Royal Decree 933/2021 explained
RD 933/2021 governs the registration and reporting of guest and customer data in Spain. Here is who it affects, what obligations it imposes, and how to comply.
What is Royal Decree 933/2021?
Royal Decree 933/2021, of 26 October, regulates the documentary and computerised registration obligations of people and businesses carrying out accommodation and motor-vehicle rental activities in Spain.
It is the regulation that underpins the SES Hospedajes system and that updates and expands the traveller-registration obligations that already existed under previous rules.
Official sources
- BOE-A-2021-17398 — Royal Decree 933/2021 of 26 October— Consolidated text and ELI reference in the BOE
- hospedajes.ses.mir.es— Official reporting portal
- interior.gob.es— Ministry of the Interior — FAQ and supporting regulation
Who does RD 933/2021 affect?
The regulation affects a broad set of activities related to accommodation and traveller mobility.
- ✓Accommodation establishments: hotels, hostels, guest houses, tourist apartments, rural houses, and campsites.
- ✓Homes for tourist use and those who manage or intermediate them.
- ✓Motor-vehicle rental companies.
- ✓Digital platforms involved in booking or renting these services.
What obligations it imposes
RD 933/2021 requires collecting customers’ identification, contact, and stay data, keeping it for the established period, and reporting it to the authorities through the SES system.
The report must be made within a maximum of 24 hours. Data must also be handled in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Penalties for non-compliance and how to comply
Failing to register or correctly report guest data can lead to administrative penalties. Beyond the fine, repeated non-compliance is a reputational and operational risk for the business.
The safest way to comply is to automate the process. BookCheckin captures every field required by RD 933/2021, validates it, and files it within the legal deadline, keeping documentation encrypted and ready for any inspection.
Frequently asked questions
When did RD 933/2021 come into force?+
Royal Decree 933/2021 is dated 26 October 2021. Its effective application through the SES Hospedajes platform became fully operational at the end of 2024.
Does RD 933/2021 only affect hotels?+
No. It affects all types of tourist accommodation — apartments, rural houses, campsites — and also motor-vehicle rental companies.
What happens if I do not comply with RD 933/2021?+
Non-compliance can result in administrative penalties. Automating registration and reporting with a tool like BookCheckin reduces that risk to virtually zero.
Is RD 933/2021 compatible with GDPR?+
Yes. The regulation requires handling data in line with GDPR. BookCheckin stores information encrypted and keeps it only for the legally required period.
Comply with RD 933/2021 without paperwork
BookCheckin automates the registration and reporting of your guests.