APPLICATION OF LICENSE TRANSFER
TRANSFER OF TRAVEL AGENCY LICENSE
PROCESS OF PROCEDURE
To apply for the transfer of a travel agency license, a single petition must be prepared by the transferring and acquiring legal entities, along with their signature circulars and a "preferred name list" for the new agency name to be used by the acquiring entity. This application is submitted to the Ministry.
If the Ministry grants permission for the transfer of the travel agency license, a letter of "preliminary transfer approval" is sent to the transferring and acquiring parties and is also notified to the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB).
Within thirty days from the date of the notification of the preliminary transfer approval letter, the transferring and acquiring legal entities must apply to TÜRSAB. If no application is made to TÜRSAB within this period or within an additional fifteen-day extension, the "preliminary transfer approval" will be considered null and void.
TÜRSAB notifies the Ministry of its opinion on the application outcome. If the application is deemed inappropriate, the reasons are explained to the applicant. If the application is approved, TÜRSAB submits the transfer file to the Ministry for review. If any deficiencies are found during the Ministry's review, TÜRSAB is informed and required to complete the necessary corrections.
If the Ministry approves the application, a "Presidential Approval" is prepared for the issuance of the travel agency license in the name of the acquiring legal entity. After the Presidential Approval, the travel agency license is issued in the name of the acquiring legal entity, and the issued license is sent to the relevant Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism for collection.
REQUESTED DOCUMENTS
• Application letter to be prepared by the acquiring legal entity
• Notarized copies of the resolution of the governing bodies of both the transferring and acquiring legal entities regarding the transfer (including the transferor's transferee, the transferee's transferor, the date and number of the transfer permit, the travel agency's operating license number and the approved agency name, and the address information of any branch operating licenses, as well as the notarized copies of the authorized legal entity's resolutions)
• Appendix-4 (Trade Registry Gazette Statement) If the acquiring legal entity is a limited liability company, the trade registry records showing the shareholders and managers, and if it is a joint stock company, the articles of association showing the shareholding structure and board of directors’ information.
• Trade Registry Certificate - Current Trade Registry Certificate obtained from the relevant Trade Registry Office showing the addresses and authorized representatives of the transferor's and transferee's company headquarters and branches.
• Appendix-2 (Criminal Record Statement) - Appendix-2 containing the Turkish Identification Number and Criminal Record Statement of the board members and persons authorized to represent the company in joint stock companies, and of the managers and persons authorized to represent the company in limited liability companies.
• Signature Circulars (original or notarized copies of the acquiring legal entity's signature circulars)
• Travel Agency Establishment Guarantee
o Guarantee to be issued in accordance with Article 29 and 30 of the Regulation on Travel Agencies and the Association of Travel Agencies.
• Appendix-1 (Agency Title Commitment) - A commitment that the agency name can be changed if deemed necessary by the Ministry.
• Transfer Commitment Declaration (original commitment jointly filled out by the authorized representatives of the transferring and acquiring legal entities)
• Compulsory Personnel Certificate for Travel Agencies At least one personnel with one of the following qualifications is employed in the travel agency's headquarters and branches:
o Original or certified copy of a diploma indicating completion of vocational high school, associate degree, or undergraduate education in the field of hospitality and tourism.
o Original achievement certificate for foreign language proficiency for information officers.
o Original or certified copy of a guide certificate issued by the Ministry.
(For Group C travel agencies, personnel with an achievement certificate for foreign language proficiency may be employed in place of personnel with the qualifications mentioned in the first paragraph.)
• SGK Entry to Work Declaration or the latest SGK Insured Service List showing that the personnel whose documents are submitted are employed by the company.
• Appendix-3 Declaration (SGK Workplace Code Declaration)
• Travel Agency Information Update Form
REQUESTED FORMS AND LETTER
• Appendix - 1
• Appendix - 2
• Appendix - 3
• Appendix - 4
• Transfer Request Letter
• Sample Transfer Decision
• Sample Travel Agency Information Update Form
• Letter of Guarantee Sample
• Transfer Commitment Statement
• Signature Circular
A document that includes sample signatures of a representative of an organization, either in original form or a notarized copy.
• Guarantee
o If a letter of guarantee is provided, it must be a definitive and indefinite letter of guarantee that includes the name and trade name of the agency.
o Guarantees other than letter of guarantees are deposited to the account of the General Directorate of Cultural and Tourism Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, "Account Number TR89 0000 1001 0000 0350 1540 21 IBAN", through the accounting unit of the central or local budgetary authorities. (The original stamped and signed receipt is required. The sender section of the receipt must include the commercial name of the agency (no personal name should be included), and in the explanation section, the agency name obtained from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism must be written.)
• For Group A: 7,000.00 TL (Seven thousand Turkish Liras)
• For Group B: 6,000.00 TL (Six thousand Turkish Liras)
• For Group C: 5,000.00 TL (Five thousand Turkish Liras) and for each branch, the amount should be 25% of these amounts.
• Trade Registry Certificate
A certificate issued in accordance with Article 16 of the Trade Registry Regulation, which includes the MERSIS number, trade name, the name and surname, address and ID number of the owner of the commercial enterprise, the main address of the enterprise, the address of the branch, if any, the activity area of the enterprise, and the capital allocated to the enterprise at the time of issuing the certificate.
• Authorization Decision Sample
A notarized copy of the decision of the authorized body regarding the changes that do not require registration or cannot be registered in the Trade Registry Directorate.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How can I obtain "Prior Approval for Transfer" for my Travel Agency License?
Prior approval for transfer is granted by the Ministry. You can find information and documents related to transfer approval on the Ministry's website: https://yigm.ktb.gov.tr/TR-318576/mevzuat-hesap-numaralari-ve-para-cezalari.html
2. Can the legal entity that transferred the license apply for or acquire a travel agency license again?
The legal entity that transferred the license cannot apply for or acquire a travel agency license for 3 years.
3. Can the acquiring legal entity transfer the travel agency license?
There are no sanctions preventing the transfer of the travel agency license according to the transfer procedures and principles determined by the Ministry.
4. Can a travel agency license with branches be transferred?
The travel agency license for branches is transferred to the central office. Branch travel agency licenses cannot be transferred separately.
5. Can sole proprietorships that own a Travel Agency License transfer the license or can sole proprietorships acquire a travel agency license?
According to the relevant legislation and the procedures and principles determined by the Ministry, the transfer of licenses can only be made between legal entities.
6. Can the acquiring legal entity operate as a travel agency before the completion of the transfer procedures?
The acquiring legal entity cannot engage in travel agency activities until the transfer procedures are completed.
7. Who is responsible for fulfilling obligations towards our Association during the license transfer process?
The license transfer file is subject to legal and financial inquiries during the preliminary examination. Both the transferor and the acquiring parties are jointly and severally liable for any obstacles encountered within this framework. TÜRSAB is not a party to this.
8. Will the collateral held by the Ministry during the license transfer process be valid for the acquiring legal entity?
The collateral held by the transferor's legal entity at the Ministry is not valid for the acquiring legal entity. After the license transfer is completed, the collateral belonging to the transferor is refunded by the Ministry. If the collateral is a letter of credit, it is refunded to the issuing bank, and information on the refund of cash collateral can be found on the Ministry's website: https://yigm.ktb.gov.tr/TR-233489/nakit-teminat-iade-islemleri.html