tourism business licence: accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, guiding, travel agency and other categories in Laos?
Based on Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 3; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 35; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 47; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 74; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 75; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 76; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 100; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 101; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 102; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 103; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 104; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 105; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 106; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 108; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 113; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 115; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 117; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 118; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 119; Law on Tourism (Amended) Article 120; Decree of the President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on Fees and Service Charges (No. 002/PP) Article 38. 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 Tourism business licence: accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, guiding, travel agency and other categories in Laos?
First decide whether your business is on the controlled list, because the two routes have different prerequisites (Art. 100). On the list, you first register the enterprise with the Industry and Commerce sector under the Enterprise Law and obtain an investment licence from the Planning and Investment sector under the Investment Promotion Law, and only then apply to the Information, Culture and Tourism sector. Off the list, you register the enterprise and then apply for the business licence. Four conditions (Art. 102): lawful enterprise registration or investment licence; registered capital matching the category and scale; premises; and the other conditions for each category. The fourth is not itemised in the law, so ask at the counter. The deadlines are firm and come in two tiers (Art. 104): seven working days for general activities and fifteen for concession activities, counted from a correct and complete application. If the licence cannot be issued, the reasons must be given in writing within the same period, which is your right. The licence may not be transferred or lent (Art. 105); its term follows the business category and it is renewable under the rules. The law does not fix the number of years per category, so rely on the licence itself and the counter. There are two grounds for revocation (Art. 108): failing to correct after a suspension order, and serious breach of law. After revocation the tourism sector must notify the industry and commerce sector within five working days, so it reaches your enterprise registration too. The most direct prohibition is operating a tourism business without a licence (Art. 115.1); the same article also forbids services below standard. Art. 113 adds general prohibitions including damaging tourism resources, sites and the beauty of the environment. Cost: the Tourism Law sets no charges. In the 2021 fees ordinance the information, culture and tourism section (Arts. 38 to 40) prices imported media products and broadcasting or website approvals, and shows no entry for a tourism business licence; the service-charge detail in Art. 39 is untranslated in our Chinese text. Rely on the rate posted at the counter. For a tourist site or activity inside protected, conservation or production forest, the tourism sector must coordinate with the agriculture and forestry sector and the natural resources and environment sector before licensing (Art. 100), so allow extra time for those clearances. For tourism inside a special or specific economic zone, Art. 100 says only that the relevant laws and rules apply; this law sets out no separate procedure or documents, so follow the zone management body. The guide card is a personal credential rather than a business licence, and Art. 74.1 requires a Lao citizen aged eighteen or over residing in Laos, so foreigners cannot hold it. Running a guiding business instead means the licence for category seven of Art. 101, which is a different thing. Concerts are the single exception among the eight entertainment services in Art. 47: every entertainment service needs a business licence except a concert, which instead needs approval from the tourism sector, the public security sector and the local administration, three bodies rather than one.
How much does a Tourism business licence: accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, guiding, travel agency and other categories cost in Laos and how long does it take?
Cost: The Tourism Law sets no charges. In the 2021 fees ordinance the information, culture and tourism section (Arts. 38 to 40) prices imported media products and broadcasting or website approvals, with no entry for a tourism business licence, and the service-charge detail in Art. 39 is untranslated in our copy. Rely on the rate posted at the counter.. How long: The only fixed periods are the decision times in Art. 104: seven working days for a general activity and fifteen for a concession, from a correct and complete application, with written reasons within the same period if the licence is refused. Art. 105 says only that the term follows the business category and is renewable, without fixing a number of years..
Can LaoPaniti obtain the Tourism business licence: accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, guiding, travel agency and other categories 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 Tourism administration runs at four levels (Art. 117): the ministry, provincial and capital divisions, district and municipal offices, and village administrations. Arts. 119.4 and 120.4 both provide that provincial divisions and district offices consider, issue, suspend and revoke tourism business licences, so the ministry is not the only door. Controlled-list businesses must first register the enterprise and obtain an investment licence (Art. 100).
Organise documents online and submit for pre-check →
Other matters
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