SIBA WebService Troubleshooting Guide for Alojamento Local Hosts

If you manage an Alojamento Local (AL) in Portugal and are trying to automate guest reporting to SIBA, connection and activation issues can sometimes happen during setup.

This guide explains the most common SIBA WebService problems, how to validate your credentials, and what to check before enabling automation.

What Is the SIBA WebService?

The SIBA (Sistema de Informação de Boletins de Alojamento) WebService allows accommodation providers to automate the submission of foreign guest information to the Portuguese authorities.

Instead of manually entering guest details into the SIBA portal, compatible software can submit the accommodation bulletin automatically.

This helps hosts:

• Save time

• Reduce manual errors

• Avoid missed submissions

• Keep guest reporting organised

Before You Start

You should have:

• Full property address

• Phone number

• Guest capacity (max guests)

• Number of bedrooms

• Property type (Apartment / House / Room)

• Your NIF number

• Municipality where the property is registered

This can all be found by searching on RNAL. All Alojamento Locals in Portugal are listed there.

Remember:
All foreign guests — including EU citizens — must be communicated to SIBA within the legal deadline.

How to submit via SIBA WebService

To use the SIBA WebService method, you first need to request activation from the SIBA/AIMA team. This can be done during registration or via email at siba@ssi.gov.pt. Once enabled, your software or property management platform can communicate directly with SIBA automatically, without requiring manual submissions through the portal.

After activation, your accommodation software can securely send guest registration data directly to SIBA using the provided credentials. This allows faster submissions, reduces manual work, and helps avoid missed reporting deadlines.

What if I registered with SIBA Portal submission?

If you currently submit guest data manually through the SIBA Portal, you do not need to create a completely new account to move to WebService submission.

According to SIBA support, existing portal credentials can also be used for WebService communication once the method is activated for your account.

This means:

• Your current SIBA username and activation details remain valid

• Your accommodation establishment stays the same

• Only the communication method changes from Portal to WebService

How do I change my SIBA method?

To switch, you generally need to contact SIBA support at siba@ssi.gov.pt and request that your account be enabled for WebService submissions. Once approved, your software provider can begin sending submissions automatically on your behalf.

Example Email to siba@ssi.gov.pt :

Exmos. Senhores,

Venho por este meio solicitar a alteração do método de comunicação para Web Service da seguinte conta SIBA:

• Username / NIF:

• Estabelecimento:

• Nº AL:

Agradeço, por favor, que a conta passe a estar configurada para utilização via Web Service.

Fico ao dispor para qualquer informação adicional necessária.

Com os melhores cumprimentos,

Common SIBA WebService Problems

1. Invalid Activation Key

Symptoms

• “Invalid key”

• Authentication failed

• Unable to activate automation

Possible Causes

• Incorrect copy/paste

• Extra spaces

• Wrong establishment number

• Old or deactivated key

How to Fix It

• Copy the key directly from SIBA

• Remove spaces before or after the key

• Confirm the establishment number is correct

• Try logging into SIBA manually first

If manual login also fails, the issue is usually on the SIBA side rather than your software.

2. SIBA Portal Login Works but Automation Fails

Most AL software platforms — including tools like Talkguest, AvaiBook, and other channel managers or automation systems — do not communicate with SIBA individually in different ways.

Instead, they typically rely on:

A shared SIBA SOAP/XML endpoint (web service integration layer) provided by the government.

SIBA Submission Failed: Why You May See “503 Service Unavailable” (Even When Your Data Is Correct)

When sending guest bulletins to SIBA (Portugal’s accommodation reporting system), some hosts may encounter errors that appear to be data-related — but are actually caused by temporary issues on the government system.

One common case is a SOAP/XML submission failure with HTTP 503 Service Unavailable, which can look like a technical parsing error inside your software.

What actually happens

In a normal submission flow, your system sends a structured XML/SOAP request to the SIBA production endpoint:

https://siba.ssi.gov.pt/baws/boletinsalojamento.asmx

Under normal conditions, SIBA responds with a valid XML confirmation or a structured validation error.

However, during outages, the system may return an HTML “Service Unavailable” page instead of XML, such as:

• HTTP 503 Service Unavailable

• Plain HTML error page instead of SOAP response

• Temporary system downtime on SIBA side

What you should do as a host

If you encounter this situation:

1. Do not re-enter or duplicate the submission immediately

2. Wait and allow the system to retry automatically (if using automation software)

3. If the issue persists, email SIBA support directly to confirm system status. Use email siba@ssi.gov.pt to contact tech support

Example email:

TO: siba@ssi.gov

SUBJECT: Indisponibilidade do Web Service SIBA/AIMA - erro HTTP 503 {27088}

Exmos. Senhores,

Venho por este meio solicitar apoio relativamente ao Web Service SIBA/AIMA para submissão de boletins de alojamento.

Ao tentar aceder ao endpoint de produção:

https://siba.ssi.gov.pt/baws/boletinsalojamento.asmx

e também ao respetivo WSDL:

https://siba.ssi.gov.pt/baws/boletinsalojamento.asmx?WSDL

o serviço está a devolver:

HTTP/1.1 503 Service Unavailable

com a mensagem:

HTTP Error 503. The service is unavailable.

Dados para referência:

• Serviço: SIBA/AIMA Web Service

• Endpoint: https://siba.ssi.gov.pt/baws/boletinsalojamento.asmx

• Erro recebido: HTTP 503 Service Unavailable

• Tipo de resposta: text/html, em vez de SOAP/XML

Fico a aguardar a vossa confirmação.

Com os melhores cumprimentos,

If the issue continues

If SIBA remains unavailable for an extended period:

• If it continues for more than 3 working days, contact SIBA again

• At that point, you should email the guest check-in details for the property directly to ensure compliance is maintained

This ensures your guest reporting obligations are still fulfilled even during prolonged system outages.

3. Guests Are Not Appearing in SIBA

Possible Causes

• Guest form incomplete

• Missing nationality/passport data

• Submission date mismatch

• Internet timeout during submission

What to Check

• Ensure all mandatory guest fields are completed

• Confirm arrival and departure dates

• Check that the nationality is not empty

• Verify the guest submission appears in your software dashboard

Many failed submissions are caused by incomplete guest check-in forms.

4. Wrong Property Connected

This can happen if:

• Multiple properties exist under the same account

• The wrong public check-in link was shared

• A copied setup from another unit was reused

Solution

Each property should use its own unique guest check-in link and SIBA configuration.

Always verify:

• Property name

• AL registration

• Establishment number

• Public guest link

before testing automation.

Quick SIBA Validation Checklist

Before enabling automatic submissions, check the following:

SIBA Setup Checklist

Account & Access

• I can log into the SIBA portal manually

• My activation key is correct

• My establishment number matches SIBA

• My property NIF is correct

Guest Data

• Guest nationality is filled in

• Arrival and departure dates are correct

• Passport or ID details are completed

• Guest count matches the reservation

Automation

• I tested one guest submission first

• I received a confirmation email from SIBA

• The submission appears inside the SIBA portal

• The correct property is connected

Best Practice for AL Hosts

The easiest way to reduce SIBA errors is to collect guest information before arrival using a dedicated digital check-in form.

This helps:

• Reduce manual entry

• Improve guest compliance

• Organise records

• Automate submissions

• Reduce late reporting risk

Many hosts now include the guest check-in link directly in Airbnb Scheduled Messages or Booking.com messaging automation.

Final Tip

If your SIBA connection suddenly stops working after previously working correctly, first test:

1. Manual SIBA login

2. One new guest submission

3. Confirmation email delivery

In many cases, the issue is temporary and resolves without needing a full reconfiguration.

FAQ

What is the SIBA WebService? A connection method that lets compatible software submit foreign guest bulletins to SIBA automatically, instead of manual entry in the portal.

How do I activate WebService submission? Request activation from the SIBA/AIMA team, either during registration or by emailing siba@ssi.gov.pt. Once enabled, your software can submit guest data directly.

I already use the SIBA Portal manually — do I need a new account? No. According to SIBA support, your existing portal credentials can be used for WebService communication once the method is activated. Your establishment and username stay the same; only the communication method changes.

What information should I have ready before setup? Full property address, phone number, guest capacity, number of bedrooms, property type, your NIF, and the municipality of registration — all findable via your RNAL listing.

Automate Your SIBA Submissions with EazyAL

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• Collect guest details digitally

• Organise check-ins

• Automate SIBA submissions

• Track tourist tax obligations

• Simplify compliance workflows

Start with a free guest check-in link and upgrade to automatic SIBA submissions when ready.