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The Haryana government has made registration mandatory for all new and existing travel agents operating across the state, approving the Haryana Registration and Regulation of Travel Agents Rules, 2026, during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday. Framed under the Haryana Registration and Regulation of Travel Agents Act, 2025, the comprehensive regulatory framework is designed to curb rampant fraudulent overseas employment rackets, human trafficking, and illegal migration operations that channel youths through dangerous unauthorized passages known as donkey routes.
Branch Licensing and Mandatory Police Clearances
Under the approved regulations, travel operators must obtain separate registration certificates for every operational office and branch location. In addition, agencies providing diversified services are required to seek independent registrations across individual business categories, including tour and travel operations, passport facilitation, study visa consultancy, and ticketing services. This category-specific structure ensures that agencies offering multiple consultancy services secure distinct official approvals for each operational branch.
A registration fee of ₹5,000 has been set for each service category. Background scrutiny will be compulsory, with mandatory police verification required for every applicant prior to official clearance. Competent authorities are instructed to issue digital registration certificates within 30 days of receiving a verified police report. Each approved certificate will remain valid for three years, after which agencies must undergo a formal renewal process to continue commercial operations.
Digital QR Codes and Centralised Public Verification
To ensure transparency and prevent the circulation of counterfeit documentation, the state administration will issue digital certificates embedded with unique QR codes. Prospective applicants, students, and jobseekers will be able to scan the codes to authenticate an operator’s active registration status and valid operational dates. This verification mechanism aims to provide young people seeking overseas avenues with an immediate tool to distinguish genuine service providers from fly-by-night operators before committing funds or identity documents.
In addition to individual certificates, the state government will publish updated district-wise directories of registered travel agencies. Citizens will be able to review verified agency rosters and corresponding certificates across official state platforms, including the Antyodaya SARAL Portal alongside the formal websites of the Home Department and the Police Department. The centralised digital repository allows applicants to confirm whether a regional agency holds the statutory clearance required to conduct business within their district.
Compulsory Display Across Offices and Promotional Media
The regulatory guidelines impose strict visibility conditions on all registered operators. Travel agencies are legally required to display their official registration numbers clearly both inside and outside their office premises, accompanied by the exact issuance and expiry dates of their operational certificates. This requirement ensures that any customer entering a physical office can immediately verify whether the premises operate in compliance with state standards.
The rules also extend the disclosure mandate to marketing and promotional operations. Registered travel agencies must prominently feature their registration credentials across all print advertisements, dedicated company websites, and broader online portals. Operators using social media platforms to market overseas employment positions, work permits, and visa processing services must display their official credentials conspicuously. By maintaining strict visibility standards and administrative oversight, state authorities intend to identify unauthorized entities, shield jobseekers from deceptive overseas recruitment schemes, and enforce strict legal accountability across the travel sector.
