Border Services Information

Why Do Holiday Lets Ask for Your Border Services Information

When checking into a hotel, you’re probably used to showing your ID at reception. The same rule applies to short-term holiday rentals in Portugal—it’s a legal requirement for all registered hosts to collect and report guest details to SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras), the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service.

This process is called the Accommodation Bulletin (Boletim de Alojamento), and it applies to all non-Portuguese guests, including children.

Why is this necessary?
If you've booked a registered local lodging property (Alojamento Local)—whether via Airbnb, Booking.com or directly through a rental agency—your host must report your details to SEF within three working days of your arrival.

To stay compliant, we collect this information from you shortly after booking and verify your ID again at check-in. This isn’t about being formal or overly cautious—it’s simply the law, and failing to comply can result in severe fines or penalties for the host.

What Information is Required?
We’re required to submit the following information for every guest, including children:

Full name
Date of birth
Country of birth
Nationality
Home address
Country of residence
Type of identity document
Document number
Issuing country
Date of arrival
Date of departure
This is the official list as set by SEF for short-term accommodation providers.

Accepted Identity Documents
A valid ID must be shown, and the following are accepted:

Passport or national ID card
Official photo ID from your government
Laissez-passer or diplomatic travel documents
Seafarer’s identity or maritime registration (if on duty)
Residence permits or diplomatic cards issued in Portugal
Birth certificate for children, or child entry on parent’s passport
Temporary documentation (in case of lost/stolen ID), recognised by authorities
Please note: No accommodation provider is allowed to hold your ID. It can only be inspected, not retained.

What If a Guest Refuses to Provide ID?
Under Portuguese law, a host cannot accommodate anyone who refuses to share their ID. This isn’t just a security requirement—it's also mandatory for tax, statistical and immigration records.

Refusal to cooperate not only prevents check-in, but also puts the host at risk of:

Fines ranging from €100 to €2,000 per guest
Imprisonment (in more serious cases of non-compliance or facilitation of illegal stays)

Important Note for Travellers
If you’re staying in a rental property in Madeira and your host doesn't request your ID, this may be a sign that the property isn’t registered or operating illegally. In such cases, you may not be covered or protected in case of emergency.

Exceptions
You are not required to register if you’re:

Staying with friends or family in their private home
Not paying for your stay and not staying in a commercial property


As Holiday Let Owners we take your privacy seriously and handle your information securely and in line with Portuguese law.
Thank you for helping us follow the legal requirements and ensure a safe, enjoyable stay for all guests.

For more information, you can visit the official SEF website or search for SIBA (Sistema de Informação de Boletins de Alojamento) for a full list of FAQs (Portuguese only).