IATA/IATAN Card and CLIA EMBARC ID
The two credentials cruise suppliers recognise most, what they cost and what they prove.
Qualify for Agent RatesSuppliers need a quick way to know you really work in travel. Two credentials do most of that work for cruise sellers in North America: the IATA/IATAN ID card and CLIA’s EMBARC ID.
The IATA/IATAN ID Card
| Question | Answer, per IATAN |
|---|---|
| What is it? | A professional ID for eligible travel professionals employed by IATAN-accredited agencies |
| How much is an IATA card? | Annual fee: USD 40 |
| What does it unlock? | Recognition by suppliers; IATAN lists cruises among the categories offering cardholders exclusive offers and concessionary rates, alongside hotels, flights, car rental and tours |
| Anything else? | IATAN also lists savings on some IATA training and a travel accident protection benefit for U.S. and Canadian cardholders |
Eligibility rules, the application and current benefits are on the IATAN ID card page. Benefits are offered by individual suppliers and can change.
CLIA Membership and the EMBARC ID
CLIA — Cruise Lines International Association — offers Individual Agent Membership to agents, which comes with the EMBARC ID. CLIA describes the membership as giving industry recognition, access to its training and certification programs, and personal travel recognition with member cruise lines. Dues, eligibility and benefits are published on CLIA’s trade site, which sometimes blocks automated tools but opens normally in a browser.
For cruise sellers the CLIA route has a second value: it connects to CLIA’s certification ladder. Cruise Agent University and Master Cruise Counselor explain those programs.
Which Credential Do You Need?
| Situation | Usually most useful |
|---|---|
| You sell many kinds of travel | IATA/IATAN ID card, recognised across suppliers |
| You specialise in cruises | CLIA membership, plus the IATAN card if eligible |
| You work through a host agency | Ask the host which credentials it supports for its agents |
| A line asks for something specific | Follow the line’s own list; some also look at your bookings |
Keeping Your Credentials Working
- Renew before expiry; an expired card can make a booked agent rate ineligible.
- Keep a digital copy ready to upload when a supplier asks.
- Update suppliers when you change agencies.
- Never lend a card or book an industry rate for someone who is not eligible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is an IATA card?
IATAN lists the annual fee for the IATA/IATAN ID card as USD 40 on its ID card page (checked October 2026). Eligibility depends on working for an IATAN-accredited agency.
Can a home-based agent get an IATA card?
Eligibility follows IATAN’s rules for employees of accredited agencies, which may or may not fit a particular home-based arrangement. Check IATAN’s eligibility requirements and ask your host agency.
Is the CLIA card the same as an IATA card?
No. CLIA’s Individual Agent Membership and EMBARC ID come from the cruise lines’ association and are focused on cruise; the IATA/IATAN card comes from the airline-industry body and is recognised across travel suppliers.
Get the Credentials Suppliers Recognise
Be a Travel Agent helps new sellers set up with a host agency and the training that leads to industry credentials.
Become a Travel Agent