How to become a travel agent in Ontario

Thinking about turning your love of travel into a career in Ontario? You’ll need the right certification, a compliant setup, and simple systems that protect clients and your income. Below, you’ll find the three valid pathways to work legally, real fees and banking requirements, a quick cost comparison, and a checklist you can follow. Canadian English and CAD amounts throughout.

What “travel agent” means in Ontario

In Ontario, “travel agent” (retailer) and “travel wholesaler” (tour operator) are regulated roles. If you sell travel from a location in Ontario, the business must be registered with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) under the Travel Industry Act, 2002. Individuals who sell or advise must pass the TICO Education Standards exam and work through a TICO-registered business. Passing the exam alone doesn’t let you sell independently.

Pick your path: three compliant ways to work

1) Employee of a TICO-registered agency

You pass the TICO exam and sell under the agency’s registration. It’s the fastest way to earn because the employer already manages registration, trust accounting, annual filings, and Compensation Fund contributions.

2) Independent contractor with a host agency (OSR)

You operate under a TICO-registered “host” as an Outside Sales Representative (OSR). You sign a written agreement, and the host supervises compliance. Startup spend is mostly tools and marketing rather than licensing.

3) Register your own agency (Retailer or Wholesaler)

You apply to TICO, post a $10,000 security deposit, and pay a non-refundable application processing fee ($3,000 for head office; $800 per branch, as of Oct 2025). You also open two Ontario bank accounts in your legal business name: a Travel Industry Act trust account for client funds and a general account for operating expenses. TICO’s target to process a complete application is about 30 days.

Step-by-step: become a travel agent in Ontario

1. Pass the TICO exam(s). Current structure: Travel Counsellor ($35) and Supervisor/Manager ($35) or a combo ($50). TICO has consulted on a single interactive program with a proposed $150 fee, anticipated for fall 2025—confirm the live details before you book.
2. Choose your path. Employee or host-agency IC: have an employment contract or OSR agreement in place. Your own agency: decide Retailer (sells to consumers) vs Wholesaler (packages/resells).
3. If opening your own agency, prepare registration items. Pay the processing fee, post the $10,000 security deposit (typically returned after two consecutive compliant year-end financial statements), open two Ontario bank accounts, and show positive working capital in your financials.
4. Set up taxes and business records. Register your name/entity in the Ontario Business Registry, then register for GST/HST when you pass the $30,000 small-supplier threshold (some register earlier to claim ITCs).
5. Follow advertising and disclosure rules. Ontario requires all-in pricing and specific invoice/disclosure items before and after the sale. Keep your TICO registration number on advertising where required.
6. Build simple systems. Daily trust-fund tracking, monthly reconciliations, on-time financial filings, and clean records in case of inspection.

Educational only, not legal advice. Always verify current fees and forms on official sites.

Tiny case study: cost comparison for a career-changer

Scenario: You live in Brampton and want to sell leisure travel. You’re debating host-agency IC vs your own agency.

• Host-agency IC path
  • Up-front: TICO exam cost (currently $50 combined), host onboarding, CRM/website/marketing.
  • Time to sell: quick—once you pass and your host completes onboarding.
  • Trade-off: commission split and some host fees; in return, the host handles registration and trust accounting.
• Your own agency path
  • Up-front: $3,000 application processing fee (head office), $10,000 security deposit, banking setup for two accounts, financial statements showing positive working capital, and your software stack.
  • Time to sell: longer—banking + application review + possible follow-ups; plan several weeks beyond the ~30-day target.
  • Trade-off: higher margins and full control, but you own compliance and cash-flow risk.

Training options and “travel agent courses online Canada”

Start with TICO’s official education and exam—the only certification Ontario requires to sell on behalf of a TICO-registered retailer. Many hosts add supplier and sales training, but TICO certification remains your baseline. Watch for the new single-exam program (proposed $150) and confirm the live fee/launch date before paying.

Compliance basics most new agents miss

• Trust vs general funds: Client money for travel services goes into the Travel Industry Act trust account and is used only for those services.
• Working capital: Keep current assets above current liabilities (positive working capital) and file on time based on your sales tier.
• Compensation Fund: Registrants contribute based on Ontario gross sales (Form 1), with set assessment rates and late-filing fees.
• All-in pricing & invoices: Show total prices including taxes/fees, make pre-sale disclosures, and issue compliant receipts.
• OSR supervision: Host agencies must supervise outside sales reps and meet OSR website/representation rules.

Example launch timeline

• 2–6 weeks if joining an existing agency (depends on exam schedule and hiring/onboarding).
• 6–12+ weeks if registering your own (banking, deposit, application review, and any financial clarifications). TICO’s target for a complete application is about 30 days, but build buffer time for setup.

How to start a travel agency in Ontario

• Pass the TICO exam(s) and keep your pass certificate handy.
• Choose Retailer or Wholesaler on your application.
• Register your business name/entity in the Ontario Business Registry.
• Open two Ontario bank accounts (General + Travel Industry Act trust) under your legal business name.
• Submit your TICO application, pay $3,000 (head office) and, if applicable, branch $800, and post the $10,000 security deposit.
• Register for GST/HST once you exceed $30,000 in taxable revenues (or earlier to claim ITCs).
• Implement compliant advertising, pre-sale disclosures, and invoice templates before launch.

Sources

• Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) — Registration requirements, fees, trust accounts, Education Standards (accessed Oct 2025).
• Author: Dev | Last updated: October 18, 2025