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March
What is the registration number of the accommodation unit?
A new obligation is being introduced in the Republic of Croatia for all private landlords. Each accommodation unit (holiday home, apartment, room, etc.) must have its own unique registration number before legal advertising on online platforms such as Airbnb, Booking, etc.
The system has not yet been officially launched, but according to announcements, activation is expected from May, which is why it is important for us all to prepare together before then.
According to current announcements, the registration number will be assigned free of charge and will be requested online through the state system, most likely through eCitizen or the new eTourism module of the Ministry of Tourism.
What is the registration number of an accommodation unit?
The registration number is a unique identification number that will be assigned to each individual accommodation unit offered for tourist rental in Croatia, similar to the OIB for persons, but for accommodation.
This number must be highlighted in all advertisements and used in communication with digital booking platforms.
Since when does the obligation apply?
According to EU regulations and Croatian legislative announcements, the registration number will become mandatory from June 2026. This means that all accommodation units must have a valid number before the start of the 2026 tourist season.
Why is this number being introduced?
The registration number was introduced as part of the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2024/1028, which must be incorporated into Croatian legislation by 20 May 2026. The objectives are:
- Increasing market transparency,
- Combating illegal rentals ("black market") and the grey zone,
- Improving control and supervision over accommodation capacities,
- Facilitating cooperation between the state and accommodation rental platforms.
If the accommodation does not have a valid registration number, it cannot be advertised or rented through the main platforms.
Who must have a registration number?
The registration number will be mandatory for:
- private landlords who rent out apartments, rooms, holiday homes, studio apartments and other tourist units,
- each property separately (if you have multiple units, each must have its own number),
- advertising on Airbnb, Booking, Expedia and similar portals.
Hotels and campsites will not be required to display registration numbers in the same way as private landlords, but they must still comply with existing legal regulations.
How will the registration number be used?
The registration number will:
- be visible to guests in advertisements, which gives them additional security,
- be a prerequisite for publishing advertisements on most platforms,
- be connected to official state systems, most likely eVisitor and other digital channels,
- enable easier verification of the validity and legality of the accommodation by guests and competent authorities.
How does this change affect landlords?
Obligations that come with a registration number:
- You cannot legally rent or advertise a property without this number,
- The number must be displayed in ads and used when registering guests,
- Rental platforms will be obliged to remove ads without a valid number.
Consequences of not having a number:
- Your ad will not be displayed on major platforms,
- Sanctions and inspections are possible,
- The absence of a number is considered a violation of legal rules,
- Some local tourist boards will be able to initiate enforcement actions to collect debts related to the accommodation.
Tips for private landlords
- Follow the official announcements of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports as they will publish the final forms and details of the procedures,
- Prepare the documentation: exact address information of the facility, categorization, OIB of the owner and basic information about the facility,
- Plan the registration before the 2026 season to avoid problems with ads and loss of reservations,
We emphasize once again that the system has not yet been officially launched, but according to announcements, activation is expected from May.
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