If you live in Canada, have a passion for travel, and want to become a travel advisor, you’re in the right place. This article is your guide for how to become a travel agent in Canada, with an overview of the requirements and steps you need to start your travel business.
What does a travel agent do?
Travel agents, also called travel advisors, plan and book travel for clients—everything from flights and hotels to activities and ground transportation. For clients that want personalized itineraries, travel advisors go further, designing experiences based on their expertise and the clients’ needs, whether that's a family vacation, a honeymoon, or a corporate retreat.
Requirements for becoming a travel agent in Canada
There are no federal licensing requirements for becoming a travel agent, but there are specific requirements for residents of Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. This article covers requirements in Ontario and British Columbia.
Industry-specific requirements
All travel agents need an IATA number or equivalent (e.g., TIDS), a globally recognized identification number that allows travel agents and agencies to earn commissions when booking hotels or other travel-related services. Most travel agents partner with a host agency, such as Fora, which provides access to an IATA number (usually along with other benefits) in exchange for a commission split.
There are no degree requirements to become a travel agent in Canada, though some host agencies and regulatory bodies have their own requirements. Obtaining a travel agent certification is generally recommended, as it lends credibility to your business and establishes your expertise. Many host agencies, including Fora, offer travel agent training and certification programs.
Setting up a business
Travel agents are often independent contractors, which effectively makes them business owners. In Canada, you can decide to operate as a sole proprietor, partnership, cooperative or corporation. You may also need to register your business with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Each structure comes with advantages and disadvantages, which you can learn more about here.
You should consult legal and tax professionals to learn more about different corporate structures and your tax obligations as a business owner.
Ontario
Specific requirements for Ontario residents: pass the TICO exam
If you’re a resident of Ontario or you plan to market your travel services to clients living in Ontario, you must pass the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) Travel Consultant exam and be affiliated with a TICO-registered travel agency like Fora before you sell travel services in Ontario. There is no cost to access the free materials to begin studying, but you do have to pay for each exam attempt: $35 the first time, and $24 for subsequent attempts (you can take it as many times as you need and your results are not reported publicly). The test is taken virtually and consists of 50 multiple choice questions, with results typically released within three business days. Everyone learns differently, but plan to study for 3-5 hours to pass the TICO exam.
British Columbia (BC)
Specific requirements for BC residents: operate under Fora’s CPBC license
If you’re a resident of British Columbia and plan to market your travel services to BC consumers, you do not need to secure your own license. Fora is licensed by Consumer Protection BC (CPBC) as a travel agency, and you can operate under our CPBC license as an advisor. This permits you to sell travel services such as transportation, accommodation, cruise, all-inclusive packages, as well as any combination of those services.
Selling travel insurance
The only additional step comes if you want to sell travel insurance directly to BC residents. Fora now holds a Restricted Travel Insurance Agency License in British Columbia. BC advisors may sell travel insurance under our license provided they complete both of these requirements:
Pass the Insurance Council–approved travel insurance exam (administered by ACTA).
Complete two hours of continuing education (CE) each year.
BC-based travel advisors who have not yet completed the steps to sell travel insurance under Fora’s license can still partner with Allianz Canada, which sells insurance directly to clients and pays competitive commission to the advisor for making the referral.
For more details on the exam and CE requirements, please visit this page.
3 steps to become a travel agent in Canada
Step 1: Understand the role
As a travel agent in Canada, you'll craft trips for travelers heading to far-flung destinations, as well as clients planning domestic travel or even a staycation. You can leverage your local knowledge to plan trips to Canada—an urban escape to Toronto, a ski weekend in British Columbia. As you grow your business, you may develop a specialty, like luxury hotels, adventure travel, cruises, or full-service itinerary planning. The beauty of this career is that you can define your niche, leaning into a specific type of travel that fits your expertise.
Step 2: Choose a host agency
Most independent travel agents partner with a host agency for support and resources. A strong host agency provides access to booking systems, industry partnerships, commission management, training programs, and marketing tools. Fora offers all of this in one platform—everything you need to launch and grow your business.
Step 3: Complete your training
Once you join a host agency, invest in comprehensive training. Fora's Certified Advisor program includes 40+ hours of live, small-group training covering everything from customer service fundamentals to the technical details of booking travel. You'll also have access to ongoing education through advanced certifications, partner training, and destination deep-dives.
How to grow your travel agent business in Canada
Build your client base
Start with your personal network—friends, family, and colleagues who trust your travel recommendations. From there, word of mouth and referrals can be a powerful way to find new clients. You can also leverage social media and email marketing to showcase your expertise. Fora provides marketing training and tools, including a personalized Fora profile that functions as your website, plus social media and email templates to help you attract clients.
Network with other advisors
Connect with other travel professionals through industry events, seminars, and conferences. You’ll share strategies with your fellow advisors and build relationships with industry suppliers. Fora offers both virtual and in-person networking opportunities, including Live Forum (our annual conference) and local chapter groups in London and select cities.
FAQs about becoming a travel agent
What types of travel can I sell as a Canada-based travel agent?
As a travel agent based in Canada, there are no broad restrictions on the type of travel you can book (agents in some countries are limited). You will generally be free to book hotels, cruises, rental cars, tours, travel insurance and any other travel-related service. However, some travel suppliers—hotel brands, rental car services, cruises—require Canada-based travel agents to go through Canada-specific platforms.
What destinations do travel agents book?
Everywhere. Italy, Costa Rica, Montana, the Caribbean, Australia—even Antarctica. Our training library and live webinars cover global destinations and all types of trips, from hotels to cruise lines to safaris.
Can I get paid with a Canada-based bank account?
Each host agency handles payments differently. At Fora, we can pay our Canada-based advisors in Canadian dollars (CAD) via a preferred payments partner or in U.S. dollars (USD) if an advisor has a U.S. domiciled account, such as through Wise. No other steps are necessary.
What travel partnerships does Fora have?
Fora has relationships with more than 7200+ hotels, giving our advisors access to exclusive upgrades and perks at top properties worldwide. You can book from over 175,000+ hotels through our integrated platform (called Portal). Our preferred partnerships include Virtuoso, Four Seasons, Rosewood, and other prestigious collections, spanning both high-end luxury and lifestyle boutique properties.
What resources are available to travel agents in Canada?
Fora provides community, training, partnerships, marketing tools, technology, and commissions support—everything you need in one place. Through our community app, Forum, you can stay current on travel trends and get answers to your questions. We also have local chapters in select cities where advisors can connect in person for networking, in-person learning, and hotel site visits.
How do I get started?
Click on Get Started and enter your email to begin your application. You'll complete a short survey about your travel style and experience, and we'll follow up with next steps.
