Key Points
- The Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Act became law in September 2025, mandating registration with the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) for anyone taking bookings for overnight stays in Wales.
- Registration opens in autumn 2026 and is free; it applies to all providers charging for stays of 31 nights or less, regardless of frequency—from one night to seasonal lets.
- Covered accommodation includes self-catering lets, homestays (e.g., Airbnb), hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, campsites, hostels, bunkhouses, caravans, chalets, lodges, shepherd’s huts, glamping, and temporary event accommodation like festivals.
- Providers must supply contact details (name, address, phone, date of birth, company/charity/trading numbers if applicable), accommodation address, types offered, capacity, and usual booking periods; process takes under 15 minutes online for most.
- Registration aids visitors in finding listed places, enables Visitor Levy collection (from April 2027 in opting councils), and supplies tourism data; non-compliance risks penalties.
- Sign up for WRA updates at gov.wales/registeryourplace or similar for reminders and guidance.
- WRA runs webinars (e.g., national sessions via Eventbrite) offering updates, practical advice, and Q&A with experts; contact wraevents@wra.gov.wales for info.
- Distinct from Visitor Levy (council-opted, per person/night) and planned licensing (for standards, not yet required).
- Rebecca Godfrey, WRA Chief Executive, stated: “If you take bookings for overnight stays in Wales, you’ll need to register with the WRA. We want to make this process as straightforward as possible, and we’re here to support accommodation providers to register correctly and on time. We’ll be publishing further guidance before registration opens in autumn 2026. In the meantime, I’d encourage providers to visit gov.wales/registeryourplace to find out what to expect and sign up for updates.”
Wales (The Wales Times) January 27, 2026 – Accommodation providers across Wales must prepare for mandatory registration with the Welsh Revenue Authority as a new law introduces a comprehensive visitor accommodation register opening in autumn 2026.
The requirement stems from the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Act, which became law in September 2025, aiming to map the tourism sector more accurately while supporting local councils’ potential Visitor Levy implementations.
Who Must Register for Visitor Accommodation in Wales?
Anyone taking bookings for overnight stays in Wales where any booking is for 31 nights or less must register by law, encompassing informal hosts letting spare rooms and professional operators running large hotels.
As detailed in official Welsh Government guidance on gov.wales, this includes self-catering accommodation and homestays on platforms like Airbnb or similar, hotels, guesthouses or bed and breakfasts, campsites or camping pitches, hostels or bunkhouses, caravans, chalets, lodges, shepherd’s huts or glamping, and temporary accommodation for events including festivals.
The rule applies universally—whether guests stay one night, several weeks, occasionally, seasonally, or year-round—as long as paid overnight bookings occur in Wales.
When Does Visitor Accommodation Registration Open?
Registration with the Welsh Revenue Authority opens in autumn 2026, with providers urged to sign up now for email notifications on exact dates, updates, and reminders.
According to the “Registering visitor accommodation: introduction” page on gov.wales, published 16 September 2025, “Visitor accommodation registration opens in autumn 2026. You must register with the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) by law if you take bookings for overnight stays in Wales.”
The process is designed to be quick, requiring preparation of basic details in advance.
What Information Is Needed to Register?
To complete registration online, providers will submit contact details such as name, address, phone number, date of birth, company number (if applicable), charity number (if applicable), and trading name (if applicable).
Further required data includes the accommodation address, types of accommodation offered, how many people can stay, and when the accommodation is usually open for bookings; most can finish in under 15 minutes.
As outlined in the Welsh Government’s “Get ready to register your visitor accommodation in Wales” page, having this information ready ensures smooth compliance when the portal launches.
Why Is This Registration Being Introduced?
The register provides a clearer picture of available visitor accommodation, helping visitors locate registered options, enabling levy collection where councils introduce it, and supplying data to bolster Wales’ tourism industry.
Official guidance emphasises that it supports councils deciding on the Visitor Levy—a per person per night charge post-consultation—while distinguishing it from planned licensing for quality standards, which is not yet mandatory.
Failure to register may incur penalties, and non-compliance with levy (if applicable) adds further risks.
How Does Registration Differ from Visitor Levy and Licensing?
Visitor accommodation registration starts autumn 2026, covers all relevant providers nationwide, and is mandatory irrespective of local levies.
The Visitor Levy applies only in councils that opt in, earliest from 1 April 2027, as a charge on overnight stays.
Licensing, meanwhile, verifies standards and remains in planning stages without current requirements.
What Support Does the Welsh Revenue Authority Offer?
The WRA is hosting webinars to prepare providers, covering latest updates, practical guidance on requirements, and live Q&A with experts.
For instance, the “WRA: National Visitor accommodation registration webinar” on Eventbrite, organised by the Welsh Revenue Authority, states:
“Important changes are coming for visitor accommodation providers in Wales. Find out what this means for you. … You’ll get: the latest updates on visitor accommodation registration, practical guidance on what you need to do, answers to your questions from WRA experts.”
Additional resources include signing up via gov.wales for guidance and emailing wraevents@wra.gov.wales.
What Have Officials Said About the Changes?
Rebecca Godfrey, Welsh Revenue Authority Chief Executive, as reported by Nation.Cymru on 25 January 2026, said:
“If you take bookings for overnight stays in Wales, you’ll need to register with the WRA. We want to make this process as straightforward as possible, and we’re here to support accommodation providers to register correctly and on time. ‘We’ll be publishing further guidance before registration opens in autumn 2026. In the meantime, I’d encourage providers to visit gov.wales/registeryourplace to find out what to expect and sign up for updates.”
This echoes messaging across gov.wales pages, urging proactive preparation.
How Are Providers Reacting and Preparing?
Media coverage highlights broad applicability, with Nation.Cymru noting on 25 January 2026 that “both informal hosts and professional accommodation providers will be required to comply or risk facing penalties,” and providers can visit gov.wales to ready information like contact details and capacity.
Business Wales reported on 29 October 2025 about webinars, reinforcing that “from autumn 2026, anyone who charges visitors for overnight stays in Wales and takes bookings for 31 nights or less must register.”
Gwynedd Council guidance from 11 November 2025 confirms:
“Visitor accommodation registration opens in the Autumn of 2026. You must register with the Wales Revenue Authority (WRA) by law if you charge visitors for overnight stays.”
What Happens If You Do Not Register?
Non-registration risks penalties from the WRA, and if a local council has a Visitor Levy, failure to comply there adds further penalties.
Gov.wales stresses:
“If you do not register, you: may have to pay penalties; will not meet your visitor levy requirements (if your local council introduces it), this may lead to penalties.”
The emphasis across sources is on voluntary preparation to avoid issues.
Where Can You Find More Information?
Primary resources are gov.wales pages like “Registering visitor accommodation: overview” and “introduction,” both updated 16 September 2025, plus the sign-up at registeryourplace.
Webinars via Eventbrite and contacts like wraevents@wra.gov.wales provide direct support.
Senedd Research from 29 June 2025 contextualises the Bill’s changes, granting levy powers while mandating the register.
Tax Adviser Magazine on 26 November 2025 called it “a new Welsh tax,” covering all providers including hotels and campsites.
