If you manage or plan to open a tourist accommodation in Spain, understanding the country’s legal and operational terminology is essential.
Spain’s tourism regulations have evolved rapidly in recent years, especially after the implementation of Royal Decree 933/2021 and the launch of the SES.HOSPEDAJES platform in late 2024.
This updated 2025 guide explains the most important terms every accommodation manager should know — from registration and data protection to police communication — and how Chekin helps you simplify compliance and guest management.
Legal framework for tourist accommodation in Spain
Spain’s short-term rental and hotel sector is regulated at both national and regional levels. The most important nationwide rule for accommodation management is the Royal Decree 933/2021, which came fully into force on 2 December 2024.
This decree defines the new system of guest registration and reporting obligations for every type of lodging: hotels, apartments, rural houses, hostels, campsites, and vacation rentals.
Key obligations for all tourist accommodation in Spain
- Guest identification – every establishment must identify each guest over 14 years old with valid ID (DNI, NIE or passport).
- Guest registration (parte de entrada) – data must be collected, signed (digitally or physically), and transmitted to authorities through an approved system.
- Centralized platform: the Ministry of Interior’s SES.HOSPEDAJES replaces previous tools like WebPol or Hospederías Guardia Civil.
- Data retention: registration data must be securely stored for 3 years after the end of the guest’s stay.
- Data protection (GDPR): hosts must guarantee privacy, proportionality and security when processing guest information.
⚠️ Note: Catalonia and the Basque Country maintain their own police registration platforms (Mossos d’Esquadra and Ertzaintza).
Glossary of key terms for managing a tourist accommodation in Spain
Below is an updated 2025 glossary with the most relevant terms for property managers, hoteliers and hosts:
| Term | Definition & 2025 context |
|---|---|
| Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria (AEAT) | The Spanish Tax Agency. Handles taxation for accommodation businesses. |
| Cuerpo Nacional de Policía (CNP) | National Police, responsible mainly for urban areas. Manages security and hotel inspections. |
| Declaración responsable de la actividad | Mandatory self-declaration to register your accommodation business with the regional tourism authority. |
| DNI / NIE / Passport | Official identification documents required for guest registration. |
| Ertzaintza | Police force of the Basque Country; manages the regional lodging registry. |
| Foruzaingoa / Policía Foral | Regional police in Navarre. Some guest reporting obligations apply locally. |
| Fuerzas y Cuerpos de Seguridad del Estado | General term for all Spanish law-enforcement agencies. |
| Guardia Civil | Police operating mainly in rural areas and small towns; supervises registration through SES.HOSPEDAJES. |
| Hoja de registro / Libro-registro | Guest registration logbook; must be stored for 3 years. Can be digital. |
| Junta de Andalucía / Generalitat / Xunta, etc. | Regional governments; each has its own tourism registry and licensing requirements. |
| La Ley de Protección de la Seguridad Ciudadana | Legal framework supporting identification obligations for all guests staying in tourist accommodation in Spain. |
| Mossos d’Esquadra | Catalan regional police; manages its own guest registration platform. |
| Nota Simple | Extract from the Spanish Land Registry confirming property ownership — often required for licensing. |
| Parte de viajeros | Official guest entry form transmitted to police via SES.HOSPEDAJES (or regional system). |
| Policía Municipal / Local | Local police; may inspect or verify compliance of tourist accommodations. |
| SES.HOSPEDAJES | National platform launched in 2024 for guest data reporting. Centralized for all Spain except Catalonia and Basque Country. |
| WebPol / Hospederías | Former systems replaced by SES.HOSPEDAJES in 2024. |
| Royal Decree 933/2021 | Current Spanish law regulating documentation, reporting, and retention obligations for accommodation providers. |
How to stay compliant as a property manager in 2025
Running a tourist accommodation in Spain now requires digital compliance tools. Manual registration or late submissions may result in sanctions.
Compliance checklist
- Register your accommodation with the regional tourism authority and obtain your registration number (VUT, hotel code, etc.).
- Sign up on SES.HOSPEDAJES (or regional equivalent) and configure your establishment profile.
- Collect guest data digitally through a compliant system that verifies ID and captures the guest signature.
- Transmit data automatically to the authorities within 24 hours of arrival.
- Store registration records securely for 3 years.
- Apply GDPR best practices — inform guests, minimize data, protect access.
How Chekin simplifies tourist accommodation management
Managing legal compliance manually can be complex. Chekin offers an all-in-one solution for tourist accommodation in Spain:
- ✅ Automated guest registration integrated with SES.HOSPEDAJES and regional police systems.
- 🔒 Secure ID verification and digital signature for guests.
- 🧾 Automatic generation and storage of registration forms and logs.
- 💶 Integration of tourist taxes (Catalonia, Balearic Islands, Galicia 2025).
- 📊 Central dashboard for multi-property operators to monitor compliance.
With Chekin, you can focus on hospitality — not paperwork.
Conclusion
Operating a tourist accommodation in Spain in 2025 involves more digital responsibilities than ever.
Knowing the key terms — from parte de viajeros to SES.HOSPEDAJES — ensures full compliance and guest security.
Using automation tools like Chekin means every registration, ID verification and police report is handled seamlessly, reducing errors and saving hours of manual work.
👉 Start your free 14-day trial today and experience how easy it is to stay compliant while improving your guests’ experience.
Free trial for 14 days. No credit card required!
