Who Arranges the Visa on a Visa-Inclusive Tour? Agency vs. Traveller

There's no single answer to who arranges the visa on a visa-inclusive tour: regulations don't determine this, the tour company's contract does. Of the six contracts we reviewed, three clearly leave the visa to the traveller; the others provide for paid consultancy, follow-up, or referral to another agency. Read the visa clause of the contract before purchasing the tour.

In brief

• Regulations don't determine who gets the visa; responsibility is set by the tour company's contract.
• Of six sample contracts, three clearly leave the visa to the traveller; the others provide for consultancy, follow-up, or an intermediary agency.
• Document submission deadlines in the sample contracts range from 1 to 3 months.
• Agency responsibility in case of refusal or delay depends on the contract; read the refund clause before paying.

The core rule: Regulations don't say who gets the visa

The Package Tour Contracts Regulation does not determine who will arrange the visa. The duty the regulation places on the organiser is different: the organiser must provide information on the passport, visa, age, and health requirements appropriate to the features of the package tour. In other words, the agency is not obliged to obtain the visa, but it is obliged to tell you which documents are required.

The party that issues the visa is not the agency either. A visa is obtained from a state's foreign mission or border authorities; the decision is made by the relevant country's consulate. The tour company can, at most, assist during the application process.

There is no single official rule determining this division of labour. Therefore, responsibility is set out in each tour company's own contract. For two different tours to the same country, the visa burden may fall on different parties.

Practical conclusion: learn the responsibility not by assumption, but from the visa clause of the contract you will sign. General statements such as "we assist with the visa" do not mean the agency will obtain the visa.

Differences in contracts among tour companies

The six sample contracts we reviewed do not reach the same conclusion. Three clearly leave the visa process to the consumer; the other three describe visa services through consultancy, follow-up, or another agency. The common point is that the paid service is mostly conditional on documents being submitted complete and on time.

• Kappa Turizm: Visa procedures belong to the consumer; the consumer obtains the visa personally. If documents are submitted complete 2 months before the tour, the agency may provide paid visa consultancy.
• Gezerekogrenen: Visa and passport procedures belong to the consumer. If documents are submitted complete at least 3 months before the tour, the agency may follow up visa procedures for a fee.
• Loresima Travel: Visa and passport procedures belong to the consumer. If documents are submitted complete 1 month before the tour, the agency may follow up for a fee.
• Doğuş Turizm: If documents are submitted complete 2 months before the tour, the agency provides paid visa consultancy.
• Jestur: If documents are submitted complete up to 1 month before the trip begins, the agency may follow up visa procedures for a fee.
• Ejder Turizm: If you request visa follow-up from the agency, the service is provided by the authorised agency the company works with.

This list is illustrative and does not cover all companies. Since document submission deadlines vary between 1 and 3 months, use the earliest date if in doubt. The contract for the tour you are taking may differ from these; request the current text from the company.

Who is responsible if the visa is refused or delayed?

The visa decision is not in the agency's hands, and some contracts state this explicitly. According to the Doğuş Turizm contract, the agency is not responsible for failure to obtain a visa or for it not being ready in time for the tour date. Ejder Turizm also states it bears no responsibility if the visa is not granted. For other companies, you should read this provision yourself in the contract.

There are two separate risks here. First, refusal: the consulate may reject the application. Second, delay: the process may not be completed in time for the tour date. In both cases, the fate of the tour fee you paid depends on the cancellation and refund clauses in the contract. Read this clause together with the visa clause.

If you receive a refusal, see What to Do After a Visa Refusal? Objection and New Application for next steps. If you consider the refusal risk high, ask the agency in writing about refund conditions before making payment.

Since the visa is issued by the consulate, the agency cannot be expected to guarantee it. If the contract does not state a visa guarantee, don't rely on verbal promises; make your payment and cancellation decisions based on written conditions.

Exceptions and common mistakes

TÜRSAB support is not open to travellers

TÜRSAB's visa application support service is only for owners and partners of travel agencies who have representation and binding authority. Travellers cannot benefit from this service. A traveller with a problem must deal with the agency and the consulate.

Intermediary agency situation

In some contracts, the visa service is provided not by the agency that sold the tour but by another authorised agency it works with, as in the Ejder Turizm example. In this case, clarify from the start who you are dealing with and to whom you are paying the fee.

Common mistakes

• Misreading the phrase "visa included." Ask whether what's included is the visa fee, consultancy, or just information.
• Leaving documents to the last week. Submission deadlines required in sample contracts range from 1 to 3 months.
• Submitting incomplete documents. In the contracts we reviewed, the paid service is conditional on documents being submitted complete.
• Not checking the passport. For validity period and blank page requirements, check the visa note in the tour program and the relevant consulate.
• Assuming the visa requirement. Find out the country's current requirement before purchasing the tour.

Step by step: What should you do on a visa-inclusive tour?

1. Read the visa note when choosing the tour. Open the tour program on the international tours page and find information on visa, passport, and other requirements. The organiser is obliged to provide this information.
2. Find the visa clause of the contract. Who will obtain the visa, the final document submission date, and whether consultancy is paid are written here.
3. Decide whether you want consultancy. If you do, get its scope and fee in writing. Ask which agency will provide the service.
4. Draw up a document list. Base it on the list from the agency or consulate, and note missing items on a calendar.
5. Submit documents early and complete. Aim for the earliest deadline in the contract. Ask for written confirmation of submission.
6. Follow up the application and appointment. Whether you or the agency makes the application, regularly check the status of the process.
7. Check the result. Compare the visa's name, surname, date, and number-of-entries information with your passport.
8. Return to the refund clause in case of refusal or delay. Immediately check the cancellation conditions and deadlines in the contract.

Checklist before setting off

Before signing the contract and making payment, take the program and contract of the tour you chose from international tours and clarify the following:

• Who carries out the visa process: you, the agency, or another agency the agency works with?
• Is the final document submission date stated in the contract?
• Is the consultancy or follow-up service paid, and what does the fee cover?
• What are the refund and cancellation conditions in case of visa refusal or delay?
• Does the tour program clearly state passport, visa, age, and health requirements?
• Does your passport meet the validity conditions required by the country?
• Have you kept copies of the documents and the submission note?
• After the visa is issued, does the information match your passport exactly?

If the answer to any of these questions is not in the contract, ask the agency for a written answer before signing. Verbal explanations mean you have no document in hand if a problem arises.

Frequently asked questions

Does the agency obtain the visa on a visa-inclusive tour?

Not always. Regulations don't determine this; responsibility varies according to the tour company's contract. Of the six contracts we reviewed, three clearly leave the visa to the consumer, while the others describe services through paid consultancy, follow-up, or another agency.

Is the visa included in the tour price?

This varies from tour to tour and is stated in the tour program and contract. Also ask whether what's included is the visa fee or the consultancy service. If unclear, request a written explanation.

Is the agency responsible if the visa is refused?

The Doğuş Turizm and Ejder Turizm contracts state that the agency bears no responsibility if the visa is not granted. What happens to the tour fee depends on the cancellation and refund clauses in the contract. For other companies, read your contract and clarify this clause before making payment.

When should I submit visa documents to the agency?

In the contracts we reviewed, the deadline ranges between 1 and 3 months before the tour. Check your contract for the company's deadline; if unclear, use the earliest period. Documents being complete is also required.

Will the tour company stop me from obtaining the visa myself?

We did not find a provision preventing this in the contracts we reviewed; in the Kappa Turizm, Gezerekogrenen, and Loresima Travel contracts, visa procedures already belong to the consumer. In other companies, paid consultancy or follow-up service is offered optionally. Still, check your own tour's contract and ask the tour company in writing. The visa application is made to the relevant country's mission.

Can I apply to TÜRSAB for a visa?

No. TÜRSAB's visa application support service is only for owners and partners of travel agencies who have representation and binding authority. Travellers cannot benefit from this service.

Related pages

• What to Do After a Visa Refusal? Objection and New Application
• How to Get an International Driving Licence? Application and Documents

Sources

• Package Tour Contracts Regulation - Inspection Board — teftis.ktb.gov.tr
• VISA SERVICES TRAINING — tursab.org.tr
• Visa — sss.tursab.org.tr
• DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL PACKAGE TOUR CONTRACT 1. Parties to the Contract — kappatur.com
• Service Contract - Doğuş Turizm — dogustur.com.tr
• Package Tour Contract — gezerekogrenen.com
• Jestur contract — jestur.com.tr
• Loresima Travel contract — loresimatravel.com.tr
• Ejder Turizm contract — ejderturizm.com.tr
• General visa process framework — vizemerkezi.com