The essentials
The information book is mandatory in all short-term rental properties in Portugal since October 2018, under Article 12-A of Decree-Law 128/2014, republished by DL 76/2024. It must be physically available at the property in at least four languages — Portuguese and English are mandatory — and must include operating rules, appliance instructions, waste management, emergency contacts and, where applicable, condominium regulations. The law also requires registration of foreign guests on the SIBA platform of AIMA within three working days of arrival. A well-structured information book reduces unnecessary contact, improves guest satisfaction and protects the owner during inspections.
The information book is mandatory in all short-term rental properties in Portugal since October 2018. But beyond legal compliance, a well-made book reduces unnecessary calls, improves reviews and protects the owner during inspections. This guide covers what the law requires, what is worth adding, and how to create a book guests will actually use.
What Is a Short-Term Rental Information Book?
The information book is a document bringing together the property’s operating rules and all the information guests need for their stay. It works as a welcome guide: it explains how to use appliances, the noise policy, where the fire extinguisher is and which nearby restaurants are worth visiting.
A well-structured book has practical effects: the owner receives fewer calls during the stay, guests resolve questions independently, and the relationship with the condominium becomes easier to manage.
Is an Information Book Mandatory for Short-Term Rentals?
Yes. Decree-Law 128/2014, republished in full by DL 76/2024, makes the information book mandatory in all short-term rental establishments. The requirement was introduced in Article 12-A by Law 62/2018 of 22 August, which came into force on 21 October 2018.
What the law requires
Article 12-A of DL 128/2014 requires the book to be physically available at the property in at least four languages. Portuguese and English are mandatory; the other two are the owner’s choice. The minimum content required by law includes:
- Information on how the property operates
- Internal usage rules
- Waste management and recycling rules
- Appliance operating instructions
- Noise rules and quiet hours
- Measures to prevent disturbances to neighbours
- Phone contact for the person responsible for the property
- Condominium regulations (if the property is in a residential building)
What Should a Complete Information Book Contain?
Legally mandatory information
Property identification details — name, RNAL number, address and responsible person’s contact — should appear on the first pages. The operating rules follow: check-in and check-out times, smoking policy, visitor rules, pet policy and quiet hours (10pm to 8am on weekdays; 11pm to 8am at weekends).
Appliance instructions are frequently underestimated but have a real impact on the experience. Cooker, oven, washing machine, air conditioning, Wi-Fi router location and reset — the clearer the step-by-step, the fewer interruptions during the stay.
Waste management should specify collection schedules, bin locations and the recycling rules of the municipality where the property is located. This point is often a source of conflict with neighbours when not clearly explained.
Recommended information (essential in practice)
The law does not require these, but most well-reviewed properties include them:
Safety and emergencies: fire extinguisher, fire blanket and first aid kit locations; fire and evacuation procedures; electrical panel location; emergency number 112 prominently displayed; the property’s full address so guests can communicate it in an emergency.
Useful contacts: nearest pharmacy (including emergency out-of-hours options), hospital or health centre, local taxi or transport options, supermarkets with opening hours.
Area guide: main attractions, public transport with stops and schedules, recommended restaurants with a genuine personal note. This is the element that most differentiates a generic rental from one guests actively recommend.
House-specific instructions: how the door lock system works, where to leave keys at checkout, where to find extra towels and bedding.
Registration of Foreign Guests: AIMA and the SIBA Portal
The information book is not the only documentation obligation associated with short-term rental activity. All foreign guests must be registered on the SIBA platform of AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) within three working days of arrival, under Law 23/2007 of 4 July.
Registration is completed online at siba.ssi.gov.pt and requires the guest’s identification details: passport or national ID, nationality and expected check-in and check-out dates. AIMA replaced SEF (the Foreigners and Borders Service) in October 2023; the SIBA portal remains the same but the responsible authority is now AIMA.
Failure to register foreign guests is a regulatory offence subject to fines. The three-working-day deadline runs from the date of arrival, not departure.
How to Organise and Present the Information Book
Recommended structure
- Cover with property identification and RNAL number
- Clear, detailed index
- Personalised welcome message
- Essential information: Wi-Fi, contacts, checkout time
- Safety and emergencies
- House operation: appliances, rules, waste management
- Area guide: what to visit, where to eat, transport
- Useful contacts
Physical format
The most practical format is a ring binder — it allows updates without replacing the entire book. Laminating the most frequently consulted pages (Wi-Fi, contacts, checkout rules) extends the document’s life. Section dividers make navigation easier, particularly when the book is available in four languages.
Digital format
Digital complements physical but does not replace it — the law requires a physical copy at the property. A PDF version made available via QR code or sent by email before arrival is useful: guests arrive already familiar with the information. Keeping the digital version updated is also faster than reprinting in four languages.
Common Mistakes in Information Books
- Outdated information. Wrong owner contact, instructions for appliances that have since been replaced, or a changed Wi-Fi password. The book should be reviewed whenever changes are made to the property.
- Excessive text. Long paragraphs are not read. Practical instructions should be numbered step-by-step lists, not prose.
- Missing languages. Portuguese and English are mandatory. Two additional languages are also required. A book only in Portuguese or only in English is non-compliant.
- No condominium regulations. In residential buildings, the regulations relevant to guests must be included.
- No emergency contact. The responsible person’s phone number is required by law and must be immediately accessible.
- Generic book without personalisation. A template not adapted to the specific property is less useful to guests and conveys less professionalism.
- Legal basis: Article 12-A of DL 128/2014 (Law 62/2018, in force since 21/10/2018)
- Format: Physical copy mandatory at the property; digital is supplementary
- Languages: Minimum 4 — Portuguese and English mandatory, plus two of your choice
- Foreign guests: Registration on SIBA/AIMA required within 3 working days of arrival
- Penalty for non-compliance: Regulatory offence subject to fines; may affect RNAL registration
How Host Wise Manages This Process for You
At Host Wise, the information book is part of the onboarding process for every property we manage. We create personalised versions in the four mandatory languages, keep the content updated with legislative changes and handle foreign guest registration with AIMA at every check-in. We manage over 650 properties in Portugal — the process is systematic and does not fail.
If you prefer to delegate these and other operational obligations, find out about our short-term rental management service or request a free property analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The law requires the book to be physically available at the property. A digital version can complement but not replace the physical copy — the owner must ensure the document is accessible in the space throughout the stay.
Yes. Article 12-A of Decree-Law 128/2014 requires the book to be available in at least four languages. Portuguese and English are mandatory; the other two are the owner’s choice. French and Spanish are the most common options given Portugal’s guest profile.
Article 12-A of Decree-Law 128/2014, in the version republished by DL 76/2024, makes the information book mandatory in all short-term rental establishments. The requirement was introduced by Law 62/2018 of 22 August, with effect from 21 October 2018.
The absence of an information book is a regulatory offence subject to fines and may compromise the RNAL registration. Beyond the legal risk, the absence of the book leads to more unnecessary contact during stays, increases the likelihood of neighbour disputes and tends to result in lower guest reviews.
Foreign guests must be registered on the SIBA platform of AIMA within three working days of arrival, under Law 23/2007 of 4 July. Registration is done online at siba.ssi.gov.pt and requires the guest’s identification document, nationality and expected check-in and check-out dates.
Yes, provided the template meets all requirements of Article 12-A of DL 128/2014 and is personalised for the specific property. Generic online templates rarely include condominium regulations, instructions for specific appliances or the municipality’s waste management rules — the items most frequently missing in inspections.