Croatia is preparing a new system for regulating private tourist accommodation, with stricter rules expected to take effect from 2027. Under the announced changes, all private renters will have to obtain an official registration number if they want to advertise apartments, rooms, holiday homes or other private accommodation on online platforms such as Booking.com and Airbnb. Without a valid registration number, accommodation units will no longer be allowed to appear on those platforms.
The planned rules are based on an EU regulation adopted in 2024, aimed at increasing transparency in short-term rental markets. The regulation concerns the collection and exchange of data on short-term accommodation rentals, and EU member states are required to transfer it into national legislation. According to the current draft, Croatia plans to apply the new rules from January 1, 2027, with a transitional period for property owners to register their accommodation.
The new system means that each privately rented apartment or holiday home will need its own official number, obtained through an online system. Booking platforms will be required to remove listings that do not meet the conditions or do not have a valid registration number. Hotels and campsites will not be covered by these new rules.
For tourists, the main change will be the possibility to check more easily whether the accommodation they are booking is officially registered. The registration number is expected to become one of the key indicators that a property is legal and authorized for short-term rental. Experts cited in the reports say this could reduce false listings, unclear booking conditions and fraud, while making it easier to identify the real owner of an apartment.
Tourists who accidentally book unregistered accommodation will not face penalties or legal consequences. Sanctions will apply to renters who do not comply with the new rules. The aim is to reduce illegal renting, the grey economy and unfair competition in Croatia’s tourism sector, where private apartments and holiday homes are among the most common types of accommodation.
The announced changes have already caused concern among some tourists and property owners, especially because Croatia is a major destination for foreign visitors who often choose private accommodation instead of hotels. However, consumer protection experts say travelers booking in 2026 have no reason to worry, since the new system is expected to begin in 2027. Booking welcomed the European regulation, saying it brings clearer and more unified rules, while Airbnb also announced cooperation with state institutions and support for proportional regulation of short-term rentals.
