The Croatian government has approved a draft law introducing a new framework for short-term rentals, providing for the mandatory registration of all accommodations in a national registry and the acquisition of a unique registration number before their listing on digital booking platforms.
If approved by Parliament, the new law will come into force on January 1, 2027, aligning Croatia with the European regulation EU 2024/1028 on short-term rentals.
According to the plan, every room, apartment, or holiday home will have to be registered in a central electronic registry and receive a unique number, without which it will not be allowed to be advertised on platforms such as Airbnb or Booking.com.
Digitalization, transparency and strict fines for violators
The government argues that the new system will enhance transparency, facilitate inspections, and curb the operation of illegal accommodations. At the same time, all administrative procedures will be digitalized through the eTurizam platform, while stricter inspections, the reclassification of certain accommodations, and increased fines for violators are anticipated.
The Minister of Tourism and Sports of Croatia, Tonči Glavina, stated that the changes aim to create a more transparent and sustainable short-term rental market, protecting legitimate professionals and upgrading the quality of the country’s tourism product.
The bill is now expected to be debated and voted on by the Croatian Parliament.
