In late October 2026 the Croatian cabinet took another step toward modernising its tourism legislation. During the 216th session of the government, ministers approved a draft that would obligate every accommodation advertised on international booking sites to obtain a unique registration number and to submit data through the state-run eTurizam platform. The move follows the European Union’s May 2026 directive on data collection for short-term rentals and aims to give authorities a clearer picture of the market.
The core of the proposal is simple: any room, apartment, studio or Holiday home listed on platforms such as or Airbnb must display a registration identifier issued free of charge by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport. Listings lacking the code would be removed automatically, and the platforms themselves would be held accountable for failure to verify the information. The law also outlines a tiered penalty system ranging from €13,000 up to €130,000 or 1-6% of annual revenue, depending on the seriousness of the breach.
Key milestones and the extension for unlicensed apartments
While the registration requirement is slated to start on 1 May 2027, the same legislative package contains a separate measure that prolongs the validity of existing temporary permits. About 15,000 landlords who currently operate under provisional decisions – often because their properties lack an occupancy permit or are awaiting legalisation – will now enjoy an additional four years, pushing the deadline to 31 December 2030. Tourism Minister Tonči Glavina framed the extension as a safeguard for family-run businesses, allowing owners the time needed to regularise their holdings without sudden loss of income.
Beyond the deadline extension, the draft introduces a mandatory re-categorisation of private rental units every ten years. This periodic review will ensure that the star rating or category assigned to a property reflects its actual condition rather than the status at the time of the first grant. For hotels and campsites the review interval will shift from four to five years, while hostels, mountain lodges and similar facilities will face a five-year cycle.
Obligations for owners, platforms and inspectors
Owners – whether natural persons, craftsmen or limited-liability companies (d.o.o.) – will have to submit an electronic application through eTurizam to receive their registration code. The process is described as fully digital and cost-free, but owners must prominently display the number on every online listing. Failure to do so could trigger the fines mentioned earlier, and repeated violations may lead to suspension of the rental activity.
Online platforms are not merely passive conduits; the law expands their duties to include systematic data exchange with the Ministry and pre-listing checks for the registration number. Non-compliance could attract the same financial sanctions levied on landlords, reinforcing the state’s push for a transparent marketplace. Inspection powers are also being broadened: besides the State Inspectorate, customs officials, municipal wardens and even nature wardens may participate in monitoring, and unpaid tourist taxes could become another ground for revoking licences.
European context and expected outcomes
The Croatian reforms echo a continent-wide effort to tackle the housing pressure caused by unregulated short-term rentals. By integrating the EU’s data-collection framework into national law, Croatia hopes to differentiate legitimate hospitality providers from illegal listings, thereby protecting residential stock and improving the allocation of tourist accommodation. Authorities anticipate that the digital registry will streamline permit processing, reduce paperwork, and accelerate decision-making across the board.
For the market, the immediate impact will be a short adjustment period as owners migrate their properties onto the new system. Once the May 2027 deadline arrives, platforms that continue to host unregistered units risk severe penalties, and owners without a valid code will see their advertisements disappear. In the longer term, the combined effect of clearer data, regular re-categorisation and stronger enforcement is expected to foster a more sustainable tourism sector while preserving the housing needs of Croatian residents.
