Singapore Travel Agency Setup Guide

A Travel Agency is a person or a company that arranges and organizes services related to travel and tours. In Singapore, a Travel Agent is any entity that provides travel and tour packages involving travel by air, sea or land. Companies that provide transport only (such as taxi firms or trucks that move goods) are not included in this definition.

This article provides you with a guide on how to start a travel agency and obtain a travel agent’s licence in Singapore.

Travel Agency License - Who Needs It?

Travel agency licence is required in order to conduct business as a travel agent. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the government body responsible of issuing the license, has defined a travel agent as providing the following services under Section 4 of the Travel Agent’s Act (Cap 334).

• Sells tickets entitling an individual to travel, or otherwise arranges for a person a right of passage on any conveyance. (A TAL is not required if the conveyance is owned by the company).
• Facilitates a person’s ability to travel by selling or arranging for a fee transport tickets, hotel accommodation and foreign visas to destinations outside and within Singapore. A TAL is not required if the mode of transport and the place of accommodation is owned by the company; an example is a hotel that owns its own transport.
• Purchases for resale the right of passage on any conveyance.
• Arranges or conducts tours within or outside Singapore.
• Carries out any activity which may be prescribed by the Board.
• Holds itself out as, or advertises that it is, willing to carry on any activity referred to in the previous points.

The above definitions cover companies that provide travel services, excursions, sightseeing, tours (including freelance individuals), tourist services and ticketing agents for airlines, tour buses and cruise ships.

Travel Agency License - Pre-Requisites

Before filling in the application form for travel agency License in Singapore, you must be aware of the following requirements:

• Company registration – You must first setup a Singapore company with the intention of conducting business as a travel agent. The company must be registered under the Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) codes of 78211 for Travel Agents And Tour Operators, or 78212 for Ticketing Agencies. For details on how to setup a company, refer to Singapore Company Registration guide.
• Paid-up Capital – The company must have paid-up capital of at least S$100,000.
• Key Executive – The company must appoint a real person for the position of key executive, who is responsible for the day-to-day running of the business and whose appointment must be approved by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). The key executive should have relevant work experience and qualifications to manage the company. The person must be a Singapore citizen, permanent resident, or employment pass holder.
• Character – The company’s executive and managerial appointments must be of good moral character and fame. Proof, such as police clearance, credit background checks and letters of good conduct from relevant government agencies, may be required at the STB’s discretion.
• Email Address and TRUST – The company must have a website to operate the business. The company must also observe the “Terms and Conditions for the Use of the Travel Related Users’ System (TRUST)”. The TRUST website is a state-sanctioned website that provides relevant information, resources and advice related to the travel industry in Singapore.
• Office Space and Signboard – The company must be set up a business office dedicated solely to travel agency operations. The space cannot be shared with any other type of business. An easily visible signboard that reflects the nature your business must be erected. If you are an individual freelance travel agent conducting business from home, in either an HDB flat or private accommodation, you must obtain approval from the Housing Development Board or Urban Redevelopment Authority before the STB will give you your license.

Travel Agency License - Application Procedure

All travel agency license applications are filed online and manual applications are no longer accepted. You must declare any shareholdings in other travel agencies.

The application processing time is about 1 week. The authorities will normally respond by sending you an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter via postal mail. The approval may take up longer if the authorities feel the need to perform background criminal and financial checks on proposed company individuals.

The IPA letter may contain certain conditions that you will need to fulfil before the final approval is given for your Singapore travel agency license. A typical condition includes submission of the lease (tenancy) agreement for the premises where you intend to conduct travel agency business. The tenancy agreement should be for a period of at least one year. If you own the premises, you need to show proof of ownership.

Once you receive your final approval letter, you will need to collect your Singapore travel agency licence in person and pay the license fee of S$300.

Travel Agency License - Rejected Applications

If you have submitted all the necessary documents and accurate information in your travel agency licence application, there is no reason for the authorities to reject your application. If, however, you have been rejected on whatever grounds, you can file an appeal within one month of rejection. The review process may take up to two weeks.

Travel Agency License - Renewals

Singapore travel agency license is valid for two years and expires on 31 December of the following year irrespective of the month in which you initially made your application. You must renew your license one month before it expires.

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