LICENSE GUIDE
Wholesale & Retail License in Laos
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At a Glance
Who Needs This
Individuals and local or foreign legal entities that intend to conduct wholesale and retail business.
Conditions and thresholds
- Foreign equity up to 100%: registered capital of 20 billion kip or more.
- Foreign equity up to 70%: 10 to below 20 billion kip, in a joint venture with a domestic investor.
- Foreign equity up to 50%: 4 to below 10 billion kip, in a joint venture with a domestic investor.
- 100% Lao-owned: not required to apply for this license.
Documents to Prepare
The government record lists the following for a first application:
- Application Form
- Copy of Enterprise Registration Certificate
- Instruction Letter from Enterprise Registration and Management Sector
- Copy of Application Form for Enterprise Registration of Company Limited
- Photo (3×4)
- Power of Attorney
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 issue | 0 | 0 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Renewal | 0 | 100,000 | 10,000 | 110,000 |
The record says no license fee is set in regulation, with a charge for the application form.
Legal Basis
| Instrument | Number | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Decision on Wholesale and Retail Business | 1005/MOIC.DDT | 22 May 2015 |
| Decision on Enterprise Registration | 0023/MoIC.DERM | 9 Jan 2019 |
| Instruction on Licensing the Business Activities of Industry and Commerce Sector | 0045/MoIC.DERM | 18 Jan 2019 |
| Decision on the Business Activities of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce that requires Business Operating License | 0044/MoIC.DERM | 18 Jan 2019 |
AQQOUNT Guidance
These thresholds shape your whole structure, so check them before choosing a legal form or capital amount. The record does not describe foreign participation below 4 billion kip, so get advice for that case.
The source was last updated on 3 Dec 2020. Confirm the current position with the authority before filing.
See all Wholesale, Retail & Trade licenses, or open the official record: Business Operating License for Domestic Trade Business (Wholesale and Retail).