Do I Need to Report EU Guests in SIBA? (Portugal AL Guide)

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?”

This is one of the most common misconceptions among hosts — even experienced ones.

Let’s clarify what the law actually says, and what you need to do to stay compliant.

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:

• monitoring foreign nationals in Portugal

• ensuring legal compliance for accommodation providers

The Key Rule: Who Must Be Reported?

According to Portuguese law (Lei n.º 23/2007), accommodation providers must report:

👉 “Cidadãos estrangeiros” (foreign citizens)

This is the critical point.

Do EU Guests Need to Be Reported?

✅ YES — EU guests must be reported

The law does not say:

• “non-EU citizens”

It says:

• foreign citizens

That includes:

• Spanish guests

• French guests

• German guests

• Any non-Portuguese nationality

Who Does NOT Need to Be Reported?

❌ Portuguese citizens

If your guest is:

• Portuguese
  → you are not required to report them in SIBA

Quick Summary

Why Many Hosts Get This Wrong

There are two main reasons:

1. Old habits

Some hosts historically only reported non-EU guests.

2. Confusion between “foreign” and “non-EU”

These are not the same thing.

👉 EU ≠ Portuguese
👉 EU = still foreign

What Happens If You Don’t Report EU Guests?

While enforcement varies, technically:

• You are not fully compliant

• You risk:

  • fines

  • issues during inspections

Even if many hosts don’t report EU guests, it doesn’t make it correct.

The Practical Problem for Hosts

In reality, the issue isn’t just “who to report” — it’s:

• collecting guest data correctly

• remembering to submit it

• managing multiple portals (SIBA, INE, tourist tax)

This is where most mistakes happen.

A Simpler Way to Handle SIBA

Instead of thinking:

“Which guests do I report?”

A better approach is:

👉 Collect all guest data once, correctly

Then:

• submit only what’s required

• avoid missing information

• save time on every check-in

Final Thoughts

If you remember one thing:

👉 All non-Portuguese guests (including EU) must be reported in SIBA

Not just non-EU.

Want to Simplify This?

If you’re setting up a new AL or want to avoid mistakes:

• use a check-in flow that collects the right data

• avoid manual entry

• stay compliant without extra effort

👉 You can try a simple setup here:
https://eazyal.com