Guide
Register your visitor accommodation in Wales
From autumn 2026, anyone who charges visitors for overnight stays in Wales must register with the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) by law. This applies whether you host for a single night a year or run a large hotel. Registration is free.
This requirement was created by the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 18 September 2025. It is the first time Wales has required all visitor accommodation to be on a national register.
Who must register
You must register if you charge visitors for overnight stays in Wales and take bookings for 31 nights or fewer. This includes:
- Hotels, bed and breakfasts, and guesthouses
- Self-catering lets (cottages, houses, apartments, lodges)
- Your main home or spare room (including listings on Airbnb or similar platforms)
- Pitches for tents, touring caravans, motorhomes, or campervans
- Glamping (shepherd's huts, yurts, pods, treehouses)
- Hostels or bunkhouses
- Static caravans, chalets, or lodges
- Temporary or pop-up accommodation
It does not matter how often you host. Even if you let your property for only a few nights a year, you must register.
Registration opens autumn 2026
How to register
Penalties for not registering
Failure to register when required may lead to penalties. The Act gives the WRA enforcement powers to ensure compliance. Not registering will also mean you cannot meet your Visitor Levy obligations if your local council introduces the levy.
Registration is mandatory regardless of the Visitor Levy
You must register whether or not your local council introduces the Visitor Levy. The register gives Welsh Government a clearer picture of the visitor accommodation sector across Wales and supports tourism planning. Even if you operate in an area where the council has not adopted the levy, you are still legally required to register.
What happens next
Once registered, you will be on the national register of visitor accommodation in Wales. If your local council announces a Visitor Levy (the earliest possible date is 1 April 2027, with 12 months' notice required), you will need to collect and remit the levy on behalf of your guests. The WRA will provide further guidance on levy obligations when councils begin to adopt it.