SIBA & INE IPHH Compliance Guide
SIBA & INE IPHH: The Complete Compliance Guide for Airbnb Hosts in Portugal
Everything you need to know about guest registration, accommodation bulletins, and statistics reporting — without the headaches.
If you host guests through Airbnb or any other platform in Portugal, you are legally required to report your guests' stays to two separate government bodies: AIMA (via the SIBA platform) for immigration control, and INE (via the IPHH survey) for national tourism statistics.
Getting these obligations wrong can result in fines, license revocations, or worse. But the good news is that once you understand the system, compliance is straightforward — especially with the right tools.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know as a Portuguese Alojamento Local (AL) host in 2025 and 2026.
What Is SIBA — and Why Does It Exist?
SIBA stands for Sistema de Informação de Boletins de Alojamento (Accommodation Bulletin Information System). It is Portugal's mandatory digital platform for registering the accommodation details of all foreign guests staying in any type of lodging — hotels, bed & breakfasts, and Alojamento Local properties.
Before SIBA, hosts had to complete paper forms (Boletins de Alojamento) and physically deliver them to the nearest police station. SIBA digitised this process entirely. Today, all submissions are made electronically through the official portal at siba.ssi.gov.pt.
From SEF to AIMA: In 2023, Portugal dissolved the SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) and replaced it with AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo). The SIBA reporting obligation remains the same — only the governing authority has changed. If you see references to "SEF SIBA" in older content, they are referring to the same system now managed by AIMA.
Who Must Report via SIBA?
Every accommodation provider in Portugal — whether you run a hotel, a hostel, or a single Airbnb apartment — must register the stay of all foreign guests through SIBA. This applies regardless of the booking platform or duration of stay.
Portuguese citizens and residents staying at your property are not required to be reported via SIBA, but best practice is to collect their ID information for your own records.
What Information Is Required?
Guest full name
Date of birth and nationality
Passport or national ID number
Document expiry date
Country of residence
Date of arrival and departure
Purpose of travel (tourism, business, etc.)
Deadlines and Penalties
You must submit each guest's accommodation bulletin to SIBA within 3 working days of their check-in. The records must be kept for at least one year after the guest's departure.
Penalties for Non-Compliance Failure to register guests via SIBA can result in fines of up to €2,000 per omission, with cumulative sanctions for repeated violations. In serious cases involving illegal immigration, criminal liability can apply with prison sentences of 1 to 8 years.
How to Submit a SIBA Accommodation Bulletin: Step-by-Step
Register your Alojamento Local property on the SIBA portal at siba.ssi.gov.pt and obtain your operator credentials.
At or before check-in, collect the required identification details from each foreign guest (passport number, date of birth, nationality, etc.).
Log into the SIBA platform and create a new Accommodation Bulletin (Boletim de Alojamento) for each guest.
Enter the guest data and confirm the submission. You will receive a confirmation code (BA-R) for each bulletin.
Store the confirmations for at least 12 months from the guest's departure date.
Pro Tip: Collect Data Before Arrival - Many hosts struggle to gather passport details at check-in — guests arrive late, are tired, or simply forget to bring their documents. The smartest approach is to send a digital pre-check-in form that guests complete before they arrive. EazyAL's smart check-in link does exactly this, giving you all the data you need for SIBA submission well in advance.
What Is the INE IPHH Survey?
The IPHH — Inquérito à Permanência de Hóspedes na Hotelaria e Outros Alojamentos — is a monthly statistical survey conducted by Portugal's national statistics institute, INE (Instituto Nacional de Estatística).
Its purpose is to produce official tourism statistics for Portugal, covering data on occupancy rates, overnight stays, guest nationalities, and revenue across hotels, rural tourism establishments, and Alojamento Local properties.
Does Every Airbnb Host Need to Respond?
Not necessarily. The IPHH is primarily mandatory for accommodation establishments with a capacity of more than 10 guests. More importantly, participation is typically only required if your property has been directly contacted and selected by INE.
If you have not received official communication from INE asking you to participate, you are not currently obligated to submit IPHH data.
Monthly Deadline. If you are selected to participate, IPHH data for the previous month must be submitted by the 10th of each calendar month via the WebInq platform.
What Data Does the IPHH Collect?
Data Category | Examples |
|---|---|
Guest arrivals | Number of guests checking in per month |
Overnight stays | Total room/unit nights occupied |
Guest nationality | Breakdown by country of residence |
Average length of stay | Nights per booking |
Revenue (for some establishments) | Revenue per available room (RevPAR) |
SIBA vs. INE IPHH: Quick Comparison
Feature | SIBA | INE IPHH |
|---|---|---|
Authority | AIMA (formerly SEF) | INE (Statistics Institute) |
Purpose | Immigration control | Tourism statistics |
Who must comply | All AL hosts with foreign guests | Selected hosts (10+ capacity or if contacted) |
Frequency | Per guest, within 3 working days | Monthly (by 10th of month) |
Platform | siba.ssi.gov.pt | webinq.ine.pt |
Penalty for non-compliance | Up to €2,000 per omission | Varies; administrative sanctions |
How EazyAL Makes SIBA Compliance Effortless
The biggest challenge for most Airbnb hosts in Portugal isn't understanding SIBA — it's the manual effort of collecting guest data and entering it into the platform for every single booking, every single month.
EazyAL solves this with a single smart check-in link. Here's how it works:
Before arrival: You send guests a personalised EazyAL check-in link via WhatsApp, email, or Airbnb message.
Guests self-serve: Guests fill in all required details (name, passport, nationality, dates) on their phone, tablet, or desktop — in minutes.
You stay compliant: EazyAL collects and structures the data you need for SIBA submission, keeping you fully compliant without chasing anyone at check-in.
Your data, your control: You retain full ownership of your guest data — no third-party lock-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to report Portuguese citizens via SIBA?
No. SIBA reporting is only required for foreign nationals. However, Portuguese law requires you to collect and hold ID details for all guests, so capturing this information during check-in is always good practice.
What if a guest refuses to provide their ID details?
Hosts are legally obligated to report foreign guests. If a guest refuses, you should document the refusal and, if necessary, contact AIMA for guidance. Refusing a guest on these grounds is legally defensible.
Can I automate SIBA submissions?
Yes. Several tools now offer partial or full SIBA automation by connecting to your property management system (PMS). However, even with automation, the source data must still be accurate and complete — which is why a reliable digital check-in process is the foundation of any compliance workflow.
My property hosts fewer than 10 guests. Do I need to worry about the INE IPHH?
If you operate a smaller property and have not been contacted by INE, you are currently not required to complete the IPHH survey. Focus your compliance efforts on SIBA and your Alojamento Local licence obligations.
What happens if my Alojamento Local is in a municipality with a moratorium?
Your existing SIBA and reporting obligations remain unchanged regardless of municipal moratoriums. Moratoriums affect the issuance of new AL licences, not the reporting requirements of existing, registered properties.
Ready to Simplify Your Compliance?
EazyAL turns Alojamento Local guest management into a single smart link — collecting everything you need for SIBA submission before guests even arrive. Try it free.
The Bottom Line
SIBA compliance is non-negotiable for Alojamento Local hosts in Portugal. Missing a submission or submitting incomplete data can result in significant fines and, in repeat cases, licence revocation. The INE IPHH adds a layer of statistical reporting for larger or selected establishments.
The smartest move is to build compliance into your check-in workflow from day one. With a digital pre-check-in form, you collect all required data before guests arrive — making your SIBA submissions accurate, on-time, and stress-free.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.