AGENCY REGISTRATION

A Travel Agency Operating License is an official document issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey to commercial organizations to operate as travel agencies.

Travel agencies are divided into three main groups based on the services they provide:

Group A Travel Agencies: They provide all travel agency services.

Group B Travel Agencies: They sell tickets for international land, sea, and air transportation, as well as tours organized by Group (A) travel agencies.

Group C Travel Agencies: They organize domestic tours only for Turkish citizens.

Group (B) and (C) travel agencies cannot provide travel agency services other than those provided by their own. However, they may provide services provided by Group (A) travel agencies.

1. Legal entities that will be the basis for a travel agency operating license request apply to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey for the title of travel agency.
2. The Ministry reviews and approves the title and notifies the applicant and TÜRSAB in writing.
3. If the application is not submitted to TÜRSAB within thirty (30) days from the date the Ministry notifies that the travel agency title is approved, or if the missing documents or procedures notified by TÜRSAB after the application is submitted to TÜRSAB are not completed within thirty (30) days from the date of notification, the application will be removed from processing.
4. A declaration indicating that the applicant legal entity's field of activity includes tourism or travel agency activities, indicating the date and issue of the Trade Registry Gazette in which the company's articles of association were published (ANNEX-4).
5. A Trade Registry Certification regarding the latest status, also specifying the authorized person(s) to represent.
6. A commitment document regarding the title of travel agency (ANNEX-1).
7. A declaration of the Turkish Republic ID number and criminal record of the members of the Board of Directors and the person(s) authorized to represent the company for applicant joint-stock companies, and of all partners and the person(s) authorized to represent the company for other companies (ANNEX-2).
8. An original or copy of the signature circular of the person(s) authorized to represent the legal entity.
9. A declaration indicating the travel agency personnel's document and the Social Security Institution workplace code and the Turkish Republic ID number of the employee (ANNEX-3).
10. Valid documents for travel agency personnel:
    a- Regarding hotel management and tourism; Proof of having completed a vocational high school, associate's degree, or undergraduate degree; or
    b- Proof of possession of the Information Officer Foreign Language Achievement Certificate; or
    c- Proof of possession of a Ministry-issued guidance certificate.
    - Travel agency owners are considered travel agency personnel if they hold one of the documents listed above while actually working at the travel agency.
    - Original copy of the Information Officer Foreign Language Certificate, and original or certified copies of other documents.
    - For Group C travel agencies, an information officer certificate is sufficient; a foreign language certificate is not required.
11. Letter of guarantee (definite and unlimited, including the travel agency and company name) or T.R. The original document proving that the amount has been deposited into the account "Central Bank Ankara Branch TR89 0000 1001 0000 0350 1540 21" of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Central Accounting Office must be submitted to TÜRSAB.
    Guarantee amounts:
    For a Group A travel agency: 7,000.00 TL (seven thousand Turkish Lira)
    For a Group B travel agency: 6,000.00 TL (six thousand Turkish Lira)
    For a Group C travel agency: 5,000.00 TL (five thousand Turkish Lira)
    (These guarantees are 25% of the amounts stated above for each branch to be established.)
12. TÜRSAB will review and evaluate the information and documents submitted and declared regarding the application and verify the accuracy of the criminal record declaration with the relevant authority.
13. TÜRSAB will inspect and evaluate whether the travel agency business at the specified address meets the qualifications specified in Article 17 and whether personnel records are kept.
14. As a result of the inspection conducted by TÜRSAB, travel agency candidates determined to meet the requirements specified in the legislation will be registered as TÜRSAB members upon payment of the membership registration fee.
15. The membership registration fee and annual dues will be increased by the revaluation rate determined and announced pursuant to Article 298 of Tax Procedure Law No. 213, effective from the beginning of each calendar year.
16. TÜRSAB will notify the Ministry and the applicant in writing regarding the application outcome.
17. If the Ministry reports any missing documents to TÜRSAB, TÜRSAB will notify the applicant of the completion of the missing documents, and the applicant will complete the missing documents. Upon completion of the documents, the Ministry issues a travel agency operating license to those deemed suitable after the necessary review and evaluation. The issued travel agency operating license is sent to the relevant Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism for delivery to the applicant, and TÜRSAB is notified of the situation. The document is obtained from the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism upon presentation of documentation confirming that the document fees have been deposited into the accounts designated by the Ministry.
    - The requirements and establishment principles for establishing a travel agency center also apply to each branch to be established.
    - If the original document, a certified copy of which is requested for the application, is submitted, the copy is verified by TÜRSAB, indicating the name, title, and date.
    - If anyone is identified as having submitted false documents or declarations, a criminal complaint will be filed with the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor, pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Turkish Penal Code. ANNEX-1 ANNEX-2 ANNEX-3 ANNEX-4

You can begin your travel agency operations by becoming a TÜRSAB member and receiving the business license issued by the Ministry.

The membership registration fee and annual dues are applied at the beginning of each calendar year, increasing by the valuation rate determined and announced for that year in accordance with Article 298 of Tax Procedure Law No. 213.

An application for address changes is first submitted to TÜRSAB. After the application is submitted, the prepared documents are submitted to TÜRSAB. TÜRSAB reviews the document application file and inspects and evaluates whether the travel agency's workplace at the notified headquarters or branch address meets the qualifications specified in Article 17 of the Travel Agencies Regulation and whether personnel records are maintained. TÜRSAB notifies the Ministry and the applicant in writing of its opinion on the application outcome. The reason for any application deemed inappropriate is stated. The file regarding the approved address change is forwarded to the Ministry by TÜRSAB. The Ministry then reviews the address change application. If any deficiencies are identified following the Ministry's review, evaluation, and, if deemed necessary, an inspection of the notified address, TÜRSAB is notified to address the deficiencies. If the request is approved, an Office Approval is prepared for the issuance of the document. Following the authority's approval, a travel agency operating license is issued based on the new address. The issued travel agency operating license is sent to the relevant Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism for delivery to the applicant, and TÜRSAB is notified of the situation. The document is obtained from the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism after documentation demonstrating that the document fees have been deposited into the accounts designated by the Ministry is submitted.

According to Article 10, paragraph (d) of Law No. 1618 on Travel Agencies and the Association of Travel Agencies, travel agencies are required to notify TÜRSAB of any address changes, including those involving their branches, at least ten (10) days in advance. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism imposes administrative fines on travel agencies that fail to notify their address changes in a timely manner, in accordance with Article 27, paragraph (a), subparagraph (2) of Law No. 1618.

Travel agencies requesting branch closure must first apply to TÜRSAB with a petition and documents to obtain a new business certificate based on their new status. The file completed by TÜRSAB regarding the branch closure application is forwarded to the Ministry. The Ministry reviews the file regarding the branch closure submitted to the Ministry. If any deficiencies are identified as a result of the Ministry's review and evaluation, TÜRSAB is notified to resolve the issue. If the request is approved, an Authorized ... Pursuant to Article 17 of Law No. 1618 on Travel Agencies and the Association of Travel Agencies, owners of travel agencies and authorized managers on behalf of the Board of Directors of legal entities must notify TÜRSAB or the Ministry in writing of any changes to the matters stated in their petitions and operating documents within thirty (30) days of their occurrence. Administrative fines will be imposed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on travel agencies that fail to notify the closure of their branches in a timely manner, in accordance with subparagraph (2) of Article 27, paragraph (a) of Law No. 1618.

For a travel agency whose title has already been registered by the Ministry to change its title, it must first apply to the Ministry with a petition and title request form. If the Ministry deems the change in travel agency title appropriate, it will notify the applicant and TÜRSAB in writing. Following notification of the Ministry's letter regarding the change in travel agency title, the applicant applies to TÜRSAB with the required documents. TÜRSAB reviews and evaluates the submitted documents after the application is completed. The file regarding the change in title is forwarded to the Ministry by TÜRSAB. The Ministry reviews the file regarding the change in travel agency title upon receipt. If any deficiencies are identified following the Ministry's review and evaluation, TÜRSAB is notified of the completion of the deficiencies. If the request is approved, an Office Approval is prepared for the issuance of the document. After the authority's approval, a Travel Agency Operation Certificate is issued based on the new travel agency title. The issued travel agency operation certificate is sent to the relevant Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism for delivery to the applicant, and TÜRSAB is notified of the situation. The certificate is obtained from the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism after documentation demonstrating that the document fees have been deposited into the accounts designated by the Ministry is submitted.

A group change is possible. To make such a change, an application must first be submitted to TÜRSAB with a petition and the required documents. TÜRSAB reviews and evaluates the submitted documents after the application is completed. The file for the group change application is forwarded to the Ministry by TÜRSAB. The Ministry reviews the file for the group change once it is forwarded to the Ministry. If any deficiencies are identified following the Ministry's review and evaluation, TÜRSAB is notified to resolve the deficiencies. If the request is approved, an Office Approval is prepared for the issuance of the document. After the authority's approval, a travel agency operating certificate is issued for the new group. The issued travel agency operating certificate is sent to the relevant Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism for delivery to the applicant, and the situation is reported to TÜRSAB. After submitting documents confirming that the document fees have been deposited into the accounts designated by the Ministry, the certificate is received from the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism.

The following collateral requirements are met upon group change. If there is a difference in the organization collateral between the two groups that needs to be refunded, the difference is retained by the Ministry for one year. If there is no offset, the difference in the organization collateral is refunded at the end of the year. For a Group A travel agency: 7,000.00 TL (seven thousand Turkish Lira)

For a Group B travel agency: 6,000.00 TL (six thousand Turkish Lira)

For a Group C travel agency: 5,000.00 TL (five thousand Turkish Lira)

(This guarantee is 25% of the amounts specified above for each branch to be established.)

Among the documents related to personnel to be employed by travel agencies, the original copy of the information officer's foreign language proficiency certificate and the original or certified copy of other documents must be submitted to our Association and archived. Travel agencies are obligated to notify TÜRSAB of any personnel changes and submit the documents within thirty days at the latest. Following the review and evaluation of the documents, TÜRSAB notifies the Ministry of the change.

a) In the field of hotel management and tourism; Having completed a vocational high school, associate's degree, or undergraduate degree,

b) Holding an Information Officer Foreign Language Achievement Certificate,

c) Holding a Guide Certificate issued by the Ministry,

Travel agency owners who meet one of the above qualifications and are actively working at a travel agency are considered employees of their own travel agency.

A travel agency requesting a company merger must first apply to TÜRSAB with a petition and the required documents to complete the merger process. The merger application file completed by TÜRSAB is submitted to the Ministry. The merger file submitted to the Ministry is reviewed by the Ministry. If any deficiencies are identified as a result of the Ministry's review and evaluation, TÜRSAB is notified of the completion of the deficiencies. If the request is approved, an Authorized Approval is prepared. After the Authorized Approval, if there has been a change in trade name following the merger, the travel agency will be reassigned to the new trade name.

“Owners of travel agencies, and authorized managers on behalf of the board of directors of legal entities, must notify TÜRSAB or the Ministry in writing of any changes to the matters stated in their petitions and in their business documents within thirty (30) days of their occurrence. If a change in trade name or address occurs after the merger and this change is not notified in a timely manner, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism will impose administrative fines on travel agencies pursuant to Article 27, paragraph (a) and subparagraph (2) of Law No. 1618.

A travel agency requesting a change of type must first apply to TÜRSAB with a petition and documents to be issued a new business document in accordance with the change in type. TÜRSAB will review and evaluate the submitted documents after the application is completed. The file regarding the change of type application is forwarded to the Ministry by TÜRSAB. The Ministry reviews the file regarding the type change submitted to the Ministry. If any deficiencies are identified as a result of the Ministry's review and evaluation, TÜRSAB is notified to resolve the issue. If the request is approved, an Authorized Authorization is prepared for the issuance of the document. Following the Authorized Authorization, a travel agency operating license is issued according to the new type. The issued travel agency operating license is sent to the relevant Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism to be delivered to the applicant, and TÜRSAB is notified of the situation. The document is received from the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism after documentation demonstrating that the document fees have been deposited into the accounts designated by the Ministry is submitted.

According to Article 17 of Law No. 1618 on Travel Agencies and the Association of Travel Agencies:

“Owners of travel agencies, authorized managers on behalf of the board of directors of legal entities, and the business owners of travel agencies, shall be authorized to submit their petitions and submit their business licenses.” Any changes to the documents must be reported in writing to TÜRSAB or the Ministry within thirty (30) days of their occurrence. If the type change is not notified in a timely manner, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism will impose administrative fines on travel agencies pursuant to Article 27, paragraph (a) and subparagraph (2) of Law No. 1618.

Based on the values specified in Article 34 of Law No. 4734;

a) The definitive and unlimited guarantee, which includes the travel agency and company name, shall be issued to the Republic of Turkey. The original document proving that the amount has been deposited into the account "Central Bank Ankara Branch TR89 0000 1001 0000 0350 1540 21 IBAN", issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Central Accounting Office, must be submitted as an attachment to the petition.

b) Cash deposits must be deposited from a company account.

c) Cash deposits from personal accounts are not accepted.

d) The travel agency and company names must be written correctly on the deposit.

The deposit amounts to be deposited by travel agency group are listed below. - 7,000.00 TL (seven thousand Turkish Lira) for a Group A travel agency

- 6,000.00 TL (six thousand Turkish Lira) for a Group B travel agency

- 5,000.00 TL (five thousand Turkish Lira) for a Group C travel agency

(This deposit is 25% of the amounts specified above for each branch to be established.)

For deposit changes, an application is made to the Ministry with a new letter of guarantee attached to the petition. If the travel agency submits the new deposit, the existing deposit at the Ministry will be returned. If the letter of guarantee is issued, it will be returned to the bank where the deposit was issued. If the cash deposit is provided, it will be returned to the IBAN number or bank account specified by the travel agency in its petition.

a- A petition is submitted to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey. The petition clearly states the nature of the request and includes the business license number, name, and the applicant's name and surname, signature, date, contact phone numbers, and the travel agency's address. The petition must bear a stamp and the signature of the person or persons authorized to represent the legal entity.

b- Newspaper loss announcement. (An announcement in any newspaper declaring the lost document invalid.)

If the Ministry submits an application with the appropriate documentation, a replacement will be issued for the lost document.