Have you decided to open a travel agency in Portugal? This article presents the main requirements for this kind of business so that you can have an idea about the procedures involved. We suggest foreign investors to work closely with our specialists in company formation in Portugal and benefit from complete support in setting up a tourism agency in this country.
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Requirements to open a travel agency in Portugal
The legal regime of travel agencies is regulated by Decree-Law No. 17/2018 of March 8, which transposes into Portuguese legislation the EU rules on package tours and related services.
A travel agency in Portugal can be set up as a limited liability company with a minimum share capital of EUR 1, as a public company with at least five stockholders, or as a limited partnership where there is no need for a minimum share capital. In order to open a travel agency in Portugal, the entrepreneur must provide:
- details about the name of the company, the address, and the business plan;
- the Articles of Association;
- information about the bank account where the minimum share capital will be submitted.
The company registration procedure in Portugal is an easy process, once the documents have been prepared and submitted to the Commercial Registry in Portugal. Please consider that special licenses and permits must be obtained in order to start your activities as a travel agency in Portugal. From the Directing Council of Turismo de Portugal issues such documents.
Please consider that our company formation agents in Portugal can provide you with complete assistance when drafting the documents for your travel agency in Portugal. The company incorporation process in Portugal has less bureaucracy and can be done within a few days.
What to consider when opening a travel agency in Portugal
Setting up a travel business in Portugal is not a difficult process, but entrepreneurs should research the market before starting their operations. Here are some recommendations in this regard, which will help you when you want to start a tourism business in Portugal:
- Inbound and outbound travel agencies can be established in Portugal. Furthermore, a travel agency can also offer car rental services, plus other facilities. Once you discover the niche in which you want to develop your activities, you will be able to set up such a business.
- You must register in the National Register of Travel Agencies (RNAVT) managed by Turismo de Portugal. This is the legal authorization required to operate as a travel agency.
- It is recommended to create a business plan before opening a travel agency in Portugal. Marketing research and verification can help you here, as can reports on business & financial projects, strategies, investments, etc.
- Another recommendation for starting a company in Portugal, especially a travel agency, refers to a partnership with local suppliers. This way, you can rely on solid partnerships and collaborators from the very beginning of the business.
- Once the agency is registered with the RNAVT, it has legal authorization to operate in Portugal and can provide tourism services in accordance with legal requirements. Offering tourist packages is permitted after registration, but in the context of compliance with the legislation (Decree-Law no. 17/2018) on tourist packages and related services.
Considering these important details that can help you in opening a business in the tourism sector in Portugal, all that remains is to discuss further details with our experts and learn more about the formalities involved. We are here to help you open a company in Portugal.
What licenses do you need to open a travel agency in Portugal?
In Portugal, there is no ministry that issues independent tourism licenses. All authorizations for travel agencies are managed through Turismo de Portugal’s RNAVT system, and this is the nationally recognized legal authorization for operating a travel agency.
The first thing you need to do after you open a travel agency in Portugal is to obtain registration in the National Register of Travel Agencies (RNAVT). This is the main license you need to obtain to legally operate as a travel agency in Portugal.
The license does not have a separate name. The license is the registration in RNAAT, materialized by:
- a RNAAT number;
- an official public registration;
- the obligation to display that number on the website, commercial materials, etc.
In Portugal, a tourism license is not issued as a physical document; instead, the official authorization is the registration in the RNAVT (Registo Nacional de Agências de Viagens e Turismo) managed by Turismo de Portugal, the public authority responsible for regulating tourism at the national level.
This registry functions as an official license/operating authorization provider for travel agencies and tour operators. Please note that the license must be obtained before starting the activity.
In addition to RNAVT, Turismo de Portugal also has other registers for tourism activities, depending on what you want to do.
Registo Nacional dos Agentes de Animação Turística (RNAAT) is the institution where you need to register for tourist animation activities like guides, tours, cultural activities, etc. So, if you also want to do such related activities, then you will need to obtain this registration too.
Our company formation agents in Portugal can help you with all the documents you need and with guidance in the process of obtaining registration in the National Register in Portugal.
What are the mandatory requirements to obtain registration in RNAVT?
In order for Turismo de Portugal to approve the registration and assign the RNAVT number (authorization) for your travel agency, the following elements are required:
- Contribution to the Tourism Guarantee Fund (FGVT) – This is a mandatory fee for protection and insurance in case you have to comply with contractual obligations.
- Professional liability insurance – you must have a civil liability insurance policy with minimum coverage, which covers possible material and non-material damages.
Please find below the necessary documents for the RNAVT application:
- Extract from the Trade Register or permanent certificate of the company;
- Name of the agency;
- Evidence of civil liability insurance;
- Proof of payment of the FGVT contribution.
Our specialists in company formation in Portugal can help you with all the legal matters involved in obtaining registration in RNAVT.
Types of registrable tourism activities
The application for this license is made for the domains/ categories below, and all of these must be highlighted in the RNAVT record:
- Travel agencies;
- Tour operators;
- Package sales activities;
- Representation and intermediation of tourist services.
If you are interested in any of these activities and you are looking forward to opening a travel agency here, our specialists in setting up a company in Portugal can guide you through the entire process.
Why open a travel agency in Portugal?
A travel agency in Portugal can work as a branch of a foreign tour operator, or it can be a brand-new agency that deals with organizing and selling tours and holidays inside the country or abroad. Besides that, your travel agency can offer accommodation services, transportation, or can intermediate the sale of varied tourist packages and services.
With beautiful landscapes, rich culture, and traditions you cannot pass by, Portugal is a special country, open for tourists worldwide. Besides offering local tourist packages, a businessman willing to have a travel agency in Portugal can focus his/her attention on the exotic places and well-known countries for special touristic packages and can offer all-inclusive facilities.
Statistics about the tourism sector of Portugal
Here are some statistics about tourism in Portugal, which should help you if you want to open a business here:
- There were around 11.7 million guests (+3.9%);
- Approximately 28.3 million overnight stays (+2.3%);
- Nearly € 2.2 billion total tourism revenue (+7.9%);
- Around € 1.7 billion accommodation revenue (+8%).
We invite you to also discover the services of our accountants in Portugal when opening a travel agency. You can benefit from complete services for company incorporation in Portugal. Feel free to contact our Portuguese team of agents and solicit assistance in business-related matters.