CWTON 2026: What It Is and Who It Applies To [Full Guide]

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

NOTE - LEGAL STATUS (April 2026): The draft Polish implementing act (UC135) has not yet been passed by the Sejm. The CWTON system has not yet gone live online. Registration is currently physically impossible. The information below is based on the current draft act and EU Regulation 2024/1028. Deadlines and details may change.

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)
• May 20, 2026 is the date EU Regulation 2024/1028 starts to apply, but the CWTON system is not yet live and registration is physically impossible. According to the Ministry, the realistic launch is around October 15, 2026 (some sources indicate as late as Q1 2027)
• The draft Polish act UC135 provides for administrative fines of up to 50,000 PLN for failing to register, but these will only apply once the act is passed and the transition period ends. Until then, Airbnb and Booking do not remove Polish listings - the registration number field is optional, because there is no register to verify against.
• 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 must, however, adopt implementing regulations, including creating the CWTON IT system itself and setting penalty amounts. Legislative work is still ongoing (the UC135 draft has not been passed), and the CWTON system has not yet gone live - registration is currently physically impossible.

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?

Once the system goes live and your application is verified, your property is meant to receive a unique CWTON registration number. The exact number format has not yet been officially announced - do not rely on "templates" circulating online, as none has been confirmed.

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.

The deadline: what May 20, 2026 really means

Online, May 20, 2026 is often presented as a "hard registration deadline." That is a misunderstanding. It is the date from which EU Regulation 2024/1028 formally applies, but by itself it does not create a working registration obligation in Poland - because there is no passed national act yet and no live CWTON system.

What does this mean in practice? On May 20, 2026 no obligation to hold a CWTON number begins, platforms do not remove Polish listings, and regulatory authorities have no legal basis to impose fines for failing to register in a system that does not exist.

The real launch is postponed. On April 15, 2026, Deputy Minister Ireneusz Ras confirmed the use of the transition period until October 15, 2026; some sources indicate that host registration may realistically begin as late as Q1 2027. The system address will be published by the Ministry of Sport and Tourism once the UC135 act is passed. This is a good time to calmly prepare your documents - without rushing, but ahead of time. You'll find detailed guidance in the article How to Prepare for CWTON Registration.

What does CWTON registration look like? A brief overview

Registration will take place online through the gov.pl platform (the exact address will be published by the Ministry once the system launches). Until CWTON goes live, accommodation is registered in the register maintained by the local commune head (art. 38 of the Hotel Services Act of 29 Aug 1997). You won't need to go anywhere or stand in line. The process is expected to take 15-30 minutes if you have the necessary data prepared. Here are the main steps foreseen in the draft:

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.

Ultimately, once the national register is operational, the regulation foresees that platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, and Noclegi.pl will:

• Require a registration number when publishing a listing (in countries where the register operates)
• Verify the number's validity against the national data access point
• Share reservation data with the relevant authorities on the terms set out in the regulation

Key caveat: as long as Poland has no live CWTON system, platforms have no register to verify numbers against. That is why the registration number field remains optional for now, and Polish listings on Airbnb and Booking are not being removed for this reason. There is no platform sanction timeline and no Ministry API ready to verify numbers.

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

Note: the penalties below are provisions of the DRAFT UC135 act, not currently binding law. They will only apply once the act is passed and the transition period ends. Still, it's worth knowing them as you prepare to register:

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

Ultimately, once the national register is operational, platforms are expected to verify numbers, and a listing without a valid number may lose visibility. For now, however - with no system in place - Polish listings are not being removed. When the mechanism does go live, keep in mind that rebuilding your position after a listing is hidden takes weeks or months - you lose reviews, Superhost status, and your position in the search algorithm. That's a reason to register without undue delay once the system launches.

Penalty of up to 10,000 PLN for false data

If you register but provide false information, the draft UC135 act provides for an additional administrative penalty of up to 10,000 PLN. Separately, a false fire-safety declaration is subject to criminal liability under art. 233 §6 of the Penal Code - imprisonment from 6 months to 8 years.

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. Importantly, this is already a binding new obligation: smoke detectors are mandatory in existing premises used for accommodation services (including short-term rentals) from June 30, 2026, plus a CO detector where fuel is burned. You should also have a fire extinguisher, marked evacuation routes, and fire safety instructions. Details in the article Fire Safety Requirements for Short-Term Rentals.

Guest register

Maintaining a guest register (rejestr gosci) is currently good practice (and a possible future requirement under the draft act), not an obligation arising from a separate guest-register law - residence-registration books were abolished around 2013. It is still worth recording guest data and stay dates. 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 - but it is also not an obligation that "kicks in" on May 20, 2026. It is a central element of the new short-term rental regulation system in Poland, stemming from EU Regulation 2024/1028. Once the system actually launches (per the Ministry, around October 15, 2026, possibly not until 2027), not having a number may mean the draft act's fines of up to 50,000 PLN and loss of visibility on platforms.

The good news: there is no reason to panic today. The system is not live yet, and when it launches, registration is meant to be free and simple. Use this time to calmly organize your documents - registering your property with the commune, smoke detectors (mandatory from June 30, 2026), and tax matters - so you can register without rushing the moment the system starts.

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.

--- *Legal note: This content is informational and does not constitute legal, tax, or binding interpretation of the law. Legal status: April 2026. EU Regulation 2024/1028 applies directly from 20 May 2026, but the practical obligations for Polish hosts and platforms depend on the adoption and entry into force of the national implementing act (UC135), which is still a draft. Use this content at your own responsibility. For complex matters, consult a lawyer or tax advisor.*