How to Open a Travel Agency in Türkiye: 2026 Guide

Türkiye welcomes tens of millions of domestic and international tourists every year — and the first question of every entrepreneur who wants a share of that market is the same: how do you open a travel agency in Türkiye? The answer is clearer than in many industries, because agency work in Türkiye is a licensed profession regulated by Law No. 1618. Follow the steps in the right order and the process is predictable; get the order wrong and you lose both time and money.

This guide covers the whole process as it stands in 2026: the differences between agency groups (A-B-C), the steps from company formation to TÜRSAB membership and the Ministry operating licence, the current cost table, how long everything takes, and the critical first moves after the licence arrives. There is also a 12-question FAQ at the end. It is written for anyone planning to establish an agency in Türkiye — including foreign founders setting up through a Turkish company.

In short: To open a travel agency you first establish a commercial company (with "travel agency operations" explicitly stated in the articles of association), obtain title approval from TÜRSAB, apply for membership, and start operating with the operating licence issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. In 2026 the TÜRSAB registration fee is 649,278.99 TL; the total setup cost varies by group and company type.

Agency Groups: What Are Group A, B and C?

Your first strategic decision is which group to operate in — because the group determines both what you may sell and what you will pay.

One important rule: Group B and C agencies cannot directly produce services outside their authority; they may, however, sell Group A agencies' products. That is why most newly founded agencies choose Group A for its flexibility.

The Legal Chain: Three Institutions, One Order

Setting up a travel agency in Türkiye is a three-link chain, and the order matters:

1. Commercial law link: A legal entity (usually a limited or joint-stock company) is established. The articles of association must explicitly list "travel agency operations" as a field of activity — if this clause is missing, your TÜRSAB application stalls at the very first step.
2. TÜRSAB link: You apply for membership of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB). TÜRSAB first approves your agency title (it must be unique and not confusable with existing agencies), then reviews your file and, if satisfied, forwards its opinion to the Ministry.
3. Ministry link: Upon TÜRSAB's positive opinion, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism issues the Travel Agency Operating Licence. The licence is delivered through the provincial directorate of culture and tourism. Selling tours without this licence is illegal and subject to heavy administrative penalties.

Application Requirements and Documents

As of 2026, a typical application file contains:

• Company documents: Trade registry certificate, trade registry gazette showing the articles of association, signature circular, tax plate
• Title approval: TÜRSAB's letter confirming your agency title
• Guarantee: A definitive, open-ended bank letter of guarantee issued in favour of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (the amount depends on the agency group; confirm the current figure with TÜRSAB before applying)
• Staff certificate: Documents showing employment of staff holding the information officer certificate (with social security records)
• Office: Premises suitable for agency operations with independent access (lease contract or title deed) — if a flat is to be used, compliance with the building management plan and regulations is required
• Criminal records: Criminal record certificates of the company partners and officers

Missing documents don't kill the process, but the clock runs: if you fail to complete the deficiencies notified by TÜRSAB within 30 days, your application is removed from processing and you start over.

Step-by-Step Setup Order

1. Define your business model and group. Which tours, to which customers, through which channel? This decision shapes your group choice and capital plan.
2. Establish your company. Have "travel agency operations" added to the articles of association; settle capital and company type (limited/joint-stock) with your accountant.
3. Obtain title approval from TÜRSAB. Choose a unique, memorable title that will not be confused with existing agencies. You must file your membership application within 30 days of title approval — miss it and the title right lapses.
4. Arrange the letter of guarantee. Start the definitive, open-ended guarantee process with your bank early; the collateral banks require for such letters can take time.
5. Submit your file to TÜRSAB. A complete file is the biggest accelerator. TÜRSAB completes its review and forwards the application to the Ministry within 30 days at the latest.
6. Receive Ministry approval and the operating licence. Once issued, you collect the licence from the provincial directorate of culture and tourism. You may now legally sell tours.
7. Build the operation. Signage and office layout, contract templates, payment infrastructure, digital channels — your real work starts not with the licence but with the first customer.

2026 Cost Table

Setup cost consists of three main items: TÜRSAB fees, the guarantee, and general incorporation expenses.

Two warnings. First, TÜRSAB fees increase automatically at the revaluation rate at the start of every calendar year — the figures in this guide are for 2026; always confirm the current year's amounts on TÜRSAB's official website. Second, don't build your budget around licence costs alone: the first 6-12 months of operating expenses (rent, staff, marketing) are the real test for most new agencies.

How Long Does the Process Take?

With a complete file, a realistic timeline looks like this: title approval takes a few days to a few weeks, TÜRSAB review at most 30 days, Ministry approval and licence issuance a few more weeks. 1 to 2 months overall is normal; every missing document adds a round. If you're aiming for a season, plan backwards: an agency targeting the summer season should apply in the winter months at the latest.

The Most Common Mistakes of New Agencies

We've collected the full list in The 10 Mistakes New Travel Agencies Make — but three deserve a mention here:

• Treating the licence as the finish line. The operating licence is a kick-off; finding customers, pricing and operations are the real marathon.
• Depending on a single channel. Agencies that start with only their personal network or a single social media account struggle at the first slowdown.
• Replying late to incoming messages. Today's customer writes on WhatsApp and expects a fast answer; a message left for hours is usually a customer gone to a competitor.

After the Licence: A Roadmap for the First 30 Days

Most setup guides end at the licence — yet the real difference is made in the first 30 days:

1. Build your digital identity: Google Business profile, a basic website, social media accounts. For a new agency, being findable comes before everything.

2. Open your WhatsApp line to business standard: In Türkiye, WhatsApp is the de facto main channel of tour sales. Start with WhatsApp Business instead of a personal number; set up the catalogue, quick replies and labels. See our step-by-step WhatsApp Business setup guide.

3. Be ready for message traffic: With your first campaign, messages start arriving day and night. If you can't reply within minutes to every message — practically impossible for a one-person agency — a WhatsApp AI assistant that completes the booking end-to-end steps in here: it answers 24/7 in 7 languages, explains the tour, collects date-party-contact details and records the reservation; you only confirm from the panel. Setting it up takes far less time than your licence process did.

4. Win your first 10 customers by hand: Your network, local business partnerships, a first campaign. Early customers' feedback matures both your product and your message.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is a tourism degree required to open a travel agency? No. There is no degree requirement for company partners; however, the agency must employ staff holding the information officer certificate. That certificate is obtained by exam or by graduating from a relevant programme.

2. Can I open a travel agency at a home address? In practice, no. The regulations require independent premises suitable for agency operations; a residential flat generally does not meet this condition.

3. Is TÜRSAB membership mandatory? Yes. Operating a travel agency in Türkiye legally requires TÜRSAB membership and the Ministry operating licence; unlicensed activity is sanctioned under Law No. 1618.

4. How much do you pay TÜRSAB in 2026? The registration fee is 649,278.99 TL (one-off) and the annual dues are 32,463.96 TL. Amounts increase every year at the revaluation rate.

5. Is the letter of guarantee cash? No; it is a definitive, open-ended guarantee issued by your bank in favour of the Ministry. The bank may require a block, mortgage or credit limit in return — terms vary from bank to bank.

6. Can I start with Group C and switch to Group A later? A group change is possible but subject to re-evaluation. If you plan international sales or package tours in the medium term, starting with Group A is usually more economical.

7. How fast can the process go at best? With a complete file, 4-6 weeks is realistic. Not missing the 30-day application window after title approval and the deficiency deadlines is critical.

8. Can a sole proprietorship run an agency? In practice, limited or joint-stock companies are preferred, and the "travel agency operations" clause is required in the articles. Evaluate the company type with your accountant, including tax and capital aspects.

9. Is starting via franchise/branch cheaper? Existing agencies opening a branch also pay a registration fee per branch (in 2026, the same amount as the head office). Working as a sales agent of a Group A agency can be a way into the sector without licence costs — but then you cannot organise tours in your own name.

10. Do I need an extra permit to sell tours online? There is no separate "e-commerce licence"; your operating licence covers the channels. However, e-commerce law obligations such as distance sales contracts, pre-information forms and refund terms apply. For details, see our guide to selling tours online.

11. Can a foreign national open an agency in Türkiye? Yes, through a company established in Türkiye; regulatory advice is recommended for the partnership and work-permit aspects.

12. I have the licence — how do I find my first customer? Local partnerships, targeted social media campaigns and a fast-responding WhatsApp line are the combination that gets new agencies to their first bookings the fastest. Setting up automation that can absorb campaign traffic from day one keeps your ad budget from going to waste.

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This guide is based on 2026 regulations and fees. Before applying, confirm current amounts and requirements from TÜRSAB (tursab.org.tr) and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.