For travelers interested in a holiday villa in Spain, having a passport is becoming a requirement.
The passport serves a purpose beyond its role in airports and exceptional identification scenarios—it’s also a requirement for renting a holiday villa in Spain. If you’re considering a holiday villa rental in Spain for your upcoming vacation, it’s important to note that having your passport or a copy of it is vital to validate the rental agreement.
According to current legislation, owners of apartments or villas are obligated to report the entry and exit of guests aged sixteen and above. This includes sharing specific guest details with the police, such as full name, surname, identity document number, document type, date of birth, gender, and nationality. This information can be communicated to the police through in-person visits, electronic means, or fax. Failing to provide this information to the relevant authorities, as stated in Organic Law 4/2015, can result in fines ranging from €600 to €30,000. Consequently, there’s a possibility of the renter facing a prohibition on their stay. The deadline for submitting this information is within 24 hours of the guest’s arrival.
Additionally, concerning the rental of holiday villas in Spain, each autonomous community establishes its own regulations. For instance, in Catalonia, it has been mandatory since 2012 to provide a copy of passports or identity documents to the villa or apartment owner. This enables the owner to furnish the information to the police authorities.
In Catalonia and other autonomous communities, adherence to legal requirements is crucial to ensure the validity and legality of the contract. This consideration becomes even more significant, given the surge in illegal vacation home rentals in Spain, particularly in Catalonia. This surge has led to intensified scrutiny and control by authorities and the administration. In certain urban areas like Barcelona, these unauthorized rentals have evolved into social issues, triggering conflicts and protests.
Therefore, if ethical considerations or a proactive stance guide your search for a legally compliant holiday villa in Spain for your upcoming vacation, remember that having access to your passport or a copy of it—whether for informing or delivering it to the villa or apartment owner—is indispensable to guarantee your accommodation and prevent potential inconveniences. Depending on your destination, failing to do so could result in significant challenges and disruptions.
