Croatia delays new rental registration rules for hosts and nomads until 2027

Croatia keeps 2026 rental rules unchanged

Croatia's Ministry of Tourism and Sport confirmed that no new holiday-rental registration-number requirement takes effect in June, knocking down rumors that hosts and guests would face extra paperwork during the 2026 tourist season.

The registration-number system tied to the upcoming Hospitality Activity Act won't begin before 2027, the ministry said. There is currently no application portal, no integration in the eVisitor platform and no legal obligation for hosts to obtain or display a new number to advertise on Airbnb, Booking.com or similar sites. The future framework is designed to align with EU Regulation 2024/1028 on short-term rental data sharing, but Croatia has chosen not to switch on its national mechanism this year.

Who the clarification covers

Holidaymakers booking apartments, rooms and villas through online platforms face no new documentation steps beyond standard ID reporting at check-in. Bookings made for summer and fall remain valid under existing rules.

Digital nomads staying one to several months in private accommodation are treated as regular guests for rental purposes. They don't interact with eVisitor directly and don't need a property registration number to book a stay. Immigration status under the digital nomad temporary stay permit is handled separately by the Ministry of the Interior and is unaffected by the rental rumors.

Hosts and agencies still operate under the current regime: a valid categorisation permit from the county authority, guest registration in eVisitor and tax compliance based on whether they operate as individuals or legal entities.

What hosts and guests should do now

Guests need only present valid ID at check-in so the host can complete eVisitor registration and remit the tourist tax. No fees or filings fall on the traveler.

Hosts preparing for the 2027 transition should track three points flagged by the ministry:

• The future registration number will be issued free of charge by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport.
• Numbers must be displayed on all online listings once the system launches.
• Platforms will be required to verify registration numbers and remove non-compliant listings under the draft Hospitality Activity Act.

The exact 2027 start date will be announced after the act passes and the digital register is ready. For more nomad news and country rules, read our full Croatia guide for the complete picture.