Do I have to show ID at a hotel?
Yes: at check-in you show ID/passport and the hotelier must register you. Under Law 2160/1993 and Police Order 8/1999 (as in force), hoteliers keep a guest register, inspected by the Hellenic/Tourist Police for security. Recorded: full name, date/place of birth, nationality, passport/ID number and stay details. An arrival/departure card per guest is completed and signed, kept 3 months. It applies to all guests: foreigners by passport, Greeks/EU by ID card or passport. In short: yes, identification at check-in.
📋 The rules
- The hotelier keeps a guest register (Law 2160/1993)
- Recorded: name, birth, nationality, document number
- Arrival/departure card per guest, signed
- Kept for 3 months for police inspection
- Foreigners: passport; Greeks/EU: ID card
🔓 Exceptions
- The tax "door book" was abolished — not the police register
- Electronic archives: no old physical pre-stamped book
- GDPR: limits on photocopying/retaining documents
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Failing the registration duties brings the hotelier an administrative fine of €300–€5,000, imposed by the Regional Tourism Service. Beware myths: "hotels no longer register guests because the door book was abolished" — wrong (only the tax book went; the police registration survives); "the hotel can keep your passport for the whole stay" — not lawful (it's shown for identification, not retained). To stay compliant as a guest: have your ID or passport at check-in; as a hotelier: keep the register/cards, respect GDPR, and don't retain documents.
📎 Official sources
- Law 2160/1993 — tourism/guest register →
- Police Order 8/1999 (as in force) →
- Hellenic Chamber of Hotels →
❓ Frequently asked
Do I have to show ID at check-in?
Yes. At check-in you show an ID card or passport and the hotelier is obliged to record your details in the guest register, for security reasons. Foreigners are identified by passport, while Greeks and EU citizens by ID card or passport.
What details does the hotel record?
It records the full name, date and place of birth, nationality, passport or ID number and the stay details. An arrival and departure card is completed per guest, signed, and kept for three months for any police inspection.
Was guest registration abolished?
No. Only the tax "door book" was abolished. The police duty to register and retain guests' details remains in force. It's a myth that hotels no longer register guests; the security obligation still exists.
Can the hotel keep my passport?
Not for the whole stay. The passport or ID is shown for identification and registration, but it's not lawful to retain it throughout the stay. In addition, GDPR sets limits on photocopying and retaining your documents.
What fine does the hotel face if it doesn't register?
Failing the registration duties brings an administrative fine of €300 to €5,000, imposed by the Regional Tourism Service. Registering guests is a legal obligation of the accommodation and is checked by the police and tourism authorities.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
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