Sellers of Travel

A seller of travel is any resident or nonresident person, firm, corporation or business entity that offers for sale, directly or indirectly, at wholesale or retail, prearranged travel or tourist-related services for individuals or groups, through vacation or tour packages, or through vacation certificates in exchange for a fee, commission or other valuable consideration. The term includes any business entity offering membership in a travel club or travel service for an advance fee or payment, even if no travel contracts or certificates or vacation or tour packages are sold by the business entity. 

Any seller of travel that has a business location in Florida or that offers to sell travel-related services in Florida for individuals or groups. An annual filing fee of $50 is required for each independent sales agent. 

Persons who have contracted with the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) for three years or more under the same ownership and control are not required to register but must have a statement of exemption issued by FDACS in order to obtain an occupational license. Sellers of travel that offer vacation certificates must have contracted with ARC for five years or more, under the same ownership and control, to qualify for this exemption.

Sellers of travel that DO NOT offer vacation certificates must submit: 

• A completed registration form,
• $300 nonrefundable fee and
• Proof of assurance in the form of a surety bond in an amount not to exceed $25,000. 

A seller of travel that DOES offer vacation certificates must submit:  

• A completed registration form,
• $300 nonrefundable fee,
• $100 document submission fee and
• Proof of assurance in the form of a surety bond in an amount not to exceed $50,000.

Your registration will be denied if:

• Registration form and fee are NOT supplied,
• Surety bond is NOT completed properly (seals or signatures by principal and witnesses are missing), or
• Power of attorney is not included with surety bond.

• Registration: $300
• Vacation Certificate Document Submission fee: $100 (Additional fee ONLY if offering vacation certificates.)

All fees are nonrefundable.

All registrations are valid for one year, beginning the day the certificate is issued, unless suspended or revoked for cause.

Civil or administrative fines of up to $5,000 for each violation, cease and desist order, and injunctive relief. Each sale or attempted sale may be considered a separate violation. 

Registered sellers of travel must include the following phrase in their contracts: 

• "(NAME OF FIRM) is registered with the State of Florida as a Seller of Travel Registration NO."

Each advertisement of a seller of travel must include the phrase:

• "Fla. Seller of Travel Reg. No."

In addition, all registered sellers of travel shall prominently display in their place of business, including branch offices, the certificate issued by FDACS.

The security is renewed annually. Persons who have been in the travel business for five or more consecutive years in compliance with Florida law may apply to FDACS for a waiver of the security by filing an Application for Security Waiver and providing the necessary documentation.

Florida Law gives consumers the right to file a claim against the security provided by a business, the claim must be made in writing to FDACS within 120 days after an alleged injury has occurred or is discovered to have occurred. In response to this, FDACS may retain security for an appropriate amount of time. 

Continued operation with an expired registration or bond will result in legal action by FDACS which may include injunctive relief, order to cease and desist, and civil or administrative fines of up to $5,000 per violation. 

FDACS must notify the applicant of any deficiencies within 30 days. 

Sellers of travel claiming an exemption must obtain a letter of exemption from FDACS. To obtain the letter of exemption, the seller of travel must provide sufficient documentation to FDACS supporting the exemption. 

Not specifically as a group; the only exemptions that are recognized under the law are contained in s. 559.935, F.S. 

Yes, including the vacation certificate provisions. The definition of a Seller of Travel states: The term includes any business entity offering membership in a travel club or travel services. 

Sellers of travel who offer vacation certificates, wholesale or retail, MUST ANNUALLY submit the documents required under s. 559.9295, F.S., including a copy of the contract in compliance with s. 559.932, F.S. and pay an additional fee of $100. Additionally they must submit the materials listed in s. 559.9295, F.S. anytime the documents are changed. 

*Please note: Sellers of Travel Independent Sales Agents are not eligible to receive the military waiver.

Active duty military, honorably discharged veterans, military spouses or surviving spouses may be eligible for a waiver of the initial or renewal registration fee. 

Applicants must meet the licensing requirements of the specific industry and must submit FDACS-10991, Military Fee Waiver Request[ ] .The waiver request and required supporting documentation must be submitted at the time the applicant submits the registration application.

Call 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832) for more information regarding the military registration fee waiver.

You must contact your local school district to get information on the procedures of that school district for obtaining security clearance.