Cancellation questions to ask before you pay
You are about to send a deposit and want to understand what happens if plans change.
Booking with confidence
Verify a travel agency licence on MOTAC
You found a good price and want to be sure the agency is real.
You can check a Malaysian travel agency’s licence in a few minutes on the MOTAC website. Open the Check section, choose the Travel Agency list, pick the agency’s state, and match the company name, licence number and field.
If nothing matches, pause before you pay and ask the agency to explain.
What does the MOTAC list show?
MOTAC, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, has a Travel Agency (TOBTAB) list in its Check section. You can filter it by state or federal territory. Each entry shows company name, address, phone number, licence number, field, type and period 1.
When we looked, the page showed 5,439 records and had been updated on 13/10/2026 1. The numbers change, so treat them as a snapshot.
How do you check, step by step?
Follow these steps in order:
- Ask the agency for its full company name and licence number.
- Open the Check page on the MOTAC website and choose Travel Agency.
- Select the state or federal territory of the agency’s address.
- Search the company name or licence number.
- Compare the name, licence number, field, type and period.
- Check the Watchlist of Entities Violating the Tourism Industry Act 1992 on the same Check page 2.
Do the check yourself, from the official site, rather than from a link the agency sends you.
How do you read the columns?
The field column shows the services a licence covers, such as Inbound, Outbound, Ticketing, and Umrah or Ziarah 3. For a Japan trip sold to Malaysians, Outbound is the one to look for.
The type column marks headquarters or branch. The period shows the validity dates. Make sure your booking and travel dates fall inside it.
What if nothing matches?
Recheck the spelling, the legal name and the state first. Many agencies trade under a brand name that differs from the registered company name. Ask the agency for the exact registered name.
If you still cannot match it, pause the payment. You can send a complaint or feedback to MOTAC through its complaints page 4.
What does a match not tell you?
A match confirms the licence record only. It does not check the price, the hotels or the cancellation terms. Read our guide to what Malaysians verify before booking and the cancellation questions to ask before paying.
For roles, see who does what between planner, agency and guide. The MOTAC glossary page explains the ministry in plain words.
If you are comparing quotes and want a second pair of eyes on the paperwork, send us what you were given. We help you list the questions to ask and what to confirm in writing.
Keep planning
Planner, agency, guide, driver: who does what
Several people touch your Japan trip, and you want to know who is responsible for what.
Asking for an accurate quote on WhatsApp
You are about to message a planner and want a real price, not a range.
Is this Japan promotion still current?
You found a good offer and want to be sure it still stands before you pay.
MOTAC
The ministry behind the licence on a Malaysian travel agency.
What Malaysians verify before booking Japan
You are close to paying and want a clear list of what to check first.
Questions travellers ask
Where do I check if a travel agency is registered in Malaysia?
Use the Check section on the MOTAC website and open the Travel Agency list. Select the state of the agency's address, then search the company name or licence number. The list shows the licence number, field, type and validity period for each entry.
Which licence field should an agency have for a Japan trip?
Look for Outbound, which covers taking travellers abroad. The list shows fields such as Inbound, Outbound, Ticketing and Umrah or Ziarah. If an agency sells Japan packages but only shows a field that does not match, ask them to explain before you pay.
What if the agency does not appear on the list?
First recheck the spelling, the legal company name and the state. Ask the agency for its licence number and the exact company name on it. If you still cannot match it, pause the payment, and you can send feedback or a complaint to MOTAC.
Does a match mean the price and itinerary are safe?
A match confirms the licence record. It does not review the package. You still need a written itinerary, inclusions, cancellation terms and who the supplier is. Our guide on questions before paying covers that.
Sources
Figures are checked against these sources and dated so you can see how current they are.
- Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC), Check: Travel Agencyaccessed 2026-10-20
- MOTAC, Checkaccessed 2026-10-20
- MOTAC, Check: Travel Agencyaccessed 2026-10-20
- MOTAC, Complaints and Feedbackaccessed 2026-10-20
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