Since 2015 Portugal has strictly enforced a long-standing law requiring anyone providing paid holiday accommodation to record the entry, exit, and identification details of all non-Portuguese nationals who use that accommodation. This law has been brought into force in Portugal and most other EU countries at some point since the gradual implementation of the 1990 Schengen Agreement which aims to stop human trafficking and other illegal practices. In this case, it is specifically Article 45 of the Schengen Agreement and the more recent Local Lodging law in Portugal that has brought this rule into sharper focus. The governing body that monitors the movement of foreigners is SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras or the Immigration and Borders Service).
When staying at hotels guests are used to showing their IDs at checkin. Short term rentals are also required to report guest’s information to SEF — it is called the accommodation form. When you make a reservation at a registered Local Lodging establishment your host is required to report your presence and details to the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) within 3 working days of your arrival. That’s why we ask for your details at check-in.
Some guests may have difficulties understanding this procedure. Hosts are aware of this and try to run the process as smoothly as possible, so please don’t blame them for acting «so professional» or «like a travel agency», because they incur in heavy penalties if they don’t abide to this law: for each accommodation bulletin that fails to be submitted according to the terms of nrs 1 or 2 of Article 98 or for each foreign national not registered on the list or electronically as laid down in the stipulation in nrs 3 and 4 of the same article a fine of €100 to € 500 is applied. If you stay at a Short Term Rental that does not require this information, it means they are not abiding to the law and most likely won’t be able to support you in unexpected situations.
Frequently Asked Questions (a full list of FAQs on can be found on the SIBA website — only in Portuguese)
Who must submit identity documents?
Each non-Portuguese person, regardless of age (and including children) must present their ID.
What counts as valid ID?
Passport/identity card or equivalent government-issued photo ID
Documents issued under the relevant agreements between the States Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty
Laissez-passer issued by the authorities of the State of nationality or the State that represents them
Flight crew license or certificate
Seafarer’s identity document, when on duty
Maritime registration certificate, while on duty
Residence permit, extension of stay or the identity card given to diplomats and their administrative/domestic staff or officials of international organisations based in Portugal and members of their families
Birth certificate or (where guests are from a country that allows a child to be entered on the passport of their parents) an entry on the parent’s passport for the child, or an entry on the passport of whomever has parental rights over the child
Other documents issued by domestic or foreign authorities when, for acceptable reasons (theft, robbery, etc.) one cannot present a passport or other document
In all other cases (total absence of documents) local police and/or the respective consular authorities should be contacted
Can a lodging establishment hold my identity documents for any reason?
No. Only the police and judicial authorities have the power to withhold or retain these documents.