IATAN vs ARC vs IATA: Travel Agent Accreditation Explained

New US agents run into a cluster of acronyms in their first week: IATA, IATAN, ARC, CLIA, TRUE. They sound interchangeable and they are not. Each one answers a different question. Some decide whether you can issue airline tickets. Some give you an ID that opens supplier doors. One is a cruise association, and one is a code that lets independent agents be paid directly. This guide separates them, gives the fees that are published, and ends with a way to decide which ones you actually need.

The Short Version

Body	What It's For	Who Needs It
ARC	Settlement of airline ticket sales for US agencies; enables ticket issuing	US agencies that want to ticket on their own number
IATAN	IATA's accreditation program for US agencies; ID card and supplier recognition	US agencies and independent contractors wanting recognition and an ID
IATA	The same type of accreditation for agencies outside the US, tied to the BSP	Agencies located outside the US
CLIA	Cruise industry association with agent membership	Agents who sell cruises regularly
TRUE	A code from CCRA that lets independent sellers be recognised and paid by suppliers	Host agency owners and independents who want their own supplier identity

ARC (Airlines Reporting Corporation)

ARC runs the settlement system between US travel agencies and airlines. It is the US counterpart of the Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) that IATA operates elsewhere. ARC accreditation is what lets a US agency issue airline tickets under its own authority. It costs a $2,300 non-refundable application fee plus a bond, letter of credit or cash deposit of at least $20,000, and it requires a designated manager and an ARC Specialist who passes an exam. Our ARC accreditation guide goes through the process.

IATAN: The US Face of IATA

IATAN stands for International Airlines Travel Agent Network. IATA tells agencies located in the US to use the IATAN accreditation program, and agencies elsewhere to use IATA's own program. So IATAN is not an alternative to IATA. It is how IATA accredits in the United States.

IATAN accreditation is also not the same as ARC accreditation. IATAN's requirements say that ticketing is available only at ticketing locations, which must provide an ARC approval letter and sign an IATAN Agency Agreement. In other words, a ticketing agency in the US typically goes through ARC and IATAN together. A non-ticketing location can be accredited by IATAN without ARC, and then it must show financial capacity instead.

IATAN publishes its fees, effective 1 January 2026:

Category	New application	Annual service fee
Head office or branch	$280	$120
Corporate travel department, corporate client location or host service location	$450	$210
Independent contractor business	$110	$110

ID cards are separate: a new digital and printed card is $48, and a digital-only renewal is $40. All fees are in US dollars, non-refundable and subject to change, so check the current schedule before you apply.

What IATAN Asks For

Applicants need proof of an active business licence or good standing, ownership documents for their entity type, and two years of experience for the qualified manager or travel agent. Acceptable proof includes a letter on letterhead from an IATAN-accredited agency or a travel supplier, or a recognised certification or travel diploma. Non-ticketing locations also show capital: $10,000 for a home-based business or one trading under a year, with higher thresholds for older commercial entities. Professional liability insurance is required, or an E&O waiver combined with two years of experience for the owner. Seller of Travel registration applies in Florida, Hawaii and Washington on IATAN's list, so also check your own state.

IATA Outside the US

Outside the US, IATA's own accreditation gives an agent an IATA numeric code and BSP membership. IATA offers several options, including GoLite, which requires no minimum financial guarantee to issue air tickets, and GoStandard, which adds IATA's standard payment solutions. For an agent in Canada or the UK, this is the relevant body, not IATAN, and local financial criteria apply.

CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association)

CLIA is unrelated to airline ticketing. It is the cruise industry's association, and it offers two kinds of agent-facing membership in North America: Travel Agency Membership for sellers actively engaged in selling cruise travel, and Individual Agent Membership for agents affiliated with a member agency. The individual membership provides a CLIA EMBARC ID, which CLIA describes as giving access to cruise line and partner commissions, along with training and personal travel discounts. Annual dues are listed at $139. At last check, individual enrolment was closed, with existing 2026 memberships running through 31 December and 2027 dates not yet announced. Eligibility and timing change, so confirm with CLIA.

TRUE (CCRA)

TRUE is a code that CCRA assigns to accredited agencies. It was created in 1999 by the Outside Sales Support Network to let independent agents be recognised as professional sellers and receive supplier payments, and CCRA took it over in 2013. A TRUE code is held by an agency owner, who can have independent contractors operate under it. Published requirements from CCRA's materials include a corporation, LLC or sole proprietorship, at least six months of travel selling experience, three business references, an active business bank account and compliance with state Seller of Travel requirements. CCRA has also enforced these standards with a 30-day cure period and removal of non-compliant codes. CCRA's published figures date from several years ago, so ask CCRA for current terms rather than relying on a figure from an older article.

TRUE is a supplier-recognition code. It does not settle airline tickets, so it does not replace ARC.

Worked Example: Three Agents, Three Stacks

For illustration, imagine three hypothetical people.

• Leila is a new home-based agent selling cruises and resorts. She works under a host. She may add a CLIA individual membership through her host's agency if enrolment is open, and she may not need her own IATAN or ARC number for years.
• Jon runs a small agency that sells corporate travel and issues air tickets daily. He holds ARC accreditation for ticketing and IATAN accreditation as an agency, and his agents carry IATAN IDs.
• Carla is an experienced independent who wants direct commission payment and her own brand without ticketing. A TRUE code or a non-ticketing IATAN accreditation may suit her better than ARC, depending on her suppliers.

How to Decide What You Need

1. Do you need to issue airline tickets yourself? If yes, ARC is the gating item, and in practice IATAN goes with it. If no, skip it.
2. Which suppliers matter most? Cruise-heavy sellers look to CLIA. Tour and resort suppliers often check an ID or code. Ask your top suppliers what they accept.
3. Do you want your own supplier identity? If you want to be paid directly under your own name, look at TRUE or IATAN.
4. Is the cost worth it at your volume? Add up fees, bonds, insurance and your time and compare with host commission splits.
5. Are you outside the US? Then use IATA's program and your local regulator. See how to choose a host agency if you are weighing the host route.

Common Mistakes

• Believing an ID card equals ticketing authority. It does not.
• Applying for IATAN assuming it will let you ticket without ARC.
• Using an outdated fee or the old name of a program in a supplier application.
• Skipping state Seller of Travel registration because you hold an industry credential. Accreditation and state registration are separate.
• Letting an annual IATAN fee lapse. IATAN lists a late fee that applies after 1 January.

Insurance is a separate layer again; see our guide to E&O insurance for US travel agents. For the broader start-up picture, read how to become a travel agent in the US. This article is general information, not legal or financial advice, so confirm current requirements with ARC, IATAN, CLIA and CCRA directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between IATA and IATAN?

IATAN is how IATA accredits travel agencies located in the United States, while agencies elsewhere use IATA's own accreditation program. They are not alternatives for the same agency.

Does IATAN accreditation let me issue airline tickets?

Not by itself. IATAN's requirements state that ticketing is available only at ticketing locations, which must provide an ARC approval letter and sign an IATAN Agency Agreement. ARC accreditation is the gating requirement for ticketing in the US.

How much does IATAN accreditation cost?

IATAN's fee schedule effective 1 January 2026 lists a $280 new application fee for a head or branch office and $110 for an independent contractor business, with annual service fees of $120 and $110 respectively. ID cards are separate. Confirm the current schedule with IATAN.

Do I need ARC and IATAN?

If you want to issue airline tickets as a US agency, you generally go through ARC and IATAN together. If you sell non-air products or work under a host, you may need neither for your own business.

Is CLIA membership required to sell cruises?

No. CLIA membership is voluntary, but it provides credentials such as the EMBARC ID, training and access to cruise line and partner commissions. Enrolment windows for individual membership can be closed, so check CLIA for current availability.

What is a TRUE code?

TRUE is a code issued by CCRA to accredited agencies, letting independent sellers be recognised by suppliers and paid directly. It is not an airline ticketing credential, so it does not replace ARC.

Which of these apply if I am outside the US?

Use IATA's accreditation program and your local regulator rather than IATAN or ARC. IATA offers several options, and local financial criteria apply. Check IATA's country checklist.