Caminha Tourist Tax 2026: Rates, Exemptions and How AL Hosts Declare It
If you operate an Alojamento Local property in Caminha municipality, you must normally collect the local Municipal Tourist Tax — Taxa Municipal Turística or TMT — from taxable guests, declare the amount to the municipality and transfer the money using the official online-services process.
The calculation is seasonal. Caminha charges €1.50 per taxable guest per night from 1 May to 30 September and €1 per taxable guest per night from 1 October to 30 April. The tax applies from age 16 and is limited to the first seven consecutive nights of each stay.
This guide explains the 2026 rates, exemptions, registration process, monthly deadline, Multibanco payment flow, collection commission, corrections and penalties. It is written for Airbnb, Booking.com and direct-booking hosts whose registered accommodation is inside Caminha municipality.
Looking for the official portal? Start from the Caminha Municipal Tourist Tax information page, then use the municipality’s authenticated Serviços Online area to register the operator, add the establishment and submit the declaration.
Quick answer: what does a Caminha host have to do?
For each paid stay, identify every guest aged 16 or over, apply any documented exemption, charge only the first seven consecutive nights and use the rate applicable to each night. Show the tourist tax separately on the invoice or issue a separate document, expressly identifying it as not subject to VAT.
You must then declare the previous period through Caminha’s online municipal services. The normal declaration is monthly and is due by the 15th of the following month, including when the amount due is zero. The municipality makes a Multibanco reference available within up to three business days, and payment is due within five business days after that reference is obtained.
Caminha tourist tax at a glance
Rule | Caminha requirement in 2026 |
|---|---|
Status | In force; the municipality states 6 September 2024 as the start date |
High-season rate | €1.50 per taxable guest per night, 1 May–30 September |
Low-season rate | €1 per taxable guest per night, 1 October–30 April |
Who normally pays | Guests aged 16 or over |
Night cap | First 7 consecutive nights per person, per stay |
Maximum per guest | €10.50 in high season or €7 in low season |
Accommodation covered | Paid stays in hotels, tourist developments, rural tourism, AL, hostels, B&Bs, campsites and caravan parks inside the municipality |
Normal declaration | Monthly, by the 15th of the following month |
Zero declaration | Required even when there is no tax to pay |
Payment | Multibanco reference within up to 3 business days; pay within 5 business days after obtaining it |
Quarterly option | Available to VAT-exempt operators or operators who file VAT quarterly, subject to the municipal procedure |
Collection commission | 2.5% of tax collected, subject to VAT at the legal rate |
Official source |
Where does the Caminha tourist tax apply?
The tax applies to paid overnight stays in licensed tourist accommodation situated anywhere in Caminha municipality. For AL operators, the registered address of the accommodation determines the municipality not the guest’s arrival airport, the name used in the listing or the nearest well-known destination.
This means that an AL in Caminha, Vila Praia de Âncora, Moledo or another locality within the municipality follows Caminha’s rules. A property outside the municipal boundary follows the rules of its own municipality, even when it is marketed as being “near Caminha”. Check the municipality connected to the property’s RNAL address before configuring your booking channels or calculator.
The regulation covers AL houses, apartments, rooms and lodging establishments, including hostels, bed and breakfasts and albergues. It also covers hotels, tourist apartments, rural and residential tourism, campsites and caravan parks.
How much is the Caminha tourist tax in 2026?
Caminha uses two seasonal rates:
Night of the stay | Rate per taxable guest |
|---|---|
1 May–30 September | €1.50 |
1 October–30 April | €1.00 |
The basic calculation is:
Number of taxable guests × number of taxable nights × rate for those nights
Only the first seven consecutive nights of a stay are taxable. In a stay crossing 30 April/1 May or 30 September/1 October, calculate each night at the rate applying on that date, while keeping the overall seven-night cap.
Caminha tourist-tax calculation examples
Example 1: two adults staying four nights in August
Both guests are taxable, all four nights fall in the high season and the stay is below the seven-night cap.
2 guests × 4 nights × €1.50 = €12
The tourist tax is €12.
Example 2: a family staying five nights in July
The group consists of two adults, one 16-year-old and one 15-year-old. Tax starts at age 16, so three guests are taxable and the 15-year-old is exempt by age.
3 guests × 5 nights × €1.50 = €22.50
The tourist tax is €22.50.
Example 3: one adult staying ten nights in November
The guest stays for ten nights, but only the first seven are taxable.
1 guest × 7 nights × €1 = €7
The tourist tax is €7, not €10.
Example 4: two adults crossing from April into May
Two adults check in on 28 April and check out on 3 May. Their five nights are 28, 29 and 30 April at €1, followed by 1 and 2 May at €1.50.
For each guest: (3 × €1) + (2 × €1.50) = €6
For two guests: 2 × €6 = €12
Example 5: a documented pilgrim staying three nights in June
A qualifying pilgrim with the required credential is exempt for the first night only. The remaining two high-season nights are taxable.
1 guest × 2 taxable nights × €1.50 = €3
Do not apply the pilgrimage exemption to the entire stay.
Who has to pay the Caminha tourist tax?
The normal rule is simple: a guest aged 16 or over staying in paid tourist accommodation in Caminha is taxable for up to seven consecutive nights, unless a specific exemption applies.
The regulation does not create a general exemption for Portuguese citizens, residents of Portugal, residents of Caminha, business travellers or guests who booked through a particular platform. Nationality, residence and booking channel do not by themselves remove the tax. A Portuguese guest aged 16 or over therefore pays under the same normal rule as a foreign guest.
The host or operating company is responsible for calculating and collecting the tax. This responsibility applies whether the booking came from Airbnb, Booking.com, another OTA, a travel operator or directly from the guest.
Who is exempt from the Caminha tourist tax?
Caminha’s regulation lists specific cases that are not subject to the tax. Hosts should not copy an exemption from Lisbon, Porto or a neighbouring municipality: local rules differ.
Exempt guest or situation | Condition or evidence |
|---|---|
Guest under 16 | Date of birth showing the guest has not yet reached 16 |
Person with disability | Document showing incapacity of at least 60% |
Former combatant | Valid former-combatant card |
Widow or widower of a former combatant | Valid widow/widower card under the applicable scheme |
Eviction or similar displacement | Documentary evidence of the situation |
Temporary placement by public social services | Placement by a state or municipal public body |
Social or civil-protection emergency | Accommodation expressly ordered by a public authority |
Person displaced by conflict | Evidence from the services responsible for the asylum or protection process |
Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela or Fátima | Pilgrim credential, passport or equivalent document; exemption applies to the first night only |
The safest operational rule is to record the reason for every exemption and retain the supporting document securely. Do not mark a guest exempt merely because they state that an exemption applies. Disability, displacement and asylum records may contain sensitive personal data, so access should be limited and the information handled in accordance with data-protection requirements.
How to register for the Caminha tourist-tax platform
The municipality’s current instructions use its Serviços Online system. A new AL operator must register on the electronic platform within 30 days after receiving the RNAL number.
Step 1 — Register as a municipal user
Open Serviços Online | CM Caminha and create a municipal-user account. The municipality says registration can use Chave Móvel Digital. If an account already exists, log in rather than creating a duplicate.
Step 2 — Register the operating entity and establishment
Complete the form for Inscrição da Entidade Exploradora/Estabelecimento para Taxa Turística de Caminha. Enter the individual or company operating the AL and the identifying information for the accommodation. Use the legal data connected to the RNAL record, including the correct NIF and property registration number.
Step 3 — Confirm each property
If you manage several AL properties, confirm that every establishment appears separately. The monthly declaration is generated for each establishment operated by the entity, so an omitted or duplicated unit can create mismatches later.
Step 4 — Keep the municipal contact details
For account-registration problems, contact balcao.online@cm-caminha.pt. For tourist-tax questions, use taxaturistica@cm-caminha.pt or telephone 258 710 300.
How to declare the Caminha tourist tax
The normal declaration is monthly and is based on the overnight stays occurring in that period.
1. Reconcile the month’s stays
For each property, list the arrivals, departure dates, guest ages, applicable exemptions, taxable nights, rate used and amount collected. Reconcile the result against cancelled bookings and date changes before submitting.
2. Submit one declaration for the relevant establishment
Use the municipal form named Formulário de Entrega para Taxa Municipal Turística in the authenticated online-services area. The municipality’s main information page links the operator-registration and delivery forms.
3. Submit by the 15th of the following month
The declaration must reach the municipality by the 15th of the month following the reported stays. For example, August activity is declared by 15 September.
A declaration is required even when there is no amount to pay. A month with no guests, only exempt guests or no taxable nights still requires a zero declaration under Caminha’s published instructions.
4. Receive the Multibanco reference
After submission, the municipality has up to three business days to make the Multibanco reference available through the electronic platform.
5. Pay within five business days
Transfer the amount shown within five business days after obtaining the reference. If Multibanco payment is unavailable, the regulation permits delivery through the Municipal Treasury or another method later made available by the municipality.
The operational sequence is:
Collect from guest → declare to Caminha → receive Multibanco reference → pay the municipality
Can a Caminha host submit quarterly?
Yes, but only in the cases provided by the regulation. An operator who is exempt from VAT or who submits VAT quarterly may opt for quarterly tourist-tax declarations.
The quarterly declaration is due by the 15th of the month following the end of the quarter. The option applies for a full calendar year, and a change of regime must be communicated to the municipality at the beginning of the year through the platform.
Do not assume that being a small AL automatically activates quarterly reporting. Confirm the regime in the municipal account and with your accountant. Until the quarterly option is accepted or clearly configured, follow the monthly deadline.
Portal availability note for hosts
The municipality’s main tourist-tax page, updated on 11 March 2026, directs hosts to the municipal online-services system. The general Serviços Online page, updated on 9 June 2026, says the tourist-tax form is available to authenticated users.
However, when checked on 29 August 2026, the public detail page linked for the delivery form displayed a message saying that the requested information could not be obtained. That does not cancel the declaration obligation. Log in through Serviços Online and check the authenticated forms. If the procedure is still unavailable, take a dated screenshot and contact balcao.online@cm-caminha.pt and taxaturistica@cm-caminha.pt before the deadline.
How should the Caminha tourist tax appear on an invoice?
The regulation requires a fatura-recibo in the name of the person or organisation that made the reservation and an express reference that the tourist tax is not subject to VAT.
The tax may either:
Appear as a separate line on the accommodation invoice; or
Be documented in a separate invoice or receipt.
Do not merge the tax invisibly into the accommodation rate. A clear line such as “Caminha Municipal Tourist Tax — not subject to VAT” makes the amount easier to reconcile and explains the charge to the guest.
The tax is normally due when the stay is paid, in a single payment. Your invoicing software and accounting treatment should be configured with your accountant so that the accommodation service, the municipal tax and any collection commission are not confused.
Does the host receive a collection commission?
Yes. Caminha’s regulation provides a collection commission equal to 2.5% of the tourist tax collected, subject to VAT at the legal rate.
The operator must issue the appropriate invoice for the commission in accordance with the applicable invoicing rules and the values due for the reporting period. The commission is separate from the tourist tax charged to guests: the tax itself is not subject to VAT, while the host’s collection service is treated separately.
Follow the amount and payment reference produced by the municipality. Do not simply deduct 2.5% from the transfer unless the portal or the municipality’s instructions explicitly tell you to do so. Ask your accountant how to issue and record the commission invoice under your VAT regime.
What if the guest does not pay?
The regulation says the operator is not jointly liable for the guest’s tax when it was genuinely impossible to collect the accommodation payment — for example, where a guest leaves without paying or an operator becomes insolvent.
This is a narrow, evidence-based exception. The operator must be able to show proof, such as the relevant insolvency documentation or a complaint made to the competent authorities. It is not a general permission to waive the tax because a guest disputes the charge.
The best prevention is to disclose the tax before arrival and collect it together with the stay or through a clearly documented check-in payment flow.
How to correct a declaration or report closure
If a submitted declaration is wrong, use a replacement declaration. Identify the period being corrected and submit the replacement within the voluntary payment period or, if payment has already been made, within the same financial year as the original declaration.
Keep a short audit note explaining what changed — for example, a corrected departure date, a guest age, a cancelled reservation or exemption evidence received after the original submission.
If the AL activity ceases, communicate the closure through the platform within 10 days. Closing the activity does not erase declarations, payments or corrections that were already due.
Records, inspections and data protection
Caminha municipality may inspect compliance and request information from accommodation operators. The regulation requires relevant supporting documents to be archived for one year, during which the municipality may request or consult them without prior notice.
Keep an organised record for each declaration containing:
Reservation reference and booking channel
Check-in and check-out dates
Number and ages of guests
Taxable nights and seasonal rate
Exemptions and supporting evidence
Amount collected
Invoice or receipt reference
Submitted declaration and any replacement
Multibanco reference and payment proof
Commission invoice, where applicable
The one-year municipal inspection rule should not be treated as a universal instruction to delete all accounting records after one year. Portuguese tax and business-retention duties may require documents to be retained longer. Confirm the broader retention period with your accountant, and protect sensitive exemption data with appropriate access and deletion controls.
What happens if a Caminha host does not comply?
Late transfer can generate statutory late-payment interest. Continued non-payment may result in a debt certificate and tax-enforcement proceedings.
The regulation also establishes administrative fines:
Breach | Individual operator | Company |
|---|---|---|
Failure to register the entity on the electronic platform | €500–€10,000 | €1,000–€30,000 |
Inaccurate or false information used to calculate the tax | €250–€5,000 | €500–€20,000 |
Missing or inaccurate communication of the required data | €250–€5,000 | €500–€20,000 |
Negligence is punishable. Paying a fine also does not remove the duty to correct the declaration or pay an amount that remains due.
Does Airbnb or Booking handle the tax automatically?
Do not assume so. An OTA may display, collect or pass through a local tax in particular markets, but Caminha’s regulation places the collection and declaration process on the person or company operating the accommodation.
For each channel, verify:
Whether the tourist tax is shown separately to the guest
Whether the platform actually collects it or only displays it
Whether the amount reaches you or is remitted elsewhere
Whether the booking report includes guest ages and taxable nights
Whether a municipal declaration is still required
Unless you have current written confirmation covering the exact property and booking channel, reconcile the stay yourself and submit the Caminha declaration. A platform tax setting does not automatically prove that the municipality received the required declaration.
Suggested tourist-tax message for guests
Caminha municipality applies a Municipal Tourist Tax to paid overnight stays. The rate is €1.50 per guest aged 16 or over, per night, from 1 May to 30 September, and €1 from 1 October to 30 April, for a maximum of seven consecutive nights. The tax is collected by the accommodation and transferred to the municipality. Please tell us before payment if you may qualify for a documented exemption.
Add the notice to the listing, booking confirmation and pre-arrival message. Early disclosure prevents a legitimate municipal charge from feeling like an unexpected host fee at check-in.
Common Caminha tourist-tax mistakes
Charging guests aged 13–15 because another Portuguese municipality uses a 13+ threshold.
Applying one seasonal rate to a stay that crosses May or October.
Charging all nights of a long stay instead of stopping after seven consecutive nights.
Exempting a pilgrim for the whole stay when Caminha exempts only the first night.
Assuming Portuguese citizens or local residents are automatically exempt.
Copying medical or resident exemptions from another municipality.
Forgetting to submit a zero declaration.
Declaring by the 15th but failing to monitor and pay the Multibanco reference within five business days.
Combining several establishments without confirming the declaration required for each one.
Treating the tax as subject to VAT or hiding it inside the accommodation line.
Deducting the 2.5% commission from the remittance without following the municipal invoicing process.
Assuming an Airbnb or Booking.com setting completed the municipal filing.
A practical monthly checklist for Caminha AL hosts
Confirm every stay and corrected departure date for the month.
Identify guests aged 16 or over.
Validate exemption documents, including pilgrim credentials.
Apply €1.50 to nights from May through September and €1 to nights from October through April.
Stop the calculation after seven consecutive nights per guest and stay.
Reconcile the amount to invoices, receipts and booking-channel reports.
Submit the declaration for each establishment by the 15th, including a zero return where required.
Check the portal for the Multibanco reference.
Pay within five business days after obtaining the reference.
Store the declaration, payment proof, supporting records and any commission invoice.
How EazyAL helps Caminha hosts
Tourist-tax administration becomes harder when a reservation contains children, exempt guests, more than seven nights, a date change or nights on both sides of the seasonal boundary. A spreadsheet can calculate a simple stay, but it does not reliably connect guest data, booking changes, invoices, declarations and payment evidence.
EazyAL helps Portuguese AL operators centralise reservations and guest information, calculate the relevant taxable guests and nights, and organise the totals needed for tourist-tax reporting. You can also use the free Portugal Tourist Tax Calculator to check an individual stay.
For municipalities with a supported submission integration, EazyAL can automate more of the declaration flow. For Caminha, the municipality’s official online-services route remains the place to complete the final declaration and payment unless a supported direct integration is confirmed. EazyAL’s role is therefore to remove the manual calculation and reconciliation work and give the host an organised monthly figure to submit.
Frequently asked questions about the Caminha tourist tax
How much is the Caminha tourist tax in 2026?
It is €1.50 per taxable guest per night from 1 May to 30 September and €1 per taxable guest per night from 1 October to 30 April.
At what age do guests pay?
The tax applies from age 16. A 15-year-old is exempt by age; a guest who is 16 is normally taxable.
What is the maximum tourist tax per guest?
Only the first seven consecutive nights are taxed. The normal maximum is therefore €10.50 per guest for a stay entirely in high season or €7 for a stay entirely in low season.
Do Portuguese guests pay?
Yes, unless a specific exemption applies. The regulation does not provide a general nationality or Portuguese-residence exemption.
Do Caminha residents pay when staying in tourist accommodation?
The regulation does not list local residence as a general exemption. Apply the normal rule unless the municipality confirms a specific qualifying situation.
Are pilgrims exempt?
A guest travelling on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela or Fátima may be exempt when they provide a pilgrim credential, passport or equivalent document. The exemption applies only to the first night.
Must I declare a month with no guests?
Yes. Caminha’s published platform instructions require submission even when there is no tax to pay.
When is the declaration due?
Normally by the 15th of the month following the reported stays. Operators who qualify for and use the quarterly regime follow the quarterly deadline.
When do I pay the municipality?
The municipality provides a Multibanco reference within up to three business days after the declaration. Payment is due within five business days after the reference is obtained.
Can I submit quarterly?
An operator who is VAT-exempt or files VAT quarterly may choose the quarterly tourist-tax regime. The option lasts for the calendar year and changes must be communicated at the beginning of the year.
Is the tourist tax subject to VAT?
No. The tax charged to the guest is not subject to VAT and should be identified separately. The host’s 2.5% collection commission is a separate service and is subject to VAT at the legal rate.
What if my declaration is wrong?
Submit a replacement declaration identifying the period being corrected. A correction after payment must still be made within the same financial year.
What should I do if the municipal form is unavailable?
Try the authenticated Serviços Online area, keep a dated screenshot of the error and contact balcão online and the tourist-tax team before the deadline. A temporary page error does not remove the filing obligation.
Does Airbnb submit the declaration for me?
Do not assume it does. Check what the platform collected and whether there is current written confirmation of municipal remittance. The accommodation operator remains responsible for an accurate declaration under Caminha’s regulation.
Stay compliant without rebuilding the calculation every month
For a Caminha AL, the essential workflow is: collect the correct seasonal amount from guests aged 16 or over, stop after seven consecutive nights, document exemptions, declare by the 15th even at zero and pay the Multibanco reference within five business days.
EazyAL keeps the reservation and guest information behind that calculation organised, helping you move from scattered booking reports and spreadsheets to a repeatable monthly compliance process.
