How to Verify a Travel Agency Is Registered in Canada Before You Pay

Before you pay a travel agency, check that it is registered with the regulator in the province where it operates. In Ontario that regulator is the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO), and in British Columbia it is Consumer Protection BC. Both publish lookup tools, so the check takes a few minutes and should be done before any deposit.

Why registration matters before you pay

Quick facts: registration is the legal requirement to sell travel in the province; unregistered sellers may have no compensation fund behind your payment.

Registration is the proof that a seller is allowed to sell travel where you live. A registered agency is bound by provincial rules, and in some provinces that status also determines whether a compensation fund can help if your trip is not delivered. Paying an unregistered seller can leave you with little recourse if the trip falls through.

How to check an agency in Ontario

Quick facts: TICO says all travel agencies and websites operating in Ontario are regulated by it; its public search tool is the first place to check.

TICO's agency search tool lets you confirm whether a travel agency or website is registered. TICO also keeps a registrant revocation list, which it says is not guaranteed to be accurate, so use it as a second check rather than the only one. TICO relaunched its public search tool in 2025, as TravelPulse reported. For background on how the regime works, read TICO's guide to becoming a travel agent in Ontario. The guide was last modified in October 2026.

How to check an agency in British Columbia

Quick facts: Consumer Protection BC licenses travel agents and wholesalers; its Travel Assurance Fund covers only licensed sellers, not online booking sites.

Consumer Protection BC's guidance says the fund is a possible source of compensation only if you booked with a licensed travel agent or wholesaler. Use its licensee search and enforcement actions page, and read the consumer guidance on travel agents to find the licensee search. That page is a 2018 post, so confirm the current search page on the regulator's site before relying on it. The regulator also publishes an August 2026 inspection guide for travel agents and wholesalers.

Warning signs from recent enforcement

Quick facts: in June 2026, TICO warned consumers about an unregistered Ottawa seller, and complainants alleged they were not refunded.

TICO's warning about an Ottawa seller, reported in PAX News in June 2026, said the company was not registered and was not authorized to sell travel in Ontario. Trade coverage of the same warning is in Travel Market Report. A seller that is not on the register is a reason to stop, not a bargain to chase. TICO's own consumer warning says not to buy travel from an unregistered retailer or wholesaler.

Questions to ask before you pay

Quick facts: ask for the registration number, the name on the registration, and how your payment is held until travel is delivered.

Ask for the registration number in writing and check it against the lookup tool yourself, instead of relying on a logo or a website badge. Ask who holds your deposit and when the money is released to suppliers. Pair these checks with the questions in our guide on choosing a travel agency. If you are considering United Travels, ask us for our registration details and check them the same way. You can reach us at travel@unitedtravels.ca.

People also ask

Do all Canadian provinces use the same registration rules? No. Ontario uses TICO, British Columbia uses Consumer Protection BC, and other provinces have their own regimes. This article covers only the two regulators whose rules I checked, so look up the regulator for your province before you pay.

Is a travel agency website that shows a registration logo enough? Not on its own. Logos can be copied. Use the regulator's own lookup tool and compare the registration number and business name with what the agency gives you in writing. If the names do not match, stop and ask before paying.

What if an agency is registered but has a complaint on file? A registration alone does not mean every complaint was resolved. Ask the agency how it handles disputes, and check the regulator's enforcement or revocation pages for public notices. A complaint history is a reason to ask more questions, not an automatic reason to refuse.

Does a credit card protect me if an unregistered agency disappears? It may help, depending on the card issuer and the payment route, but it is not a substitute for registration. Contact your card issuer quickly after a failed booking, and keep every receipt and written confirmation to support any claim.

Facts checked against current sources as of November 15, 2026; confirm before booking, traveling or deciding, and check your province's regulator directly.