Food, Drink & Hospitality

Register your visitor accommodation in Wales

Step-by-step guide to registering visitor accommodation with the Welsh Revenue Authority from 1 October 2026, as required by the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025.

Wales
Guide summary

From autumn 2026, you must register your visitor accommodation in Wales with the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA). This is a legal requirement for anyone who charges for overnight stays, even for a single night, and is free to do.

  • Register from autumn 2026 with the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA)
  • Registration is free and done online
  • Applies to all types of visitor accommodation, even a spare room
  • You must register even if you host for only one night a year
  • Failure to register may lead to penalties
  • Register even if your local council does not charge a Visitor Levy
  • Sign up for updates from GOV.WALES now
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Wales

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From 1 October 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 1 October 2026

The WRA is building the online registration service. It is not yet open. You can sign up now at GOV.WALES to receive updates and be notified when registration goes live. Do not wait until the last minute -- prepare your information now so you are ready to register as soon as the service opens.

How to register

  1. 1

    1. Sign up for updates from GOV.WALES

    Visit the GOV.WALES registration page and sign up to be notified when the online service opens. This ensures you do not miss the launch date.

  2. 2

    2. Gather your information

    Prepare the details you will need to register, including: the property address, the type of accommodation you provide, the number of bedspaces or pitches, and your contact details as the provider.

  3. 3

    3. Check whether you provide more than one type of accommodation

    If you run multiple properties or different types of accommodation (for example, a B&B and a separate self-catering cottage), you may need to register each one. Check the WRA guidance when it is published.

  4. 4

    4. Register online with the WRA when the service opens

    Complete the online registration form on the WRA portal. Registration is free. The WRA will provide support throughout the process, including guidance for those with limited internet access.

  5. 5

    5. Keep your registration details up to date

    If your accommodation details change (for example, you add or remove bedspaces, change the property type, or stop hosting), update your registration with the WRA.

  6. 6

    6. Understand the Visitor Levy

    Even though registration is separate from the Visitor Levy, being registered is a prerequisite for meeting your levy obligations if your local council introduces one from April 2027. Review your booking systems to ensure they can accommodate an additional charge if needed.

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.

Official guidance on GOV.WALES