PROCEDURES FOR ESTABLISHING A TRAVEL AGENCY
Introduction
Entrepreneurs who wish to establish a travel agency must obtain a Travel Agency Operation Certificate and become a member of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB). Obtaining a Travel Agency Operation Certificate is a legal requirement in Turkey for travel agencies to operate, and this certificate is issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Managing the process of establishing a travel agency in a professional manner is crucial, especially during the application process for the Travel Agency Operation Certificate, in order to avoid rejections and delays due to deficiencies and to obtain the certificate and start operations as quickly as possible.
To establish a travel agency, the following steps must be followed:
Company Establishment
The first step is to establish a company. In order to obtain a travel agency operation certificate, it is essential that the company’s articles of association explicitly include travel agency activities. If your existing company’s articles of association do not include such activities, an amendment must be made through a general assembly resolution to update the company’s purpose and scope of activities.
Obtaining a Travel Agency Trade Name
At this stage, in addition to your company name, you must submit a “Travel Agency Trade Name Request” application to the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism (“the Ministry”). This application is made via a petition listing the requested trade names in order of priority. This stage is one of the most critical steps in obtaining the Travel Agency Operation Certificate. To avoid rejection, trade names must be carefully selected in compliance with the Ministry’s standards. Thorough research and strict follow-up are required to avoid delays and to obtain approval promptly. Therefore, seeking professional assistance is recommended. Matching the company name with the agency trade name is only possible with the Ministry’s approval.
Application to TÜRSAB for a New Travel Agency Operation Certificate
Within 30 (thirty) days from the notification that the requested trade name has been approved by the Ministry, an application must be submitted to TÜRSAB along with the required documents.
A) Preparation of application documents and submission to TÜRSAB
The application petition and supporting documents must be prepared carefully and completely to avoid rejection. Legal review of the documents is essential to ensure they meet requirements, which significantly increases the likelihood of approval on the first submission.
In order to obtain a travel agency operation certificate, it is mandatory to employ personnel who hold one of the following qualifications:
- A diploma showing completion of vocational high school, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism
- Foreign language proficiency certificate for information officer
- Guide certificate issued by the Ministry
Information and documents related to personnel holding one of these qualifications must be included in the application file. Once all conditions and documents are satisfied, an application is submitted to TÜRSAB (Association of Turkish Travel Agencies).
B) Workplace suitability inspection by TÜRSAB
After reviewing the application file, TÜRSAB conducts an on-site inspection at the declared business address. During this inspection, compliance with applicable regulations is assessed. It is crucial to ensure that the workplace meets all requirements before the inspection, as obtaining the travel agency operation certificate is not possible unless these conditions are satisfied.
C) Payment of membership registration fee and annual dues
If the application file review, evaluation, and on-site inspection comply with the relevant regulations, the applicant must pay the “membership registration fee” and “annual dues” within the specified period. The annual dues are determined based on the year the certificate is issued.
D) Participation in the information meeting
To complete TÜRSAB membership procedures, authorized representatives of applicants who have paid the membership registration fee within the specified period must attend the “Newly Established Agencies Information Meeting,” where TÜRSAB activities are introduced.
E) TÜRSAB’s submission of opinion to the Ministry
TÜRSAB submits its opinion to the Ministry regarding applications that have completed the previous stages. For applications deemed unsuitable by TÜRSAB, the applicant is informed of the reasons for non-compliance.
Following the Ministry’s review, any deficiencies are communicated to TÜRSAB. If the application is approved by the Ministry, authorization is granted for the issuance of the Travel Agency Operation Certificate. Subsequently, the certificate is issued by the Ministry and reported to TÜRSAB. The issued certificate is sent to the relevant Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism for delivery to the applicant. TÜRSAB membership is finalized upon issuance of the certificate by the Ministry.
Once the operation certificate is obtained, the travel agency is legally permitted to commence operations.
Operating Without a Travel Agency Operation Certificate
Operating without a travel agency operation certificate is illegal. This may result in severe penalties and administrative sanctions. As of 2025, individuals engaging in travel agency activities without obtaining a certificate from the Ministry may be subject to administrative fines ranging from 35,416 TL to 88,663 TL, in addition to administrative investigations. Furthermore, unlicensed businesses may lose customer trust and suffer reputational damage in the industry.
Conclusion
The process of establishing a travel agency and obtaining a Travel Agency Operation Certificate involves many technical and legal details and must be carried out with great care.
Obtaining professional legal support ensures that the application is completed accurately and efficiently. Incomplete or incorrect documentation may lead to rejection; therefore, preparing documents in compliance with regulations is of critical importance. Mistakes at early stages can lead to legal issues later and complicate the process. For this reason, legal assistance is the most reliable way to minimize potential risks. Additionally, it is essential that the workplace meets all requirements during inspections conducted by TÜRSAB and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Legal consultancy services help ensure full preparation for inspections and early identification of potential deficiencies.
For effective management of the Travel Agency Operation Certificate process, you may contact the team at Nexpo Legal, which consists not only of attorneys but also industry professionals.
Av. A. Niyazi Ülkü
Partner, Nexpo Legal
Av. Ş. Ahsen Çetinkaya
Attorney, Nexpo Legal
