Domestic Tour Guide Card Issuance Guide

The domestic tour guide card issuance procedure allows individuals to practice legally under the Law on Tourism 2017. Compliance with standards regarding qualifications, health, and personal background ensures legal adherence and career development. Long Phan Consulting Company provides this technical summary to facilitate swift execution for clients.

Statutory Issuance Conditions

According to Clause 1, Article 59 of the Law on Tourism 2017, applicants must meet specific criteria to obtain the domestic tour guide card. These statutory requirements include:

• Nationality: Must hold Vietnamese citizenship and reside permanently in Vietnam.

• Civil Capacity: Must possess full civil act capacity.

• Health: Must not suffer from infectious diseases or use narcotics.

• Education: Must hold an intermediate degree or higher in tourism guiding; or an intermediate degree or higher in another major accompanied by a domestic tour guiding certificate.

Card Validity Duration

Per Clause 4, Article 58 of the Law on Tourism 2017, the card remains valid for 05 years from the date of issuance.

Competent authority for issuing domestic tour guide cards

Article 60 of the Law on Tourism 2017 designates the provincial specialized tourism agency as the receiving authority. Specifically, the Department of Tourism or the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism within the province or centrally-run city processes the application.

Components of the application dossier for the issuance of a domestic tour guide card

Clause 1, Article 60 of the Law on Tourism 2017 (guided by Circular 06/2017/TT-BVHTTDL and Official Dispatch 120/TCDL-LH) mandates the following components for the domestic tour guide card application:

• Qualification Documents: Certified copies of the intermediate degree (or higher) in tourism guiding; or the intermediate degree in another major plus the domestic guiding certificate.

• Health Certificate: Issued by a competent medical facility within 06 months of submission.

• Photography: 02 color portrait photos, size 3cm x 4cm.

• Application Form: Use Form No. 04, Appendix II of Circular No. 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL.

• Curriculum Vitae: Certified by the Commune-level People’s Committee (waived if residence data exists in the national database).

Procedure for issuing a domestic tour guide card

Clause 2, Article 60 of the Law on Tourism 2017 outlines the administrative workflow:

• Submission: Applicants submit the dossier online via the National Public Service Portal (Procedure Code: 1.004623) or physically at the Department headquarters.

• Processing: Within 15 days of receiving a valid dossier, the Department issues the card.

• Refusal: Any refusal must be in writing with stated reasons.

>>> See more at: Issuance of international tour guide card – Conditions & Procedures

Long Phan Consulting Services

Long Phan Consulting Company delivers comprehensive support for the domestic tour guide card application. Our technical scope includes:

• Legal assessment of the application dossier.

• Drafting and compilation of statutory documents.

• Authorized representation for submission to state agencies.

• Direct liaison for dossier explanation and tracking.

• Resolution of supplementary requests.

Technical FAQs and Operational Notes

Practice Conditions

Possessing the card is insufficient for legal practice. Guides must also hold a labor contract with a travel service enterprise or guiding service provider, plus a guiding contract or assignment order for specific tours (Clause 3, Article 58, Law on Tourism 2017).

Foreign Degree Validity

Foreign degrees are admissible if recognized as equivalent to an intermediate level or higher by the Ministry of Education and Training. Applicants must submit a notarized translation and the recognition document (Point c, Clause 1, Article 60, Law on Tourism 2017).

Revocation Triggers

Authorities revoke the domestic tour guide card for dishonest declarations, document forgery, renting/lending the card, or serious ethical violations harming the image of Vietnamese tourism (Clause 1, Article 64, Law on Tourism 2017).

Foreign Language Requirement

The Law on Tourism 2017 does not require foreign language certification for domestic guides. This requirement applies strictly to international tour guide cards (Clause 1, Article 59, Law on Tourism 2017).

Re-issuance for Loss

Individuals must submit an application for re-issuance with 02 photos to the issuing agency. The processing time is 10 days from receipt of a valid dossier (Clause 1, 2, Article 63, Law on Tourism 2017).

Conclusion

Possessing a domestic tour guide card serves as clear evidence of one’s professional competence and lawful eligibility to practice. The process of preparing the application dossier requires meticulous attention and strict compliance with the provisions of the Law on Tourism 2017. Please contact Long Phan Consultancy via hotline 1900636389 for timely and professional legal assistance.