Registration of Tour Operator and Travel Agent in Bulgaria (2026)

Legal Framework

The registration of tour operators and travel agents in Bulgaria is governed by several legislative acts at national and European level:

• Tourism Act (TA) — the main national law governing the conditions and procedure for registration, conduct and supervision of tour operator and travel agent activities. The Act sets out requirements for personnel, premises, capital and insurance for persons conducting these activities.
• Directive (EU) 2015/2302 on package travel and linked travel arrangements — transposed into Bulgarian legislation, it establishes uniform consumer protection rules across the European Union, including the right to information, the organiser's liability and insolvency protection.
• Ordinance on Personnel Requirements for tour operators and travel agents — secondary legislation specifying educational and professional qualifications.
• Consumer Protection Act (CPA) — in the part concerning tourists' rights in distance sales and unfair terms in contracts.

From 1 January 2026, with the adoption of the euro in Bulgaria, all amounts stated in legislation in BGN apply at the fixed rate of 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN. In this article, we will state amounts in both BGN and EUR.

Types of Registration

The Tourism Act provides for three types of registration depending on the scope of activity:

Tour Operator

The tour operator is the entity that organises and sells package travel — combinations of at least two tourism services (e.g. transport and accommodation) offered at an inclusive price. The tour operator bears full responsibility for the performance of the entire package to the consumer, including services provided by subcontractors.

Travel Agent

The travel agent acts as an intermediary — selling or offering for sale package travel organised by a tour operator, or individual tourism services. The agent is not responsible for the actual performance of the travel, unless they have assumed express obligations.

Combined Registration

A person wishing to conduct simultaneously tour operator and travel agent activities may obtain a single registration. In this case, the higher requirements apply — those for a tour operator, and a combined fee is payable (BGN 4,500 / EUR 2,301).

Registration Requirements

To be entered in the National Tourism Register, the person must meet the following cumulative requirements:

1. Capital

The minimum paid-in capital varies depending on the type of registration:

• Tour operator or combined: BGN 25 000 (EUR 12 782) — paid-in (not merely subscribed) capital.
• Travel agent: BGN 5 000 (EUR 2 556) — paid-in capital.

The capital must be actually paid in at the time of filing the application. A bank certificate is a mandatory document.

2. Tour Operator Liability Insurance

Every tour operator (including combined registration) is required to take out "Tour Operator Liability" insurance covering:

• Reimbursement of amounts paid by tourists in case of non-performance or improper performance of the contract;
• Repatriation of tourists where necessary;
• Compensation for damages suffered.

The minimum insured sum for charter programmes is BGN 500,000. The insurance policy must be renewed no later than 30 days before its expiry. A copy of the new policy must be submitted to the Minister of Tourism within 14 days of its conclusion.

Travel agents are not required to take out this insurance, as they do not bear responsibility for the performance of the package travel.

3. Personnel

The law and secondary legislation set specific requirements for persons conducting tour operator and agent activities:

• Higher education in the field of tourism or equivalent qualification and professional experience;
• Proficiency in at least one foreign language — at least one staff member must be proficient in a foreign language at a level enabling effective communication with tourists and partners;
• IATA accreditation — when selling airline tickets, the person must hold IATA accreditation or work with an accredited agent;
• The head of the tour operator/agent activity must meet all of the above requirements cumulatively.

4. Premises

Traditionally, suitable premises for serving tourists are required — with a dedicated workspace and client access. However, under current amendments to the Tourism Act, it is permissible to conduct the activity entirely online, without a physical office, provided all legal requirements for informing consumers and data protection are met.

For online activity, accessible means of communication with consumers must be provided — telephone, email and an online complaints form.

Registration Procedure

The registration procedure involves the following stages:

1. Filing the application

   The application is filed with the Minister of Tourism using a standard form, accompanied by all required documents: certificate of current court registration, proof of paid-in capital, insurance policy (for tour operators), documents on personnel qualifications, proof of premises (or declaration for online activity) and a payment order for the state fee.

2. Completeness check (14 days)

   Within 14 days of receipt of the application, the administration reviews the completeness of the documents submitted. If deficiencies are found, the applicant receives instructions for their rectification.

3. Review by Expert Commission (14 days)

   Upon establishing that the documents are complete, the application is reviewed by the Expert Commission on Registration of Tour Operators and Travel Agents. The Commission issues a reasoned proposal to the Minister within 14 days.

4. Entry in the National Tourism Register

   Upon a positive opinion, the Minister of Tourism issues an order for entry. The data of the registered person is published in the National Tourism Register — a public electronic register available on the Ministry of Tourism website.

5. Issuance of certificate

   Following entry, a registration certificate is issued, which must be displayed prominently at the tourist service premises (if any) or published on the website for online activity.

The overall procedure takes approximately 1–2 months from submission of a complete set of documents, but may vary depending on the workload of the administration and any deficiencies.

State Fees

The following fees are payable for the review of the application and entry in the National Tourism Register:

Fees are paid by bank transfer to the account of the Ministry of Tourism. From 01.01.2026, payment may be made directly in euros.

Cross-Border Activity in the EU

Thanks to the European legal framework, persons registered as tour operators or travel agents in another EU or EEA Member State may provide services in Bulgaria without additional Bulgarian registration. They are only required to notify the Ministry of Tourism and comply with the applicable consumer protection rules.

Conversely, Bulgarian tour operators and agents may freely provide their services throughout the EU/EEA, subject to the rules of the host state.

From 2025, in the context of Bulgaria's accession to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), additional requirements apply to align regulatory standards with OECD member states. This includes stricter rules on financial reporting, transparency and consumer protection in the tourism sector.

Changes 2025–2026

The tourism sector is undergoing a number of regulatory changes during 2025–2026:

• OECD alignment — from 2025, Bulgaria is in the process of harmonising its tourism legislation with OECD requirements. This includes higher standards for consumer protection and financial stability of tour operators.
• Safety of recreational activities — from October 2025, new safety requirements for tourist recreational activities (water attractions, extreme sports, etc.) come into force, directly affecting tour operators that include such elements in their packages.
• Euro adoption — from 01.01.2026, all amounts are denominated in euros. Persons registered before this date are not required to file a new application but must update their internal documents, price lists and consumer contracts.
• Digitisation of the register — the National Tourism Register is transitioning to a fully digital platform, enabling electronic filing of applications and automatic verification of registration status.

Penalties for Violations

Conducting tour operator or travel agent activities without registration is a serious administrative violation for which the Tourism Act provides the following sanctions:

• Fine of BGN 500 to BGN 5,000 — for natural persons conducting unregistered activity;
• Pecuniary sanction of BGN 5,000 to BGN 20,000 — for legal persons and sole traders;
• For repeat violations — the sanction is doubled;
• Deletion from the register — in case of systematic violations of registration conditions or non-compliance with obligations under the Tourism Act, the Minister may delete the entry, which terminates the right to conduct the activity.

Supervision is exercised by the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) and by authorised officials of the Ministry of Tourism. Consumers may submit reports and complaints to both the CPC and through the European Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform.

Frequently asked questions