TOURISM ACTIVITY: TOUR OPERATOR LICENCE AND TRAVEL AGENT WORK IN 2026

In the tourism business, the owner first chooses the role: create and organise a tourism product as a tour operator or sell operators' offers as a travel agent.

Before launch, it is necessary to determine the product, contracts with tourists and suppliers, insurance, financial guarantee, responsibility for transport and accommodation, payment model and refund procedure. The working result is a lawfully organised tourism business with a clear company role, valid contracts, a customer service system and readiness to scale sales.

When the service is needed

In the tourism business, the owner first chooses the role: create and organise a tourism product as a tour operator or sell operators' offers as a travel agent. For the owner, it is important to connect the procedure with income, deadlines, responsibility and relations with partners. Formal submission should support the project rather than replace the commercial decision.

Before launch, it is necessary to determine the product, contracts with tourists and suppliers, insurance, financial guarantee, responsibility for transport and accommodation, payment model and refund procedure. Before work starts, it is useful to define the criterion for a normal result, budget, responsible persons and the documents that will confirm it.

What has changed in the procedure

For many years, both tour operator and travel agency activities were treated as licensed activities with separate applications and sets of supporting documents. This procedure shaped familiar search terms and helps a business formulate the task.

In 2026, a licence is required for a tour operator that is a legal entity, while a travel agent selling a tourism product formed by an operator works in a different legal role. The licence is issued by the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine. According to official SATD information, the licence is indefinite, the period for considering an application is ten working days, and the administrative fee equals one subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons on the date of the decision. The difference is determined by the company's role, contracts with the tourist, financial security and responsibility for the product.

Comparison of approaches: before and in 2026

Sequence and main stages of providing the service

It is practical to divide the work into stages so that the commercial decision, document set and actions of responsible persons do not contradict each other. This approach helps identify dependencies in advance and confirm completion of each step.

1. Determine the type of activity, facility, territory and required state authorisation.
2. Check the applicable procedure, official register, auction or electronic service.
3. Prepare corporate, technical, financial and personnel information.
4. Submit an application or participate in the electronic procedure and monitor the status.
5. After obtaining the right, formalise the related contracts, work programme and internal regulations.
6. Organise payments, reporting and a timetable for compliance with the conditions.

The sequence is adapted to the stage of the business. The next stage begins after the source data, documents and responsible persons have been confirmed.

What is needed to start work

For an initial assessment, it is enough to prepare the basic information needed to determine the applicable procedure and make an exact list of further actions:

• description of the activity, facility and commercial objective;
• corporate documents and ownership structure;
• technical programme, personnel and equipment;
• financial model and source of financing;
• land, environmental or sector information;
• documents for submission and subsequent compliance with the conditions.

After the initial analysis, the list is refined for the specific object, period, regulator and commercial model. This avoids collecting unnecessary documents and makes it possible to identify missing confirmations in advance.

Service specifics and organisational matters

Even with electronic filing, most of the work remains managerial. The company should appoint responsible persons, agree the source data and ensure consistency of information received by government authorities, banks, partners and contractors.

SATD accepts documents, makes the licensing decision and enters information in the licensing register of tour operator entities. The company cross-checks the application, personnel information, financial security and contractual documents in advance so that the final package accurately describes the future activity.

Before launch, it is necessary to determine the product, contracts with tourists and suppliers, insurance, financial guarantee, responsibility for transport and accommodation, payment model and refund procedure. Therefore, control covers the term, accuracy of data, signatory authority, contracts and connection with the financial model.

• timetable for validity of the right and obligations;
• control of payments and reporting;
• recording changes in the corporate and technical model;
• link between permit and contractual documents;
• regular verification of compliance with the conditions.

What you will receive as a result

For the owner, the practical result is not a separate document by itself, but the ability to lawfully and predictably conduct the chosen activity, enter into contracts, obtain financing and confirm the company's status to counterparties.

The working result is a lawfully organised tourism business with a clear company role, valid contracts, a customer service system and readiness to scale sales.

When the documents, participants and commercial objective are aligned, the procedure becomes predictable. The company can explain to a partner, bank or regulator what has been completed, on what basis and who is responsible for further actions.