Host required me to show government ID. Claims this is airbnb policy

[Gergina0]

Hello.

A host just wanted to take a picture of my government ID and claimed this was due to Airbnb policies (that it is the same as hotels). Can someone link me to where this is stated so? I am having a hard time to find it in the terms and conditions and no other host has ever asked me to show my ID. 

[Sandra856]

Hi @Gergina0 🙂

It is not airbnb but in some countries like Slovenia, Portugal, Croatia... etc. it's law that whoever offers short-term accommodations must file guests

with their local tourism office or police station in advance of their booked guests' arrival with all relevant information incl. ID copy.

You can search this community for more information 🙂 

Best, Sandra 

[Sandra856]

@Gergina0 I found a link 

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Help/Host-asking-for-passport-copies/m-p/120535?collapse_discuss...

[Olivier291]

@Gergina0 ,

Nowhere in the Airbnb TOS is written guests have to present any ID on reservation or check-in.

Hosts can set a parameter to have only verified guest. If so ID is verified by Airbnb but hosts don't have access to the ID downloaded.

But as @Sandra856 said in many countries, by law, hosts have the legal obligation to fill a police report for each guests with name, 1st name, date and birth place, address, type and ID number (France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and many more).

If Hosts have this legal obligation they should have it mentioned on their listing and house rules. In France, if a guest refuse to present his ID upon check-in, host could legally deny the entry.

[Peta7]

The law surpasses all and no arrangement made by any party will be considered above this.

In South Africa the relevant Immigration law requires a Register to be kept by ALL hosts and a copy of an ID to be kept on file.

Breaching the said law could result in a hefty fine and or imprisomnment for host and guest alike.

We will therefor have no option but to refuse access to a guest unwilling to surrender a copy of ID and have the local Law enforcing agency's backing on this.

[Sandra856]

@Peta7 What do you mean with :

The law surpasses all and no arrangement made by any party will be considered above this. ? 

Do you mean in generel? Because there is no such law in Denmark. 

[Peta7]

@Sandra0We are only versed in the South African Law but from this blog it seems that there are many other Countries world wide where similar Laws exists.

We came accross an article on the Net by pure chance and believe it to have been devine intervention as we were hosting for many years without complying. The breaching of the said law in SA could lead to hefty fines or imprisonment  or both. Please refer the following link for the relevant SA Imigrration law requirements: https://www.pembba.co.za/page/guest_identification_requirements

[Sandra856]

Thank you @Peta7. I wasn't sure what you meant 🙂 

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Gergina0 

for example, in Croatia, all our guests, including babies have to show us their photo ID. Then we can write down all their personal information or we can make a photo/copy of their iDes. We have to fill an online form and register all of them to the police. Only the host and police department can see that information.

In our house rules is written that we will ask for a photo ID.

If our guests refuse to show their IDes at arrival then we can refuse to check them in or they have to go to the police by themselves and register there but then our police will send us all their personal informations anyway.

If our guests verified their ID at Airbnb is OK... but we as hosts can't access those informations.

Every host anywhere in the world should ask for a photo ID from all his guests. The same as hotels and motels do. I don't understand why hosts don't do that, it would save them a lot of trouble.