Local Accommodation Registry (AL) in Portugal

When adapting a property as tourist accommodation, it is not enough for it to be comfortable and habitable for guests who want to rent and spend a short stay.
In order to rent a property as tourist accommodation, you must first register for local accommodation . This procedure is completely free and must be done before renting a property as tourist accommodation in order to comply with the law in Portugal.

How can I apply for local accommodation registration – AL in Portugal?

Ensure that the building is in an AL-enabled area

Portuguese municipalities can define containment zones when enabling tourist rentals with the aim of keeping housing and rentals affordable for residents. Containment zones are those in which more than 25% of available homes are dedicated to local accommodation.
In containment zones, the limit is established that a single owner can operate a maximum of 7 homes with their respective licenses , which are non-transferable.
There are also temporary suspension zones, which are those in which the available homes for tourist accommodation are between 10 and 20% .

Decision-making power of the condominium board

In the event that you want to open an AL in a horizontal property, you must receive the approval of the other condominiums . If more than half of these oppose, local accommodation cannot be established.

Opening of independent activity in tax authority

After having obtained the NIF number, you must appear in person or do so online before the tax authority or a tax office to declare the opening of activity as a contractor . Although the process can be done online, we recommend that it be done in person, as doubts may arise that can be resolved by a tax advisor on the fly.

You must choose the most appropriate economic activity code that best suits the accommodation:

• 55201 (Furnished accommodation for tourists) : Code aimed at furnished tourist accommodation for tourists that have reception and cleaning services.
• 55204 (Other short-term accommodation) : Code aimed at furnished tourist accommodation for tourists that do not have reception and cleaning services with a maximum stay period of 30 days.

Register for local accommodation

As we have mentioned above, this record is completely mandatory to begin exploiting local accommodation. Before starting the registration process, a communication with a deadline must be sent to the mayor of the municipality in which the local accommodation will be established.
The communication sent must arrange the following data:

• Title and name of the property.
• Modality and number of rooms available

To make the request for local accommodation registration, it can be done online through the Balcão do entrepreneur (BDE) , accessible on the Portuguese electronic portal through the Portuguese Tourism Portal .
The registration process provides each local accommodation application for a local accommodation license . The local accommodation can begin its exploitation with said local accommodation license, being able to include it in OTAS such as Booking or Airbnb.

Current mandatory civil liability insurance

Every owner in charge of the operation of a tourist accommodation must have mandatory civil liability insurance in force as far as Portuguese law is concerned . The person responsible for the property is obliged to take out a civil liability insurance policy.

Documentation required to register for local accommodation

• Identification document of the owner of the property, access code to the commercial registration certificate.
• Signed civil liability insurance.
• Property ownership registry.
• Title that legitimizes the owner for the exploitation of the property.
• Declaration and activity presented to the tax authority.
• Authorization from the condominium board in the case of a hostel.

Requirements to obtain local accommodation registration

Legal requirements

• Conditions for conservation and maintenance of adequate property facilities.
• Connection to the public water supply network or presence of a duly controlled private network.
• Connection to the sewage network or having septic tanks adapted to the dimensions of the establishment.
• Hot and cold running water network.
• Ensure ventilation through a window or balcony with access to the outside.
• Furnished and equipped property for any stay.
• Equipment to block outside light.
• Ensure guest privacy through doors equipped with security locks, as well as sanitary facilities.
• Contain notes on the operation and rules of the establishment. Establish a book available in Portuguese, English and two other languages.

Security requirements

• Accessible first aid kits.
• Fire extinguishers and thermal blankets accessible.
• Indication of the emergency number in an accessible area.
• In the event that you want to use it, existence of a complaints book.
• Current civil liability insurance.

Duties as a local accommodation owner

Communication of arrivals and departures of guests to authorities
The Portuguese Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) requests that managers of apartments and hotels registered in local accommodation (AL) report the data of all foreigners staying, both of the reservation holder and the companions. The required data includes:

• Name.
• Identification number.
• Nationality.
• City of origin before arriving at the accommodation.
• Destination city after the stay.
• Application of municipal taxes.

Some municipalities in Portugal have implemented the Tourist Tax , which applies to stays in local accommodation or tourist developments in cities where this tax is in force. In addition to the cost of the room, an additional amount is charged per night and per person. For example, the tourist tax in Porto is mandatory to charge a fee of 2 euros per person per night, with the exception of children under 13 years of age, for a maximum of 7 nights.