Announcement of the Operation of Tourist Offices
Notification to the OPS-ADE (related link below), providing information on: (a) the operator exercising the activity; (b) the location of the activity (address and geographical coordinates); (c) the activity exercised NACE code, Tourism Enterprises Registry (MI.T.E.) number, reference number of the letter of guarantee or security deposit, distinctive title, if approved; and all required supporting documents must be uploaded in digital form.
If the travel agency is an organiser/retailer of tourist packages Presidential Decree 7/2018 (Government Gazette, Series I, Issue No 12), a third party liability insurance policy is required, indicating the number of the insurance policy and the name of the insurance company. Such insurance policy must be uploaded in digital form on the OPS-ADE. MODIFICATION OF THE NOTIFICATION If the details of the notification on the establishment and operation of the travel agency are to be modified, the operator must notify the intended modification in advance. The procedure for submitting the notification regarding the details to be modified is the same as the initial notification procedure. In particular, in case of a change of operator pursuant to Article 9 of Law 4442/ 2016 (Government Gazette, Series I, Issue No 230), both the old and the new operator shall each submit a notification about the change within ten (10) days of the change. The notification includes only the new operator’s details (notification of new details and supporting documents issued under the name of the new operator). The letter of guarantee shall be issued under the name of the new operator and shall be submitted to the Regional Tourism Office having jurisdiction for the place of establishment and operation of the travel agency. The letter of guarantee issued under the name of the former operator shall be returned to the issuing authority after a period of six months following the date of submission of the modification notification and provided that all other statutory requirements are met. A change of operator, whether a natural person or a legal entity, shall not be permitted if an infringement of the applicable legislation has been established that may result to the imposition of the administrative measure of suspension of operation of the agency. If the new and previous operator proceed with the change in breach of the provision of the previous subparagraph, the suspension of operation shall be imposed on the new operator. In case of approval of the distinctive title of a travel agency by the competent Regional Tourism Office after submission of the notification of operation, the operator must proceed to the modification of the notification details. In the event of a change of operator, the procedures stipulated under Article 2 of Law 393/1976 (Government Gazette, Series I, Issue No 199) shall be observed in relation to the distinctive title of the travel agency. In case of suspension of the activity at the site where it was exercised, the operator must give notice of the suspension. Once the suspension has been notified, the operator shall receive a copy via the electronic system as proof. In the event of a change in the place where the activity is exercised, the operator must submit a new notification and also cancel the notification concerning the old registered office.
Setting up a business (sole proprietorship, partnership). *See the link below on setting up a company Natural persons, third-country nationals and legal entities having their registered office in third countries are entitled to operate a travel agency, provided that they have appointed a special agent in Greece. This right is recognised on the condition that, under the legislation of the state of nationality or of the registered office thereof, the same right is granted to Greek nationals and to companies having their registered office in Greece.
The applicant must have TAXISnet login credentials.
The applicant must not have been irrevocably convicted of a felony or one of the misdemeanours of theft, embezzlement, fraud, extortion, forgery, counterfeiting, serious bodily injury, infringement of the provisions on drugs or morals.
The interested party (natural or legal person) must not have been declared bankrupt.
The interested party must have concluded a lease agreement or must have ownership title to an office facility. If the travel agency operates exclusively online, a copy of the declaration on commencement of business activities certified by the competent tax office shall be required instead of the above documents.
Submission of a letter of guarantee in favour of the Greek State for a five-year term, amounting to EUR 5 000, issued by financial institutions established in Greece or in another EU Member State. Alternatively, proof of submission of a security deposit of an equal amount to the Deposits and Loans Fund, in accordance with the provisions of Article 17 of Law 3646/1928 (Government Gazette, Series I, Issue No 154). In this case, no term shall be indicated.
Possession of passwords to enter software
Conditions for non-commission of criminal offenses
The procedure concerns notification of the operation of a travel agency (or of a branch of a travel agency), which has replaced the granting of a certificate of compliance with the statutory conditions for the operation of a travel agency. Travel agencies operate duly upon collection of the required supporting documents and the subsequent submission of a notification of operation to the Integrated Information System for the Exercise of Activities and Audits (OPS-ADE) under Article 14 of Law 4442/2016. Before submitting the notification, the operator must submit to the competent Regional Tourism Office a letter of guarantee in favour of the Greek State with a five-year term, in accordance with Annex II to Joint Ministerial Decision No 18914/2021 (Government Gazette, Series II, Issue No 5161) or a security deposit of equal amount issued by the Deposits and Loans Fund. Natural persons, third-country nationals and legal entities having their registered office in third countries are entitled to operate a travel agency, provided that they have appointed a special agent in Greece. This right is recognised on the condition that, under the legislation of the state of nationality or of the registered office thereof, the same right is granted to Greek nationals and to companies having their registered office in Greece. Otherwise, the natural or legal persons set out under the first subparagraph shall be entitled to provide tourism services only if they contract to that end with a travel agency duly operating in Greece.
Travel Agencies – branch office establishment
Lease agreement or ownership title deeds regarding the travel agencys premises, unless the travel agency operates exclusively online.
An excerpt from the general criminal record, issued within the last three months, or an equivalent document, if the applicant is a national of another EU Member State.
Single Judicial Solvency Certificate or equivalent document if the applicant (natural or legal person) is a national of another EU Member State.
A letter of guarantee for the amount of EUR 5 000, with a five-year term, issued in favour of the Greek State by financial institutions and insurance companies or a security deposit of the same amount, issued by the Deposits and Loans Fund.
A copy of the declaration on commencement of business activities certified by the competent tax office.
The company’s articles of association and any amendments thereto, along with the respective Issues of the Government Gazette where they were published, the document authorising the legal representative of the legal entity, as well as a certificate on modifications of the company form in the case of LLCs, GPs, LPs and Societes Anonymes, issued by the competent authority.
In accordance with Article 4 of Law 393/1976 (Government Gazette, Series I, Issue No 199), the operation of travel agencies which provide the services set out under Article 1 (2) of the above Law exclusively online is permitted. Such travel agencies must include the term ‘e-service’ in their distinctive title. In this case, instead of ownership title deeds or a lease agreement for the travel agency’s premises, a copy of the declaration on commencement of business activities certified by the competent tax office shall be required.
An excerpt from the general criminal record demonstrating that the applicant has not been irrevocably convicted of a felony or one of the misdemeanours of theft, embezzlement, fraud, extortion, forgery, counterfeiting, serious bodily injury, infringement of the provisions on drugs or morals. Where the operator of the activity is a legal person, the criminal record shall concern its legal representative. It shall be renewed ex officio by the competent Regional Tourism Office every five years. *Natural persons being nationals of another EU Member State or legal persons having their registered office in another EU Member State must provide equivalent documents issued by a competent judicial or administrative authority of the Member State, confirming that they have not been convicted of the above offences and have not been declared bankrupt. If there is no provision in the country of origin or provenance for the issue of a document equivalent to the excerpt from the criminal record, this may be replaced by an affidavit or, in the case of countries in which such documents are not issued, by a solemn declaration, submitted by the operator to the competent judicial or administrative authority or, where appropriate, to a notary public in their country of origin or provenance, who shall issue a certificate attesting the affidavit or solemn declaration. A statement that the applicant has not been declared bankrupt may be made before a competent professional body. The operator shall procure its renewal every five years.
If the operator is a legal person, such certificate shall be issued for both the legal person and its legal representative. It shall be renewed ex officio by the competent Regional Tourism Office every five years. *Natural persons being nationals of another EU Member State or legal persons having their registered office in another EU Member State must provide equivalent documents issued by a competent judicial or administrative authority of the Member State, confirming that they have not been convicted of the above offences and have not been declared bankrupt. If there is no provision in the country of origin or provenance for the issue of a document equivalent to the excerpt from the criminal record, this may be replaced by an affidavit or, in the case of countries in which such documents are not issued, by a solemn declaration, submitted by the operator to the competent judicial or administrative authority or, where appropriate, to a notary public in their country of origin or provenance, who shall issue a certificate attesting the affidavit or solemn declaration. A statement that the applicant has not been declared bankrupt may be made before a competent professional body. The operator shall procure its renewal every five years.
The letter of guarantee, amounting to five thousand (5,000) euros, is issued in favour of the Greek State by financial institutions established in Greece or in another EU Member State and by insurance companies established in Greece. In addition, the interested party may also deposit equal guarantee deposits, which are issued by the Deposits and Loans Fund, in accordance with Article 17 of Law 3646/1928 (Α’ 154). The letter of guarantee from financial institutions and insurance companies, which has a duration of at least five years, states that its validity is automatically extended for a further six months after the date of revocation of the Certificate of Existence of Legal Conditions for any reason whatsoever and also if no other letter of guarantee of at least five years validity is deposited before its expiry. The letter of guarantee shall be forfeited in favour of the Greek State by decision of the Head of the relevant Regional Tourism Service, to cover any consumer claims arising from their transactions with the tourist office. Before the decision to forfeit the letter of guarantee is issued, the Head of the relevant Regional Tourism Service of the Ministry of Tourism invites the company, within a period of not less than one (1) month, to settle the financial claims notified against it and proven by official evidence. The above time limit may be extended for one (1) additional month by decision of the Head of the Regional Tourism Service. If the time limit expires without effect, the relevant forfeiture act is issued without further notice to the person concerned. The letter of guarantee shall be issued to the travel agency by financial institutions established in Greece or in another EU Member State and by insurance companies with registered offices in Greece, in favour of the Greek State, using the relevant template as set out under Annex II to Joint Ministerial Decision No 18914/2021 (Government Gazette, Series II, Issue No 5161) and shall be filed by the competent Regional Tourism Office prior to the submission of the notification. Proof of submission of the letter of guarantee to the competent Regional Tourism Office must be uploaded in digital format on the OPS-ADE. Alternatively, the interested party may submit a security deposit of the same amount, issued by the Deposits and Loans Fund, in accordance with Article 17 of Law 3646/1928 (Government Gazette, Series I, Issue No 154). In this case, no term shall be indicated.
This applies exclusively to online travel agencies. *In accordance with Article 4 of Law 393/1976 (Government Gazette, Series I, Issue No 199), the operation of travel agencies which provide the services set out under Article 1 (2) of the above Law exclusively online is permitted. Such travel agencies must include the term ‘e-service’ in their distinctive title. In this case, instead of ownership title deeds or a lease agreement for the travel agency’s premises, a copy of the declaration on commencement of business activities certified by the competent tax office tax office shall be required.
The obligation to submit the above document shall not apply where such data can be retrieved by the competent Regional Tourism Office by an ex officio online search in the General Commercial Registry (GEMI).
Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Notification of operation of a Travel Agency
Integrated Information System for the Exercise of Activities and Audits – OpenBusiness
Travel agencies may use a distinctive title for their transactions. The distinctive title shall be approved by the competent Regional Tourism Office upon request of the operator. The decision approving the distinctive title of a travel agency shall be entered by the operator in the Integrated Information System for the Exercise of Activities and Audits (OPS-ADE) under Article 14 of Law 4442/2016. Duly operating travel agencies may establish branches throughout the Greek territory. Separate notification to the OPS-ADE is required for the operation of branches.
Subparagraph H.2 of Article 1 (point 1, point 5A)
Model tourist destinations of integrated management, destination management and promotion organisations, Greek thermal springs and other provisions for promoting tourism. development.
Thematic Tourism - Special Forms of Tourism - Provisions on modernisation of the institutional framework in the tourism and tourism education industry - support for tourism entrepreneurship and other provisions.
On the Establishment and Operation of Travel Agencies.
Establishment and operation of travel agencies. Addition of Chapter XV to Law 4442/2016.
Establishment of the procedure, content and supporting documents, fee and penalties for notification of the operation of travel agencies.
Operation of the “Integrated Information System for the Exercise of Activities and Inspections” information system under Article 14 of Law 4442/2016.
New institutional framework for carrying out economic activity and other provisions.
Simplification of the procedures for the operation of tourism enterprises and tourism infrastructure, special forms of tourism and other provisions.
Hire of private passenger cars with a driver
Organisation of the Ministry of Tourism — competence of the Regional Tourism Services for implementing the notification procedure.
Prior to the submission of the notification, the operator shall file by the competent Regional Tourism Office a letter of guarantee in favour of the Greek State, with a five-year term, or a security deposit of an equal amount, issued by the Deposits and Loans Fund.
The interested party shall electronically submit a notification of operation of a travel agency to the Integrated Information System for the Exercise of Activities and Audits (OPS-ADE) set out under Article 14 of Law 4442/2016 and upload all required supporting documents. If the details of an already submitted notification of operation of a travel agency are to be modified, the operator shall proceed to the notification of the intended modification. The procedure for submitting the notification regarding the details to be modified is the same as the initial notification procedure.
The competent Regional Tourism Office shall forward without delay, within five working days at the latest, the notification to each department that must, at its discretion, become aware of the operation of the travel agency, in order to perform audits stipulated under law. The notification shall be submitted online via the system.
Filing by the competent Regional Tourism Office of a letter of guarantee in favour of the Greek State, or of a security deposit of an equal amount.
Electronic submission of the application for initial notification (or modification thereof) and uploading of the supporting documents.