TÜRSAB Membership Is Mandatory, Not Optional

Unlike many service businesses where joining a trade association is a networking choice, operating as a travel agency in Turkey without TÜRSAB membership is not legally permitted. Membership requires meeting capital, office, and personnel requirements set by TÜRSAB and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism before you can legally sell travel packages.

Group A, B, C — What Each License Actually Allows

GroupWhat it authorizes
Group AFull-scope travel agency: domestic and international package tours, ticketing, all standard travel agency operations
Group BOperates under an existing Group A agency's authorization for certain international tour sales — a more limited scope than standalone Group A
Group CDomestic tourism activities only — no international package tour sales

Choosing the wrong group classification for your intended business model is a common and costly mistake — confirm with TÜRSAB which group matches what you actually plan to sell before completing your application, since upgrading later means meeting additional capital and compliance requirements.

What You Need Before Applying

  • A registered Turkish company (typically an LLC) with the correct commercial activity code for travel agency operations
  • Minimum capital requirements specific to your target group classification
  • A physical office meeting TÜRSAB's space and signage requirements
  • A mandatory liability guarantee/insurance appropriate to your group classification, protecting clients in case the agency fails to deliver booked services
  • Qualified personnel meeting TÜRSAB's professional experience or certification requirements for key roles

Foreign Ownership

Foreign investors can own travel agencies structured as Turkish companies, and TÜRSAB membership requirements apply the same way regardless of the ownership's nationality — the classification and capital requirements are about the agency's scope of activity, not who owns it.