How to register travelers at Guardia Civil hostels

One of the most important legal requirements for any tourist accommodation in Spain is to register guests. With the implementation of Royal Decree 933/2021 , guest registration must be carried out through the SES HOSPEDAJES platform throughout the country, except in the Basque Country and Catalonia . From 2025, the Guardia Civil's guesthouse service will be deactivated, displaying the following message :

Registering travelers at Guardia Civil hostels has been a mandatory requirement in tourist accommodations since 1959 ; however, in 2013 the new Law 4/2013, of June 4, on measures to make the housing rental market more flexible and to promote it , by which all tourist accommodation, whether hotel, hostel, rural house or even private apartment, has the obligation to register its guests to " guarantee citizen security ".

With the implementation of Royal Decree 933/2021, the number of data fields that must be registered increased significantly, rising to a total of 21 mandatory fields according to Annex I of the decree, including personal data, identification number, nationality, and other details. This registration must be completed within 24 hours of the guest's arrival or departure, ensuring greater security and control.

According to this law, non-compliance could result in penalties in the form of fines of up to €30,000 .
In the tourist accommodation sector, legislation in Spain is constantly changing, so owners of tourist accommodation must stay up-to-date on all modifications.
The latest change to the legislation was Royal Decree 933/2021 , from the Ministry of the Interior, which establishes the obligation for individuals and legal entities engaged in accommodation activities to register guests. This decree should have already begun to be implemented through the Ministry of the Interior's SES.HOSPEDAJES .

The transition to operation should have taken place in 2022 , but technical difficulties caused it to be postponed until January 2023, and after a further twist, the Ministry of the Interior postponed the date again until October 2024.

Registration of travelers at Guardia Civil hostels

Guest registration involves completing both a registration form and a Guest Information Form for every guest, regardless of age . This information must be sent to the authorities within 24 hours of check-in.
This data must be kept in the establishment's guest registration book for at least three years so that, in case of emergency, the authorities can consult it.

Currently, the primary and mandatory form of communication is through the SES.HOSPEDAJESdigital platform. Other methods, such as in-person communication, postal mail, or fax, have become obsolete for most tourist accommodations and are only maintained in specific regions for exceptional reasons.

It will be the responsibility of the owner of the tourist accommodation to ensure the veracity of the data provided by the guests, a process that can be tedious and that can be automated thanks to the Check In Scan tool .

What type of data is needed to complete the registration of travelers at Guardia Civil hostels?

To register travelers, you need traveler data, as well as details of their stay:

A digital certificate or Cl@ve authentication system is required to access SES.HOSPEDAJES and submit guest registration forms. The platform also allows integration with automated check-in systems, which streamlines the process and prevents errors in form completion.

Traveler data:

How should data be communicated in Guardia Civil hostels?

The communication of traveler data at Civil Guard-run accommodations must be carried out within 24 hours of the guest's check-in or check-out at the specific accommodation.
This communication can be done in several ways:

• Online : This is the most convenient method; it can be done automatically through Check In Scan or via the Guardia Civil's hostel website.
• In person : By handing in the traveler's book registration at Civil Guard hostels.
• Digital media : Providing the record through digital storage devices.
• Postal mail : Providing 2 copies of each registration sheet. This is only possible in locations without police stations.
• Fax : Sending a fax with the registration sheet for each guest to the Civil Guard barracks.

Consequences of NOT registering guests in rural accommodation.

Failure to register guests or doing so incorrectly can result in financial penalties. Minor infractions fines ranging from €100 to €600 , serious infractions range from €600 to €30,000 .
In addition to these fines, failure to report guest information may lead to an investigation by the tax authorities.

Failure to register guests or doing so incorrectly can result in fines ranging from €100 to €30,000, in addition to possible further administrative penalties. Since SES.HOSPEDAJEStook over, the authorities have increased oversight, intensifying inspections and enforcement to ensure compliance with current regulations.