Tourists booking apartments and holiday homes in Croatia through platforms such as Booking.com and Airbnb will be able to verify their accommodation using a registration number displayed in the listing, starting May 1, 2027.
The measure is part of new Croatian regulations governing short-term rentals. Parliamentary debate on the proposed legislation concluded on November 12, although the official parliamentary record does not yet include a voting result.
The registration number will be issued electronically and free of charge for every room, apartment, studio or holiday home advertised through booking platforms. Each individual rental unit must have its own number. For example, a host renting out three apartments will need three separate registration numbers.
Booking platforms will be required to clearly display the numbers in their listings. Hotels and campsites are exempt from this requirement.
For travelers, the registration number will provide an additional way to check accommodation before making a reservation. Under European regulations, the numbers will also be accessible through a public registry.
The registration number identifies a specific accommodation unit, while the official rental authorization remains a separate document. If authorities discover irregularities, they will be able to suspend the registration number and require the platform to remove the listing.
Fines for illegal rentals
The proposed legislation introduces different penalties depending on the type of violation.
Fines of up to €20,000, mentioned during the parliamentary debate, apply to companies and sole proprietors operating unregistered hospitality businesses.
Individuals renting out accommodation without the required authorization could face fines ranging from €2,600 to €10,000.
Private accommodation providers who fail to display a valid registration number on booking platforms could be fined between €2,000 and €6,600.
Enforcement will involve not only tourism inspectors but also customs officials and municipal enforcement officers.
When will the new rules take effect?
The proposed law is scheduled to enter into force on January 1, 2027. However, provisions concerning registration numbers and data exchange with booking platforms will become applicable on May 1, 2027.
Temporary rental authorizations will remain valid until December 31, 2030, at the latest.
According to Croatia’s Ministry of Tourism, approximately 15,000 rental providers were operating under temporary authorizations at the end of 2024.
The new system is intended to make short-term rentals more transparent, help authorities identify unregistered properties and give tourists an additional tool to verify the legitimacy of their accommodation before booking.
