Visitor Accommodation Register Wales 2026
From October 2026, people and businesses taking bookings for short-term overnight visitor accommodation in Wales must register with the Welsh Revenue Authority.
This guide explains who needs to register, the deadline, what information owners will need, what becomes public and what happens if accommodation is not registered.
Updated August 2026: visitor accommodation registration opens in October 2026. Providers who fall within the rules must register by 31 March 2027. The requirement applies throughout Wales regardless of whether the local council introduces a Visitor Levy.
What Is the Wales Visitor Accommodation Register?
The visitor accommodation register is a new national register for people and organisations providing short-term visitor accommodation in Wales.
It is being operated by the Welsh Revenue Authority and was created under the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) legislation introduced in Wales.
The register is intended to provide a clearer picture of the visitor accommodation sector in Wales, help visitors identify registered accommodation and support administration of the Visitor Levy in council areas where a levy is introduced.
Importantly, registration is a Wales-wide requirement. It is not dependent on whether your local council chooses to introduce a Visitor Levy.
Who Needs to Register Visitor Accommodation in Wales?
The visitor accommodation provider is responsible for registration. In broad terms, registration is required where you are responsible for visitor accommodation in Wales and take bookings for stays of 31 nights or less.
Holiday Cottages & Houses
Self-catering cottages, houses, apartments and similar holiday accommodation can fall within the registration requirement.
Static Caravans
Privately rented static caravans and mobile homes used for visitor stays are included.
Glamping Accommodation
Pods, shepherd's huts, yurts and other glamping accommodation offered to paying visitors are included.
Hotels, B&Bs & Guesthouses
Registration extends beyond self-catering accommodation to hotels, bed and breakfasts and guesthouses.
Campsites & Touring Pitches
Tent pitches, touring caravan pitches, motorhome pitches and campervan accommodation can also fall within the rules.
Main Homes & Spare Rooms
Even occasional letting of a main home or spare room can require registration where qualifying visitor bookings are taken.
What Does the 31-Night Rule Mean?
The registration requirement focuses on accommodation where bookings are taken for visitor stays of 31 nights or less.
One-Night or Weekend Bookings
A provider does not need to operate throughout the year to fall within the rules. Taking even occasional qualifying visitor bookings can trigger the registration requirement.
Seasonal Accommodation
Accommodation that only operates during part of the year can still need to register if short-term overnight bookings are taken.
Occasional Home Letting
Letting your main home for a local event or during a particular period of the year does not automatically remove the requirement.
Longer-Stay Accommodation
If accommodation is not offered for visitor bookings of 31 nights or less, the registration rules may apply differently. Owners should check the current WRA guidance for their circumstances.
Who Does Not Normally Need to Register?
Current Welsh Revenue Authority guidance identifies situations where registration is not required.
- You do not take bookings for the accommodation.
- Friends or family stay without making a visitor booking.
- You are no longer taking bookings for overnight visitor stays.
- You are an agent or management company but are not the person or organisation responsible for the accommodation.
Although the accommodation provider remains responsible, an agent or property management company can complete the registration process on the provider's behalf.
What Information Will You Need to Register?
Preparing the information in advance should make the registration process easier once the service opens.
- Your name
- Your contact address
- Telephone number
- Email address
- Date of birth
- Company number if applicable
- Charity number if applicable
- Trading name if applicable
- Type of accommodation you provide
- Name of the accommodation or premises
- Address of each premises
- When accommodation is usually open for bookings
- Number of bookable units
- Maximum number of guests who can stay
How to Register Visitor Accommodation in Wales
The registration service is being designed as an online process operated by the Welsh Revenue Authority.
Prepare Your Details
Gather your personal or business details and information about each accommodation premises.
GOV.UK One Login
You will need to sign in using GOV.UK One Login. This can be created before registration opens.
Complete Registration
Submit information about yourself, your organisation and the visitor accommodation you operate.
Receive Your Number
Once registered you will receive a unique registration number.
What If You Own More Than One Holiday Let?
Owners and operators with multiple properties do not necessarily need a completely separate provider registration for every property.
Same Owner or Organisation
Where the same people or organisation are responsible for multiple premises, those premises should be included within the same registration.
Different Responsible Parties
Where different people or organisations are responsible for different premises, separate registrations are required.
This is particularly relevant to holiday cottage businesses, caravan operators, glamping sites and property owners operating accommodation across several locations.
What If a Management Company Takes My Bookings?
Using a booking agent, letting agent or holiday-let management company does not automatically transfer the legal responsibility for registration away from the accommodation provider.
The Provider Is Responsible
The person or organisation responsible for the visitor accommodation remains responsible for ensuring registration requirements are met.
An Agent Can Register for You
Agents and management companies can complete registration on behalf of the accommodation provider where appropriate.
What Information Will Be Public?
Part of the new system will be a searchable public register. However, not every piece of information supplied during registration will be published.
Information That Can Be Published
- Registration number
- Trading name where applicable
- Company or charity number where applicable
- Accommodation premises name
- Accommodation premises address
- Type of accommodation
- Usual booking availability
- Maximum guest capacity
- Number of bookable units
Information Not Published
- Your date of birth
- Your telephone number
- Your email address
- An individual's name unless it forms part of a trading name
- An individual's provider address except where the accommodation is also their sole or main residence
The public register is expected to allow accommodation to be searched using a postcode or registration number.
Keeping Your Registration Details Up to Date
Registration is not simply a one-off exercise. Providers have an ongoing responsibility to keep their information accurate.
What Happens If You Do Not Register?
Providers who are required to register should complete registration by 31 March 2027.
Penalties Can Apply Per Premises
Current Welsh Revenue Authority guidance states that the first penalty for failing to register can be £100 per premises.
If a provider still does not register after being contacted by the WRA, penalties can increase to a total of £1,400 per premises.
Providers receiving a penalty have rights to request a review or appeal. Owners should check current WRA guidance because detailed penalty guidance may be updated.
Registration, Visitor Levy & Licensing Are Different
Three major Welsh tourism changes are often discussed together, but they are not the same requirement.
Visitor Accommodation Register
Starts in October 2026 and applies throughout Wales to qualifying visitor accommodation providers whether or not the local council introduces a Visitor Levy.
Visitor Levy
The Visitor Levy only applies in council areas that choose to introduce it. The earliest a council can introduce a levy is 1 April 2027.
Accommodation Licensing
Wales is also developing a separate visitor accommodation licensing system. Licensing is not currently required and is separate from registration.
Visitor Accommodation Registration Timeline
Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) legislation received Royal Assent in Wales.
The Welsh Revenue Authority developed and tested the national registration service with accommodation providers.
Visitor accommodation registration opens.
Deadline for providers who are required to register.
This is the earliest date a Welsh local authority can begin operating a Visitor Levy where it has completed the required process.
What Holiday Let Owners Can Do Now
Registration is not open until October 2026, but owners can prepare before the service goes live.
- Confirm who is legally responsible for each accommodation premises.
- Make a list of every visitor accommodation premises you operate.
- Record the full name and address of each premises.
- Identify the accommodation type for each property.
- Confirm the number of bookable units.
- Confirm the maximum guest capacity.
- Record when each property is normally open for bookings.
- Have company, charity or trading-name details ready where relevant.
- Make sure your contact information is current.
- Set up a GOV.UK One Login if you do not already have one.
Official Information Used for This Guide
Registration guidance is still developing as the October 2026 launch approaches. Holiday Lets Wales reviews official Welsh information when updating this page.
Key official sources include:
- Welsh Revenue Authority – Registering Visitor Accommodation: Overview
- Welsh Government – Get Ready to Register Your Visitor Accommodation in Wales
- Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025
- Welsh Revenue Authority visitor accommodation registration service updates
- Welsh Government visitor accommodation licensing information
Visitor Accommodation Register Wales – FAQs
When does visitor accommodation registration open in Wales?
Registration opens in October 2026 through the Welsh Revenue Authority.
What is the deadline for registering?
Providers who are required to register must do so by 31 March 2027.
Does it cost money to register?
No. Visitor accommodation registration is free.
Do Airbnb hosts need to register in Wales?
The booking platform used does not determine whether registration is required. If you are responsible for accommodation in Wales and take qualifying short-term overnight bookings, the registration rules can apply.
Does a static caravan owner need to register?
Yes, a privately operated static caravan can fall within the registration requirement where the provider takes qualifying visitor bookings of 31 nights or less.
Do glamping pods need to register?
Glamping accommodation such as pods, yurts and shepherd's huts is included within the types of visitor accommodation covered by the registration scheme.
What if I only rent my property occasionally?
Occasional or seasonal operation does not automatically exempt accommodation. Even a main home occasionally offered for qualifying visitor stays can require registration.
Is the Visitor Accommodation Register the same as the Visitor Levy?
No. Registration applies throughout Wales to qualifying providers. The Visitor Levy only applies in local authority areas where the council chooses to introduce it.
Is registration the same as a holiday-let licence?
No. Wales is separately developing visitor accommodation licensing. Registration and licensing are different systems, and licensing is not currently required.
What happens if my property details change after registration?
Registration details generally need to be updated within 30 days when relevant information changes.
More Guidance for Holiday Let Owners in Wales
Preparing for Registration in October 2026
Holiday let owners do not need to wait until registration opens to prepare. Make sure you know who is responsible for each property, gather the accommodation details you will need and keep an eye on Welsh Revenue Authority updates as the launch approaches.