Passport details in Italy

[Bo144]

Hi there. We’ve been travelling through Italy for the past 3 weeks and supplying our passport details along the way w each host. Although this last host has asked us to additionally take photos of ourselves and children holding their passports for additional protection. This seems a step too far? They’re claiming it’s “Italian bureaucracy”   But that doesn’t feel right?

What is the actual law here?

[Helen3]

Not quite what you mean by law in this context.

it sounds like a good additional security step to me.

The law is relating to accommodation providers needing to collect photo ID for all guests. 

@Bo144 

[Shelley159]

Have you checked the cancellation policy on the listing @Bo144 ? Just to see whether you could get a full refund and book elsewhere (it's not high season?) if it turns out that this host is imposing unnecessary requirements. As a guest, my main concern would be that a host who adds requirements beyond the legal ones (assuming that this is what's happening here), may be likely to impose further restrictions and surprises during your stay.

You could also contact Support and ask them to cancel the booking with a full refund - this should not be difficult, unless the host specifically and expressly added this information (that a photo with the passport is required of all guests) to the listing before your booking date.

[Greystone0]

Hi @Bo144 ,

just some insight from a host perspective - that isn't in Italy, but this caught my attention as it is something that comes up often in how to make sure the person booking and person arriving are the same.

Guest vetting is increasingly tough. Guests are effectively a name on the internet. How does anyone ensure that the ID being shared is also the actual person sharing the ID.

The scams and shenanigans  are increasing and I am not sure where this all can be headed but this is the leading tactic to determine that the ID and person match.

[Rebecca]

Thanks for asking your question here on the CC @Bo144. I wonder if @Andrea6232, @Angela1056 or @Vincenzo89 can pop by this thread and give us some more insight from a host pov! 😊

[Andrea6232]

Buongiorno @Rebecca and @Bo144 ,

in Italy, hosts are required to check guests' documents and then register them with the State Police.

This is what is stated on the State Police website:

"Please note that, in accordance with Article 109 of the TULPS, managers of accommodation facilities of all kinds and types may only provide accommodation to persons in possession of an identity card or other document suitable for certifying their identity in accordance with the regulations in force and must communicate the personal details of those staying at the accommodation, as recorded in the aforementioned documents, via the Alloggiati Web portal in accordance with the procedures indicated by the Minister of the Interior on January 7, 2013, as amended by the decree of the Minister of the Interior on September 16, 2021. Therefore, in order to comply fully with Article 109 of the TULPS, managers must fulfill the following three requirements:

ensure that, pursuant to the first paragraph of Article 109 of the TULPS, the guest has a valid identification document;

ensure that the guest named in the document is actually present in the apartment, as the law does not refer to a mere ‘potential’ guest;

communicate the identification data obtained from the document, once the two requirements referred to in the previous points have been verified, within the deadline set out in the third paragraph of the same Article 109 of the TULPS."

[Angela1056 · Accepted solution]

Ciao @Bo144 , a photo of your ID is not required in Italy at check-in or before check-in. In Italy the host has to verify the documents of all guests “de visu” (with his eyes) at check-in and write down the following data:

guests name(s) and last name as on the document

date of birth 

place of birth

gender

citizenship 

place of residence 

kind of document

number of document

place of issue of the document

These are the data the host has to send to the police within 24 hours after check-in. The police do not accept photos of documents. 

Maybe this host who asked you of a photo with your document holding near the face is using a self check-in.

Self check-in is not allowed in Italy.