How to Register in CWTON - Step-by-Step Guide

How to Register With CWTON - A Step-by-Step Guide

Starting May 20, 2026, everyone who rents out an apartment or flat on a short-term basis must have a registration number in the Central Register of Tourist and Accommodation Facilities, known as CWTON. Sounds serious? Don't worry. The whole process is simpler than you think. In this article, I'll walk you through registration step by step, suggest what documents to prepare, and point out pitfalls to avoid.

What Is CWTON?

CWTON stands for Centralny Wykaz Obiektow Turystycznych i Noclegowych (Central Register of Tourist and Accommodation Facilities) - a nationwide electronic register managed by the Ministry of Sport and Tourism. It was created in response to EU Regulation 2024/1028, which requires member states to establish a unified registration system for short-term rental properties.

In practice, CWTON works as a database where every accommodation property (apartment, room, vacation home) receives a unique registration number. You then need to include this number in all your listings on Airbnb, Booking.com, Noclegi.pl, and every other booking platform.

Who Must Register?

The registration requirement applies to everyone who offers short-term rental - regardless of the scale of operations. Registration is required if you:

• Rent out an apartment or flat on a nightly or short-stay basis (up to 30 days)
• Offer guest rooms in your house or apartment
• Operate an accommodation property that isn't a hotel or guesthouse under the Hospitality Services Act
• Rent out a vacation home seasonally or year-round
• Publish listings on platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Noclegi.pl, Nocowanie.pl, or on your own website

It doesn't matter whether you rent out one apartment or ten. It doesn't matter whether you do it as a private individual or as a business. The requirement is universal.

Who Doesn't Need to Register?

Hotels, motels, guesthouses, and other properties that are already listed in the hotel facilities register maintained by the regional marshal (marszalek wojewodztwa) are exempt from registration. If your property is listed there, CWTON doesn't apply to you - at least for now.

What Documents to Prepare Before Registration?

Before you sit down at the computer, gather a few things. This way, the whole process will take you 15-20 minutes instead of an hour.

• Trusted profile or e-ID - for logging in on the gov.pl platform. If you don't have a trusted profile yet, set one up in advance through online banking (takes 5 minutes)
• PESEL number - for individuals
• NIP and REGON - if you operate a business
• Document confirming your right to the property - ownership deed, rental agreement with subletting rights, or other legal basis
• Property address - exact address including unit number
• Property details - number of rooms, maximum number of guests, floor area
• Bank account number - where you receive rental payments

Registration Step by Step

Step 1: Go to the CWTON Website

Navigate to cwton.gov.pl (or the appropriate form on the gov.pl platform). The system is available 24/7, so you can register at any time of day or night.

Step 2: Log In With Your Trusted Profile

Click the login button and choose your authentication method. The most convenient is the trusted profile - you can confirm your identity through the mObywatel app or online banking. You can also use an e-ID with an NFC reader.

Step 3: Choose Your Entity Type

The system will ask whether you're registering as:

• Individual - if you rent privately, without a business
• Individual running a business - sole proprietorship (JDG)
• Company or other legal form - civil partnership, limited liability company, etc.

Personal data (name, surname, PESEL) will be pulled automatically from your trusted profile. Business data must be entered manually.

Step 4: Add the Property

Now for the most important part - registering the property itself. Fill in the form with:

• Property address - full address with postal code and unit number
• Property type - apartment, flat, house, room in an apartment
• Number of sleeping rooms - how many rooms you designate for guests
• Maximum number of guests - how many people can stay overnight simultaneously
• Usable floor area - in square meters
• Operating period - year-round or seasonal (and if seasonal, which period)

If you have multiple properties, you must add each one separately. One form = one property = one registration number.

Step 5: Submit Declarations

The system will ask you to confirm several declarations:

• That the data provided is truthful and current
• That you have the right to manage the property (ownership, rental with subletting rights, etc.)
• That the property meets safety requirements (fire safety, sanitary conditions)
• That you've familiarized yourself with the obligations arising from the regulations

Important: These declarations are made under penalty of criminal liability for providing false information. Don't treat them like checkboxes on an online store's terms of service. Make sure everything is accurate.

Step 6: Submit the Application

After checking all the data, click the submit button. The application will be digitally signed with your trusted profile and sent to the system.

Step 7: Receive Your Registration Number

After positive verification, you'll receive a unique CWTON registration number. This number will appear in your panel on the gov.pl platform and will also be sent to your email address.

What Happens After Submitting the Application?

The CWTON system operates largely automatically. In most cases, you'll receive your registration number immediately or within a few hours. Registration is free and doesn't require a visit to any office.

If the system detects data inconsistencies (e.g., incorrect address, missing unit number), you may receive a request to supplement the application. In that case, you must submit the corrected application within 14 days.

The municipality where the property is located has the right to verify the data at a later date. It may also conduct an on-site inspection - but this mainly applies to properties that have received complaints or raise doubts.

Where and How to Display the CWTON Number?

You must include the registration number in all listings related to your property rental. This applies to:

• Booking platforms - Airbnb, Booking.com, Nocowanie.pl, Noclegi.pl, and every other
• Your own website - if you have a site with a rental offer
• Social media - if you promote rentals on Facebook, Instagram, etc.
• Offline ads - flyers, posters, information boards

On platforms like Airbnb and Booking, a dedicated field for the registration number will appear. After May 20, 2026, platforms will be required to verify that the number is entered and remove listings without one.

Most Common Registration Mistakes

Based on experiences with similar systems in other EU countries, here are pitfalls worth avoiding:

1. No Trusted Profile

Without a trusted profile, you can't log in to the system. Don't leave this to the last minute. Set up a profile through online banking - it takes a few minutes, but activation may take up to 24 hours.

2. Address Mismatch

The address in CWTON must exactly match the address from the building register. If your apartment has number 15A and you enter 15a or 15/A, the system may reject it. Check the exact spelling on the ownership deed or in the land and building register.

3. Registering One Property Instead of Multiple

If you rent three apartments, you need three separate registrations and three CWTON numbers. Don't try to enter all of them under one application.

4. Inflating the Guest Count

The maximum number of guests must reflect the actual capacity of the property, taking fire safety standards into account. Entering 10 people for a 25 sq m studio is asking for trouble during an inspection.

5. Ignoring Changes

If you change something in the property after registration (e.g., add a room, change the number of sleeping places), you must update the data in CWTON within 14 days. Outdated data in the register can result in fines.

6. No Right to the Property

You declare that you have the right to rent out the property. If you're a tenant and your lease prohibits subletting, CWTON registration doesn't solve this problem. First, resolve the legal issues with the property owner.

How Long Does the Whole Process Take?

Summarizing the time needed for registration:

• Preparing documents - 10-30 minutes (if you have everything at hand)
• Filling out the form - 15-20 minutes
• Waiting for the number - from a few minutes to a few business days
• Entering the number on platforms - 5-10 minutes per platform

In total, from sitting down at the computer to adding the number on Airbnb, it can take from an hour to a few days. That's why you shouldn't wait until the last day before the deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions About Registration

Can I register a property I'm not yet renting out?

Yes. You can register a property with CWTON before you start renting it out. This is actually recommended - you'll have the number ready to enter in your listing from day one. Registration doesn't automatically mean you have to start renting immediately.

What if I sell the apartment?

The CWTON registration number is tied to the property and to you as the host. If you sell the apartment, you must deregister the property from CWTON. The new owner, if they wish to operate a short-term rental, must register anew and obtain their own number.

Is registration permanent?

Yes, the CWTON registration number is valid indefinitely, as long as you don't deregister the property or it gets suspended by a regulatory body. You don't need to renew registration annually. However, you must update data within 14 days of any change.

Registration and Other Obligations

The CWTON number alone isn't everything. As an accommodation property operator, you also need to remember about a few other things:

• House rules - the property must have written rules available to guests
• Fire safety - fire extinguisher, smoke detector, evacuation instructions, evacuation route markings
• Liability insurance (OC) - not mandatory but strongly recommended
• Tax reporting - regardless of the form (private rental, flat-rate, business), you must pay taxes
• Guest registration - the obligation to register foreign guests still applies

What if You Don't Register on Time?

The consequences are serious. The fine for not registering with CWTON is up to 50,000 PLN. Providing false data carries a fine of up to 10,000 PLN. But that's not all - platforms like Airbnb and Booking will remove listings without a registration number, so you'll simply lose the ability to accept reservations.

It's not worth the risk. Registration is free and relatively straightforward. The only cost is your time - and this article has just saved you most of it.

Summary

CWTON registration is a new requirement, but it's not complicated. Prepare your documents, log in via your trusted profile, fill out the form, submit the declarations, and you're done. Put the registration number in every listing. Remember to update your data if anything changes. And don't leave it to the last moment - the May 20, 2026 deadline will arrive sooner than you think.

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