Do I Need to Report EU Guests in SIBA? (Portugal AL Guide 2026)
If you run an Alojamento Local (AL) in Portugal, you've probably asked yourself: "Do I only need to report non-EU guests in SIBA?" It's one of the most common misconceptions among hosts — even experienced ones. Let's clear it up: what the law actually says, and what you need to do to stay compliant.
Quick Answer
You must report ALL foreign guests in SIBA — including EU citizens.
🇵🇹 Portuguese guests → ❌ not reported
🇪🇺 EU guests (Spain, France, Germany…) → ✅ must be reported
🌍 Non-EU guests (UK, USA, Brazil…) → ✅ must be reported
The law says foreign citizens — not non-EU citizens. EU guests are still foreign, so they count. You have 3 working days from check-in to report each one.
👉 EazyAL collects the right data at check-in and handles SIBA automatically. Start free →
What Is SIBA?
SIBA (Sistema de Informação de Boletins de Alojamento) is the platform used by AIMA (formerly SEF) to collect guest data from accommodation providers. Its purpose is to monitor foreign nationals staying in Portugal and to keep accommodation providers compliant with immigration law.
Every AL host is legally required to submit a boletim de alojamento for each foreign guest within 3 working days of their arrival.
The Key Rule: Who Must Be Reported?
Under Portuguese law (Lei n.º 23/2007), accommodation providers must report "cidadãos estrangeiros" — foreign citizens. That's the critical wording, and it's the source of the confusion.
The law does not say "non-EU citizens." It says foreign citizens. So the rule is simple:
Guest nationality | Report in SIBA? |
|---|---|
Portuguese | ❌ No |
EU (Spain, France, Germany, etc.) | ✅ Yes |
Non-EU (UK, USA, Brazil, etc.) | ✅ Yes |
If your guest is anything other than Portuguese, they must be reported.
Why So Many Hosts Get This Wrong
Two reasons keep tripping hosts up:
1. Old habits. For years, some hosts only reported non-EU guests, and that practice quietly stuck around.
2. Confusing "foreign" with "non-EU." These are not the same thing.
👉 EU ≠ Portuguese 👉 EU = still foreign
A Spanish guest is an EU citizen and a foreign citizen in Portugal. Both things are true — and SIBA cares about the second one.
What Happens If You Don't Report EU Guests?
Enforcement varies, but technically, skipping EU guests means you are not fully compliant. You expose yourself to fines (up to €2,000 per missing or late report) and to problems during an inspection. The fact that many hosts don't report EU guests doesn't make it correct — it just means a lot of hosts are quietly out of compliance.
The Real Problem Isn't "Who" — It's "How"
In practice, the hard part isn't deciding who to report. It's:
collecting accurate guest data (full name, document, nationality, dates)
remembering to submit it within the 3-day window
juggling multiple portals — SIBA, INE, tourist tax — for the same booking
That's where mistakes actually happen: a passport detail typed wrong, a deadline missed during a busy week, a guest whose data never made it into the system.
A Simpler Way: Collect Once, Report Correctly
Instead of asking "which guests do I report?" on every booking, flip the approach: collect complete data from every guest once, correctly — then submit exactly what's required.
EazyAL does this for you. Guests fill in a single digital check-in link before arrival — passport details, nationality, dates — and EazyAL prepares and submits the SIBA report automatically for every foreign guest, EU and non-EU alike, inside the 3-day window. You never type a passport number, nothing slips through, and every submission is archived as proof. The same guest data also feeds your INE statistics and tourist tax, so you're not entering it three times.
Built in Madeira by an AL host who dealt with this exact friction, EazyAL is made for self-managing hosts with 1–20 properties — and the founder is personally available to help you get set up.
👉 Try EazyAL free — no credit card
FAQ: Reporting Guests in SIBA
Do I need to report EU guests in SIBA?
Yes. The law requires reporting all foreign citizens, and EU nationals are foreign citizens in Portugal. Only Portuguese guests are exempt.
Do I need to report Portuguese guests?
No. Portuguese nationals do not need to be reported through SIBA.
How long do I have to report a guest?
Within 3 working days of their arrival (check-in).
What guest details do I need?
At minimum: full name, nationality, date of birth, identity document (valid passport or national ID card — driving licences are not accepted), and arrival/departure dates.
Do I report each guest, or just the person who booked?
Each foreign guest staying at the property must be reported individually, including children, not only the lead booker.
What's the penalty for not reporting?
Fines can reach around €2,000 per missing or late registration, plus increased scrutiny during inspections.
Does EazyAL submit SIBA for me automatically?
Yes. EazyAL collects guest data through your check-in link and prepares/submits the SIBA report automatically, so you don't have to log into the portal for every booking.
Final Thought
If you remember one thing from this guide:
👉 All non-Portuguese guests — including EU citizens — must be reported in SIBA. Not just non-EU.
Get your check-in flow collecting the right data from day one, and SIBA stops being something you have to think about. Let EazyAL handle it for you →
This article is for general guidance and reflects the SIBA rules under Lei n.º 23/2007 as of 2026. For advice on your specific situation, consult a qualified Portuguese professional.
