How to check a travel agency licence (MOTAC)
You like an agency's quote and want to confirm it is properly licensed first.
IndonesiaQuest Editorial · Updated 20 October 2026
To check a Malaysian travel agency, search its registered name in MOTAC’s Travel Agency Search on the MyGovernment portal, then compare the licence details with the agency’s quote and invoice. The search is free to use [1]. Do this before you pay a deposit.
It is one step in our wider booking and responsibility guide.
Why does the licence matter?
Selling tours in Malaysia is a licensed activity under the Tourism Industry Act 1992. MOTAC states that unlicensed tourism activity, including online tours, can bring a fine of up to RM500,000, imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both [2].
For you, the licence means the seller is registered with the regulator. It gives you a name to look up and a body to report to if a dispute arises.
How do you run the search?
Follow these steps:
- Find the agency’s registered company name on its quote, invoice or website footer.
- Open the Travel Agency Search on the MyGovernment portal.
- Enter the registered name, not just the brand shown on social media.
- Note the licence number, status and validity shown.
- Screenshot the result with the date.
If a brand name returns nothing, try the company name printed on the invoice. An agency can trade under a brand that differs from its registered company.
Want a second pair of eyes on your plan?
If you have a quote and an agency name but are unsure how to read the search result, send both to us. We can talk you through it and pass your brief to a licensed agency.
You get a reply from a person who reads your plan, plus a quote from a licensed Malaysian agency if you want one.What should you compare?
Place the search result next to the agency’s own paperwork. Compare the company name, the licence number and the validity period. Then check that the bank account on the invoice carries the same company name.
A match on all of these is reassuring. A gap, such as a payment account in a personal name, is a reason to ask for an explanation in writing before you pay.
Licences also have a validity period, so note the date range and check that your travel dates fall inside it. If the period ends before you travel, ask the agency to confirm the renewal in writing.
What does the search not tell you?
The licence confirms registration. It does not confirm that your specific package is available, that the price is fair or that the service will be good. For availability, see why an old package page does not prove current availability.
MOTAC publishes a separate list of entities that broke the act. A name missing from that list is a different result from a valid licence, as what a clean watchlist does not prove explains.
What to do next
Once the licence is confirmed, move to the payment side. Questions to ask an agency before paying a deposit gives a short list you can paste into WhatsApp. You can also read the MOTAC licence glossary entry for a quick definition.
If the result confuses you, share a screenshot and we will help you read it.
Keep planning
- Booking your Indonesia trip with confidenceYou are about to pay a deposit and want to know who is responsible for what.
- What a clean MOTAC watchlist provesYou searched an agency's name, found nothing and wonder if that settles it.
- Questions to ask before paying a depositThe quote looks right and you are one transfer away from committing.
- Where to stay: area guidesYou know the island, but the choice of base still decides how tired everyone feels.
- Airport pickup fees and hotel transfersYou land tired, and the hotel's pickup offer arrives with a price you cannot judge.
- Attractions and cultural places in IndonesiaYou have limited leave and a long list of temples, and you want the days to feel unhurried.
Questions Malaysians ask
Where do I check if a Malaysian travel agency is licensed?
Use the Travel Agency Search on the MyGovernment portal, run by MOTAC. Search by the registered company name that appears on the quote, not only the brand name on social media.
What details should I compare after searching?
Compare the company name, licence number and validity against the agency's quote, invoice and website footer. A match across all four reassures you. A mismatch is a reason to ask for an explanation before paying.
Does a licence mean a good trip?
A licence shows the agency is registered to sell tours. It does not predict service quality or confirm a specific package is available. Pair it with a written quote and the questions in our deposit guide.
What if the agency is not on the search results?
Ask for the licence number and the exact registered name, then search again. If it still does not appear, pause the payment and ask the agency to explain, or choose another agency.
Sources
- MyGovernment, Travel Agency Search (MOTAC), accessed 20 October 2026
- MOTAC, enforcement action against unlicensed tourism activities, accessed 20 October 2026
Entry rules, ferry times and prices change. Check the official source or your licensed agency before you book.
Ready to shape your Indonesia trip?
If you have a quote and an agency name but are unsure how to read the search result, send both to us. We can talk you through it and pass your brief to a licensed agency.
You get a reply from a person who reads your plan, plus a quote from a licensed Malaysian agency if you want one.