Registration process for a travel agent
Registration Review / Requirements
The Ontario government mandates the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) to administer the Travel Industry Act, 2002. All travel retailers and travel wholesalers selling travel services in a place in the Province of Ontario must be enrolled under the Travel Industry Act, 2002 with TICO.
Promoting travel providers in and by the Province of Ontario with no TICO enrollment is a contravention of the Travel Industry Act, 2002. It can lead to charges being laid under the Act. This also applies to anybody who has filed a TICO Program for Registration that's pending TICO approval.
All enrolled travel retailers and travel retailers should fulfil requirements concerning fiscal standards and provide full disclosure to consumers and meet advertisements guidelines.
Once enrolled, the license must be renewed yearly on the registrant's financial year anniversary. Renewal prices are based on a registrant's present yearly sales volume.
To get TICO Registration Forms - click here.
Useful Definitions:
Travel Retailer (Travel Agency)
For free travel agent registration, The Travel Industry Act, 2002 defines a travelling agent as"a man who possesses, to consumers, travel services provided by someone else."
Travelling Wholesaler (Tour Operator)
The Travel Industry Act, 2002 defines a journey wholesaler as"a man who gives rights to travel solutions for resale into a travel agent or who carries on the business of handling travel agents or travel wholesalers for the sale of travel services provided by someone else."
Travel Service
The Travel Industry Act, 2002 defines a travelling agency as "transport or sleeping accommodation for its usage of a traveller, tourist or sightseer or other providers united with that transport or sleeping accommodation".
Prerequisites of TICO Registration
$2999.00 application fee by certified cheque or money order.
A finished TICO registration type.
A résume and letters of reference from past employers for the designated supervisor, picture ID and copy of TICO Education Standard certification (s). (References will be assessed )
The designated supervisor should have enough travel sector experience (minimum three years) and have met the Education Standard, and got TICO Certification for the Traveling Counsellor and Supervisor/Manager Exam. For more info related to free travel agent registration.
A registrant should have a minimum of one officer or manager who's a resident of Ontario.
Introduction proforma balance sheet or present financial statements are signalling a favourable working capital.
Safety deposit for $10,000.00 (Letter of Credit, bank draft or certified cheque from the bank in Ontario). The security deposit will be returned to the candidate following the filing of 2 consecutive year-end financial statements provided that the Registrar has no worries about the registrant's compliance with the Act.
Proof of trust accounts (s). A letter from the bank in Ontario has to be submitted in TICO's format and needs to be designated as a Travel Industry Act Trust Account.
Trust Declaration form has to be confessed.
When a Trade design name is employed, it has to be filed with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services - Service Ontario. Provide a copy of this Master Business Licence.
If officers or supervisors are not the same as those recorded in the articles of incorporation, Form 1 should be filed with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services - Service Ontario.
Carrying on business by a home requires the consent of the Municipality responsible for enforcing local zoning conditions. The applicant must provide a copy of the approval from the Municipality.
If applying for both wholesale and retail enrollment, different applications and fees should be filed.
Wholesale applicants should provide a business/marketing program.
Wholesale applicants should get written approval by Registrar, Travel Industry Act 2002, before entering into some hazard contracts' with scheduled or non scheduled air carriers.
Disclose all details about any bankruptcies, judgements, sparks.
Provide criminal record check for each owner, officer, manager, shareholder and designated supervisor named on the program. This may be gotten from several OPP detachments or many Municipal Police Services. * The data may also be obtained within a day via an internet background check service provider. TICO has partnered with my backcheck to aid applicants to expedite their enrollment process for the ease of applicants. To request a BackCheck Report
Provide backup of authorities photo identification for each owner, officer, manager, shareholder and designated director named on the program. *
* Not appropriate for Visitor of a publicly-traded company.
Notice of Ceasing to Promote Travel Services
It's essential to be aware that new registration or renewal may be refused in the event the Seller of Travel doesn't fulfil all the specified requirements or has perpetrated any of these: formerly had its registration revoked, convicted a felony involving moral turpitude in the previous five decades, found guilty of a misdemeanour or suffered a decision regarding fraud, conversion or misrepresentation, made a false statement on the application, failed to show the registration, has committed some action with the intent to deceive, misrepresent or deceive the general public, or found in violation of the Washington Consumer Protection Act. Registration documents and materials issued by the Manager of Accreditation to apply this law can be obtained by calling the manager of Accreditation's office.