Guest Registration and Tourist Tax for Holiday Rentals in Europe

Almost every European country asks holiday-rental hosts to do two things for each stay: register the guests with the authorities and collect a local tourist tax. On Airbnb or Booking.com some of this is partly handled for you. When guests book directly, it's all yours. This guide gives an overview for Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Spain and Germany, and a simple routine that keeps it painless.

Rules change and differ by region and municipality. Treat this as a starting point, not legal advice. Always check the official sources linked below or ask your local tourist board or tax office.

Why guest registration exists

Countries use guest registration for security (police checks), statistics and tourism planning, and to make sure the tourist tax is paid. Hosts typically have to report each guest's name, date of birth, nationality and ID document, plus the arrival and departure dates, within a short deadline after check-in.

In 2026 an EU regulation on short-term rentals (Regulation (EU) 2024/1028) also started to apply. It is mainly about registering the property and showing its registration number on every listing, including your own booking page. Guest reporting stays a national matter.

Country overview

Slovenia

• Property: registered in the AJPES register of accommodation establishments (RNO).
• Guests: recorded in the guest book and reported through the eTurizem system run by AJPES (web form, file import or web service).
• Tourist tax: set by each municipality, per person per night, with reductions or exemptions for children. It is usually paid to the municipality monthly.
• Official source: AJPES and your municipality's website.

Croatia

• Property: categorisation decision (rješenje) for private accommodation.
• Guests: registered in the eVisitor system, generally within 24 hours of arrival.
• Tourist tax (boravišna pristojba): set locally; private hosts often pay a flat annual amount per bed rather than per night. Children usually pay a reduced rate or nothing.
• Official source: eVisitor and your local tourist board (turistička zajednica).

Italy

• Property: the national identification code (CIN) must be shown on listings and at the property.
• Guests: reported to the police through Alloggiati Web, generally within 24 hours of arrival.
• Tourist tax (imposta di soggiorno): set by each comune, per person per night, often with a maximum number of nights and exemptions for children.
• Official source: Alloggiati Web and your comune.

Spain

• Property: registered with the regional tourism authority, and for short-term rentals also with the national register.
• Guests: reported through SES.Hospedajes, with detailed guest data (including address and contract details). Records must be kept for several years.
• Tourist tax: only in some regions (for example Catalonia and the Balearic Islands), per person per night.
• Official source: SES.Hospedajes and your regional government.

Germany

• Guests: a registration form (Meldeschein) is filled in for each stay; a digital form is allowed. Details vary by federal state, and the forms must be kept for a limited time and then destroyed.
• Tourist tax: many towns charge a Kurtaxe, Gästebeitrag or Bettensteuer, set locally.
• Official source: your municipality (Gemeinde or Stadt).

Tourist tax: tell guests up front

Guests dislike surprise charges more than the charge itself. Show the tourist tax before they book, as its own line:

1. Per adult per night, with the age under which children are exempt.
2. Included or paid on arrival. Either is fine, but say which.
3. The amount for their stay, calculated from their dates and number of guests.

On OpenSty you set the rate, the child exemption age and whether it's included in Policies → Tourist tax. The booking form then shows the exact amount, and the confirmation email and booking page repeat it.

A painless registration routine

1. Collect details online before arrival. After you confirm a booking, OpenSty sends your guest a link to an online check-in form. They enter each guest's name, date of birth, nationality and ID document, and the main guest's home address. You don't have to photograph passports at the door.
2. Report within the deadline. In the Guest register tab you see each month's arrivals, who has registered and who hasn't (copy their check-in link with one click), and export a CSV with every field to copy into eTurizem, eVisitor, Alloggiati Web or SES.Hospedajes.
3. Pay the tourist tax. The same tab shows the tourist tax, nights and taxable guest nights per month.
4. Delete data when you no longer need it. Retention periods differ (Spain requires several years; Germany requires destruction after a set period). OpenSty never deletes registration data on its own, so you stay in control. Delete a stay's data from the Guest register when your retention period ends.

Keep guests' trust

• Explain why you ask. Guests are more willing to share ID details when they know it's a legal requirement. The check-in form says so.
• Never collect IDs by email or chat. Use a secure form instead. It protects your guests and you.
• Show your registration number on your booking page. It tells guests you're a real, registered host.