●  Lao-owned · Vientiane · 15 years in the Lao market
Plan my setup
Home
Hotel & Accommodation License in Laos

LICENSE GUIDE

Hotel & Accommodation License in Laos

Who needs it, the listed documents and fees, processing time and legal basis, from the Lao government’s license inventory.
Talk to an Advisor
Hospitality Investment Service

QUICK ANSWER

Hotels and other accommodation businesses in Laos need an accommodation operating license from the tourism authorities. Which office issues it depends on registered capital: district below USD 100,000, provincial from USD 100,000 to below USD 500,000, and the central department from USD 500,000.

At a Glance

ISSUING AUTHORITY
Department of Tourism Business Management
TYPE
License
LISTED REVIEW TIME
9 days
LISTED VALIDITY
12 months
LISTED FIRST-ISSUE FEE
2,050,000 kip
LISTED RENEWAL FEE
1,050,000 kip
SOURCE LAST UPDATED
24 Jun 2024

Who Needs This

Domestic or foreign individuals and legal entities that intend to operate an accommodation business.

Conditions and thresholds

  • District level: registered capital below USD 100,000, including small hotels with no state-set minimum capital.
  • Provincial or Capital level: USD 100,000 to below USD 500,000.
  • Central level (Department of Tourism Business Management): USD 500,000 and above.

Documents to Prepare

The government record lists the following for a first application:

  • Application Form
  • Photograph of the Managing Director
  • Copy of Enterprise Registration Certificate
  • Other Related Documents

The authority may ask for more, and foreign documents may need translation or notarization.

Fees and Timing

Service (kip)Certificate (kip)Application (kip)Total (kip)
First issue1,050,0001,000,00002,050,000
Renewal1,050,000001,050,000

The record cites Ordinance No. 002 of 17 June 2021.

Counted from receipt of a correct and complete application. Listed time: 9 days.

Legal Basis

InstrumentNumberDate
Law on Tourism (Amended)32/NA24 Jul 2013
Legal instrument (title not given in the record)98514 Dec 2021

AQQOUNT Guidance

Decide your capital before you apply, since it decides which office reviews your file. The source lists a restaurant certificate among its accommodation documents, which looks like a copying error, so ask the office to confirm its checklist.

The source was last updated on 24 Jun 2024. Confirm the current position with the authority before filing.

See all Hotels, Restaurants & Food licenses, or open the official record: License to operate Accommodation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who issues the Hotel & Accommodation License in Laos?
The government inventory names the Department of Tourism Business Management as the responsible authority.
How long does it take to get a Hotel & Accommodation License in Laos?
The record lists 9 days. Counted from receipt of a correct and complete application. Actual timing depends on complete documents and any other approvals.
How much does a Hotel & Accommodation License cost in Laos?
The record lists 2,050,000 kip for first issue. The record cites Ordinance No. 002 of 17 June 2021. Confirm the current amount with the authority.
How long is a Hotel & Accommodation License valid?
The record lists a validity of 12 months.

Related Guides

01Restaurant License in Laos
Related requirements and next steps.
02Tour Operator License in Laos
Related requirements and next steps.
03Hotels, Restaurants & Food Licenses
See all related formalities.

Need This License?

AQQOUNT can confirm current requirements with the authority, prepare your file and manage the application.
Talk to an Advisor
Last reviewed: November 2026
Official sources:

See also: Laos Business License Directory.