Managing tourist apartments in Madrid means operating in a high-demand market under increasingly strict rules. In the capital, registering a tourist dwelling requires a prior urban-planning licence from the City Council and registration in the regional RVVT, while in the rest of the region the process is more straightforward.
Once you are up and running, the key to a profitable operation is automation: online check-in, automatic guest registration and keyless entry. This guide shows you how to manage your accommodation in Madrid while staying compliant and saving hours every week.
Why managing in Madrid is more demanding
A property manager in Madrid has to keep an eye on several things at once:
- RVVT number: in the format VUT-XXXXXX-CM, it must appear in every Airbnb, Booking and Vrbo listing.
- Urban licence in the capital: Madrid city requires independent access from the street or common area, which excludes many flats in residential blocks.
- Guest registration: submission of the form to SES.Hospedajes from the very first booking.
- High turnover: many check-ins, in several languages and at any hour.
With high turnover and tight oversight, automating check-in and guest registration isn't a luxury — it's the only way to manage several units without mistakes or missed deadlines.
Automatic check-in in Madrid, step by step
Automatic check-in means the guest completes the whole arrival process online, from their phone, before reaching the property. Here's how it works with Gotocheck in a Madrid apartment:
After booking, they automatically get a link by email or WhatsApp in their language. No app to install.
The system reads the ID, passport or residence card with OCR and captures the guest data required by RD 933/2021. The guest signs digitally.
Gotocheck reports the guest form automatically to the national SES.Hospedajes system, within the legal deadline and without you copying anything.
During check-in you can automatically charge any applicable tourist tax and, if you wish, a deposit or extras via secure online payment.
Once check-in is completed and verified, the guest receives the smart-lock code or entry instructions. Self check-in 24/7, no waiting and no trips.
Automate your tourist apartments in Madrid
Online check-in, SES.Hospedajes, tourist tax and virtual keys on a single platform.
Try 15 days free →Guest registration in Madrid: SES.Hospedajes
Since December 2024, Royal Decree 933/2021 requires every accommodation in Spain to report the guest registration form to the national SES.Hospedajes system of the Ministry of the Interior. In the Region of Madrid there is no additional regional police registry, so the obligation is met with a single submission to SES.Hospedajes.
Doing it by hand — asking the guest for the document, copying the data into the portal and submitting it on time — is tedious and error-prone. With digital check-in, the data is captured once and sent automatically within the legal deadline.
Virtual keys and self check-in
In a city with as much turnover as Madrid, handing over keys in person to every guest is unworkable. Virtual keys and smart locks enable autonomous entry:
- Unique access codes per booking that expire at the end of the stay.
- The code is delivered only when check-in is complete and verified.
- No trips, no waiting and no risk of lost key copies.
What Gotocheck automates in your Madrid apartments
Guest data and documents captured with OCR, in their language, before arrival.
Automatic on-time submission of the guest form, with no manual data entry.
Automatic calculation and charging based on guests and nights.
Per-booking access codes for autonomous 24/7 entry.
Reminders and welcome messages by email and WhatsApp.
Integration with Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo and your channel manager.
Is there a tourist tax in Madrid?
As of today, Madrid does not apply a tourist tax: neither the region nor the city charges a tax on stays, unlike Catalonia or the Balearic Islands. This simplifies management compared with other destinations.
Even so, it is worth staying alert: introducing a tourist tax in Madrid is debated periodically. With a charging system built into check-in, if it is ever approved you can pass it on automatically without changing your operation.
Frequently asked questions about tourist management in Madrid
Is automatic check-in legal in Madrid?
Yes, it is completely legal and it actually makes compliance easier. The guest completes their details online before arrival and the system sends them automatically to SES.Hospedajes within the legal deadline.
Where are guests registered for a tourist apartment in Madrid?
In the national SES.Hospedajes system of the Ministry of the Interior, mandatory since December 2024 under RD 933/2021. the Region of Madrid has no additional regional police registry.
Is there a tourist tax in Madrid?
No. Madrid currently charges no tourist tax at regional or municipal level. It is a recurring debate, so keep an eye on possible changes.
Do I need a licence to manage a tourist apartment in Madrid?
Yes. You must register in the regional RVVT (number VUT-XXXXXX-CM). In Madrid city an urban licence and independent access are also required; in other municipalities a responsible declaration is usually enough.
Related articles
Do you manage tourist apartments in Madrid?
Gotocheck automates check-in, guest registration, the tourist tax and keys so you stay compliant without spending time on it.