CWTON - What Is It, Who Does It Apply To, and How to Register [2026]

CWTON - What It Is, Who It Applies To, and How to Register [2026]

If you rent out an apartment on Airbnb, Booking.com, or any other platform - the word CWTON will be with you for the coming months and years. And if you don't know it yet, it's high time to catch up. In this article, I explain what CWTON is, why it was created, who exactly it applies to, and what you need to do to avoid losing your listings and paying a fine of up to 50,000 PLN. The article is long but thorough - after reading it, you won't have any remaining doubts.

Key takeaways

• CWTON stands for Centralny Wykaz Turystycznych Obiektow Noclegowych (Central Register of Tourist Accommodation) - a mandatory register for every short-term rental host in Poland
• Registration is free and takes place online through the gov.pl platform using a profil zaufany (trusted profile)
• The registration deadline is May 20, 2026 - after this date, platforms will remove listings without a CWTON number
• Failure to register carries an administrative fine of up to 50,000 PLN and loss of reservation revenue
• The obligation applies to each property separately - one apartment = one CWTON number

What exactly is CWTON?

CWTON is the abbreviation for Centralny Wykaz Turystycznych Obiektow Noclegowych (Central Register of Tourist Accommodation). In the simplest terms: it's a nationwide database in which all properties offered for short-term rental in Poland must be listed. The register is maintained electronically by the Ministry of Sport and Tourism (Ministerstwo Sportu i Turystyki) and is accessible to both hosts and regulatory authorities.

You can think of CWTON as the equivalent of the KRS (National Court Register) but for rental apartments and properties. Each registered property receives a unique registration number that you must include in all your listings - on Airbnb, Booking.com, Noclegi.pl, Nocowanie.pl, your own website, and any other place where you offer accommodation.

CWTON is not a uniquely Polish idea. It's the result of regulation at the EU level, which I'll explain in a moment.

Why was CWTON created? The EU context

To understand where CWTON came from, we need to step back and look at the situation from a European perspective. Over the past decade, short-term rentals in Europe grew at a pace that regulations couldn't keep up with. Cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam, Lisbon, and in Poland - Krakow and Warsaw - began feeling the negative effects of an uncontrolled market: rising housing prices, conflicts with neighbors, and a lack of data on the scale of the phenomenon.

Each country tried to regulate the market on its own, which created a patchwork of regulations. The European Union decided to bring order, and on May 20, 2024, adopted Regulation 2024/1028, which establishes a uniform framework for registering short-term rental properties across all member states. Read more about the regulation itself in the article EU Regulation 2024/1028 - What It Means for Polish Hosts.

The regulation gives member states two years for implementation, which is why the key date for Poland is May 20, 2026. CWTON is Poland's way of fulfilling EU requirements. Each member state creates its own equivalent - in France it's the registration number in the commune system, in Spain it's the tourist license number, and in Poland - the CWTON number.

Importantly, EU Regulation 2024/1028 is a directly applicable act, meaning it applies directly - without the need for full transposition into national law. Poland did, however, need to adopt implementing regulations, including creating the CWTON IT system itself and setting penalty amounts. Legislative work was completed in 2025, and the CWTON system is up and running, ready to accept registrations.

Who does the CWTON registration obligation apply to?

Short answer: everyone who offers short-term rental in Poland. No exceptions regarding scale of activity. It doesn't matter whether you rent out one apartment or fifty. It doesn't matter whether you do it as a private individual or as a business.

Registration is required if you:

• Rent out an apartment or flat on a nightly basis or for stays shorter than 30 days
• Offer guest rooms in your house or apartment
• Rent out a vacation home - seasonally or year-round
• Make a summer cottage or other recreational property available for accommodation purposes
• Publish listings on platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Noclegi.pl, Nocowanie.pl, Vrbo, or on your own website

The key point is that the registration obligation does not depend on how much you earn. Even if you rent out an apartment for just one weekend a year, you must have a CWTON number. Even if you don't run a business. Even if it's your only supplementary income. The obligation is universal and applies to each property individually.

Who does NOT need to register with CWTON?

The registration obligation does not apply to properties that are already listed in the ewidencja obiektow hotelarskich (register of hotel facilities) maintained by the marszalek wojewodztwa (voivodeship marshal). This includes:

• Hotels (all categories)
• Motels
• Pensjonaty (guesthouses)
• Excursion houses
• Youth and tourist hostels
• Campsites and campgrounds listed in the register

If your property is listed in the register of hotel facilities, CWTON doesn't apply to you - you already have your number in the official system. But note: if in addition to a hotel you also operate separate short-term rental apartments, those apartments must be registered with CWTON.

What does the CWTON number look like and where should you display it?

After positive verification of your application, your property receives a unique CWTON registration number. This number has a standardized format that allows automatic verification by booking platforms.

You must display the CWTON number in every listing for the given property. This applies to:

• Booking platforms - Airbnb, Booking.com, Noclegi.pl, Nocowanie.pl, Vrbo, and any other
• Your own website - if you accept reservations through your site
• Classified ad portals - OLX, Facebook Marketplace, Facebook groups
• Marketing materials - flyers, posters, business cards

On Airbnb and Booking.com, there are dedicated fields for entering the registration number. These platforms are implementing mechanisms for automatic number verification against the CWTON database. Details on adding the number to your Airbnb profile can be found in the article CWTON Number in Your Airbnb Listing - How and Where to Add It.

Remember: if you have three apartments, you have three different CWTON numbers and must assign them to the corresponding listings. You cannot use one number for multiple properties.

Registration deadline: May 20, 2026

The date of May 20, 2026 is not an approximate target or a suggestion. It is a hard deadline, after which:

• Platforms must remove listings without a valid CWTON registration number
• New listings cannot be published without providing a number
• Regulatory authorities can impose fines for operating rentals without registration

What does this mean in practice? If on May 21, 2026, your listings on Airbnb or Booking.com don't have an assigned CWTON number, the platforms will remove them. You won't get a special last-minute warning. You'll lose visibility, reservations, and consequently revenue.

That's why you shouldn't wait until the last day. The CWTON system is already operational. You can register now and have peace of mind. The procedure is straightforward and registration is free. You'll find detailed step-by-step instructions in the article How to Register with CWTON - Step-by-Step Guide.

What does CWTON registration look like? A brief overview

Registration takes place online through the gov.pl platform. You don't need to go anywhere or stand in line at an office. The entire process takes 15-30 minutes if you have the necessary data prepared. Here are the main steps:

1. Log in on the gov.pl platform using a profil zaufany (trusted profile) or e-dowod (e-ID card)
2. Select your entity type - individual, sole proprietorship, company
3. Add your property - enter the address, property type, number of rooms, maximum number of guests, area
4. Submit declarations - confirm the right to manage the property and compliance with safety requirements
5. Send the application - the system will verify the data and assign a registration number

Before sitting down at the computer, prepare: a document confirming the right to the property (deed of ownership or lease agreement with subletting rights), PESEL number (or NIP and REGON if you run a business), property details (address, area, number of rooms and guests), and a profil zaufany (trusted profile).

A full description of the procedure with a list of documents, screenshots, and tips on common mistakes can be found in our article How to Register with CWTON - Step-by-Step Guide. And if you want to know which errors to avoid, read the article on the most common mistakes when registering with CWTON.

CWTON and booking platforms

EU Regulation 2024/1028 imposes obligations not only on you as a host but primarily on booking platforms. This is one of the most important elements of the new regulations and the reason why CWTON is not a dead-letter law that can be ignored.

From May 20, 2026, platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, and Noclegi.pl must:

• Require a CWTON registration number for every listing publication
• Verify the number's validity in the CWTON database - automatically, via API
• Refuse to publish listings without a valid number
• Remove existing listings that don't have a number after the deadline
• Report reservation data to the relevant authorities upon request

In practice, this means that even if Polish regulatory authorities couldn't keep up with enforcing penalties, the platforms themselves would cut off your market access. Airbnb won't risk EU fines just because you didn't feel like filling out a form on gov.pl.

Read more about how Airbnb and Booking are preparing for the new regulations in the article Airbnb and Booking vs CWTON - Removal of Listings Without a Registration Number.

Penalties for not registering with CWTON

The regulations implementing EU Regulation 2024/1028 in Poland provide for specific penalties for non-registration. Here's what you need to be aware of:

Financial penalty of up to 50,000 PLN

This is the main penalty for operating a short-term rental without a valid CWTON registration number. Several important facts:

• The penalty applies to each property separately - three unregistered apartments means potentially triple the penalty
• The penalty is imposed administratively, without the need for court proceedings
• The amount is determined individually; 50,000 PLN is the upper limit
• The penalty can be imposed multiple times for subsequent periods of violation

Removal of listings from platforms

As mentioned above, platforms are required to remove listings without a CWTON number. This means immediate loss of visibility, reservations, and revenue. Rebuilding your position on a platform after re-adding a listing takes weeks or months - you lose reviews, Superhost status, and your position in the search algorithm.

Penalty of up to 10,000 PLN for false data

If you register but provide false information (understate the number of rooms, provide a false address, submit a false safety compliance declaration), you face an additional penalty of up to 10,000 PLN.

A detailed description of penalties, inspection procedures, and indirect consequences (insurance, taxes, loss of status) can be found in the article Penalties for Not Registering with CWTON. It's also worth reading about what exactly happens after May 20, 2026 if you don't have registration.

CWTON in the European context

Poland is not the only country implementing mandatory registration for short-term rental properties. EU Regulation 2024/1028 applies to all 27 member states. In many countries, registration systems have been in place for years - CWTON is more of a late addition to the European standard than a revolutionary innovation.

For comparison:

• France - the obligation to register with the commune has existed since 2017 in major cities. Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and other cities require a registration number in every listing
• Spain - tourist licenses (licencia turistica) are required in most regions, and their absence results in fines ranging from 30,000 to 600,000 EUR depending on the autonomous community
• Germany - Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and other cities have required a short-term rental permit (Zweckentfremdungsgenehmigung) for several years
• Italy - the Codice Identificativo Nazionale (CIN) has been mandatory since 2024
• Netherlands - Amsterdam has some of the strictest restrictions: a maximum of 30 rental days per year and mandatory registration

Regulation 2024/1028 harmonizes these rules and creates a framework for cooperation between states. Ultimately, the registration systems of individual countries are intended to be interoperable, meaning data from Poland's CWTON will be available to authorities in other EU countries and vice versa.

Read more about how the EU regulation affects Polish hosts in the article EU Regulation 2024/1028 - What It Means for Polish Hosts.

CWTON and other host obligations

CWTON registration is a key but not the only obligation you must fulfill as a short-term rental host. The new regulations introduce a whole package of requirements. Here's a brief overview:

Regulamin porzadkowy (house rules)

Every short-term rental property must have a regulamin porzadkowy (house rules) defining the terms of use for the premises. House rules must be made available to guests before booking or at the latest upon check-in. You'll find more on this topic in the article Apartment House Rules - Template and Tips.

Fire protection

The property must meet fire safety requirements. This is not just a formality in the CWTON registration declaration - you must have a fire extinguisher, smoke detector, marked evacuation routes, and fire safety instructions. Details in the article Fire Safety Requirements for Short-Term Rentals.

Guest register

As a host, you are required to maintain a rejestr gosci (guest register). Each guest must be recorded with personal data, check-in date, and check-out date. This also relates to the obligatory guest registration (obowiazek meldunkowy). Read more in the article Guest Register for Rental Apartments.

RODO (GDPR) and data protection

When collecting guest data (name, surname, document number, email), you must comply with RODO/GDPR regulations. You need an information clause (klauzula informacyjna), appropriate data storage, and a data deletion policy. More in the article GDPR in Short-Term Rentals - How to Protect Guest Data.

Taxes

Income from short-term rentals is subject to taxation. You must choose a form of taxation (ryczalt od przychodow ewidencjonowanych / lump-sum tax on recorded revenue, or zasady ogolne / general principles) and regularly pay taxes. You'll find a detailed guide in the article Short-Term Rental Tax in 2026.

You'll find the full list of documents you need to prepare in our article Short-Term Rental Document Checklist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does CWTON apply to a single apartment on Airbnb?

Yes. The CWTON registration obligation applies to every short-term rental property, regardless of the number of properties you own. Even if you have just one apartment and rent it out occasionally, you must register it and obtain a CWTON number. There is no minimum threshold - neither in terms of the number of properties, nor the number of overnight stays, nor the amount of revenue.

Is CWTON registration paid?

No. CWTON registration is completely free. You don't pay any registration, stamp, or administrative fees. All you need is a profil zaufany (trusted profile) - also free, you can set it up through online banking in 5 minutes - and data about your property. If someone offers you paid CWTON registration on your behalf, be cautious - you can carry out the registration yourself on gov.pl.

Where do I find my CWTON number after registration?

You receive the CWTON number electronically after positive verification of your application. You'll find it in your panel on the gov.pl platform and in the confirmation sent to your email address. The number is also visible in the public CWTON database, where anyone (including guests and regulatory authorities) can check whether a given property is registered. Save the number in a safe place and enter it in your listings on booking platforms right away.

Do I need to register if I rent seasonally?

Yes. Seasonal rental (e.g., only in summer or during ski season) is subject to exactly the same regulations as year-round rental. The only difference is that during registration you can indicate that the property operates seasonally and specify the operating period. But the registration obligation itself and the requirement to have a CWTON number are identical. You don't need to deregister the property off-season - the CWTON number remains valid.

What's the difference between CWTON and the ewidencja obiektow hotelarskich (register of hotel facilities)?

The ewidencja obiektow hotelarskich (register of hotel facilities) is a long-standing register maintained by the marszalek wojewodztwa (voivodeship marshal), which lists hotels, motels, guesthouses, and other facilities as defined by the Hotel Services Act (ustawa o uslugach hotelarskich). CWTON is a completely new, separate register designed specifically for short-term rental properties - apartments, flats, vacation homes, and guest rooms offered on platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com. If your property is in the hotel register, you don't need to register it with CWTON. However, if you rent out an apartment short-term, the hotel register doesn't apply to you - you must be in CWTON.

Summary

CWTON is not just another bureaucratic formality that can be ignored. It is the central element of the new short-term rental regulation system in Poland, stemming directly from EU Regulation 2024/1028. From May 20, 2026, not having a CWTON number means removal of listings from platforms, fines of up to 50,000 PLN, and real financial losses.

The good news: registration is free, the procedure is simple, and it takes just a few minutes. You don't have to wait until the last day. Start now, organize your documents, and be certain that on May 20, 2026, your listings will be safe.

If you want to make sure you don't miss any step, check out the HostReady Package. You'll receive a complete set of documents - house rules, fire safety instructions, GDPR clause, guest register - as well as detailed CWTON registration instructions. Everything ready to use, prepared by short-term rental specialists. Instead of searching for information on forums and Facebook groups, you have everything in one place, tailored to your property.