# Homestay registration in India: a state-by-state guide (2026)

> Every state runs its own homestay scheme, with its own room limit, office and fee. Here is how registration works in nine states, and what to have ready before you apply.

- URL: https://guesthawk.com/guides/homestay-registration-in-india
- Category: Homestays
- Tags: Homestays, Registration, Foreign guests
- Published: 11 November 2026
- Updated: 11 November 2026
- Publisher: GuestHawk (https://guesthawk.com)

Homestay registration in India is handled by the states, not by one national office. Each state tourism department runs its own scheme, with its own definition of a homestay, its own room limit and its own fee. Get it right and you can trade openly, list on booking sites without worry and, in several states, pay domestic rates for power and water. Get it wrong and a district inspection can close you down.

This guide sets out how registration works in nine states as of **November 2026**, what documents to prepare and how renewal works. Schemes change often, and several states rewrote theirs in 2025 and 2026, so treat this as a map and confirm the detail with your state tourism department before you apply.

## Why homestay registration matters

A registered homestay is recognised by the state as a homestay, not as a hotel or a lodge. That recognition is what the rest of your business stands on:

- **It is the legal basis for taking paying guests.** Karnataka's 2025 guidelines say a house operating as a homestay without valid registration is illegal, and Uttarakhand's scheme states that registration is mandatory.
- **It can keep your costs domestic.** Karnataka treats a registered homestay as a non-commercial activity, charged property tax, electricity and water at domestic rates, with no trade licence needed. West Bengal's 2026 policy offers domestic electricity and water rates too.
- **It opens incentives.** West Bengal's 2026 policy offers registered rural homestays ₹1,00,000 in two instalments, and Goa's scheme offers a one-time grant of ₹2,00,000 in notified hinterland talukas.
- **It reassures guests.** A registration number on your listing and a certificate on the wall answer the question before it is asked.

Registration is separate from your other duties. You still report foreign guests on Form C (Form-III), and you still deal with GST if your turnover crosses the threshold. Our guide on [how to start a homestay in India](https://guesthawk.com/guides/how-to-start-a-homestay-in-india) covers the full picture.

## What most states mean by a homestay

The schemes differ in detail, but most share three ideas:

1. **The owner lives there.** Kerala gives classification only where the owner and family physically live in the house. Karnataka requires the owner, spouse or children to be resident. West Bengal is the exception: the owner, a family member or a designated relative may live on the premises, but the owner stays responsible.
2. **A small number of rooms.** Six rooms is the common ceiling (Kerala, Karnataka, Uttarakhand). West Bengal allows up to eight rooms and 16 beds in rural areas.
3. **Your own house, not a rented one.** Kerala, Karnataka and West Bengal exclude leased or rented premises.

If you do not live on site, or you have more rooms than the scheme allows, you are likely to fall under a bed and breakfast, guest house or hotel category instead. Karnataka, for example, treats a property where the owner does not live as a Bed and Breakfast, which is a commercial activity with separate guidelines.

## State-by-state homestay registration

The table summarises each state's scheme. Where we could not confirm a figure from an official source, it says so.

| State | Scheme | Who registers you | Where to apply | Key conditions |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Kerala | Homestay classification (Diamond, Gold, Silver) | Director, Department of Tourism, after an inspection committee visit | keralatourism.org service provider classification, online | Owner and family live on site; up to 6 rooms; no leased houses; ₹3,750 fee; valid 3 years |
| Karnataka | Guidelines for Registration of Homestay Establishments, 2025, under the KTTF Act, 2015 | Approval committee chaired by the Deputy Commissioner | Department of Tourism portal; AD or DD (Tourism) of the district until online is live | Owner or spouse or children resident; 1 to 6 rooms, 12 beds, no dorms; CCTV; breakfast; valid 5 years; fee as notified |
| Uttarakhand | Deen Dayal Upadhyay Griha Awas (Home Stay) Vikas Yojana | District tourism office (District Tourism Development Officer) | homestay.uttarakhandtourism.gov.in | Owner or leaseholder living with family as permanent residents; 1 to 6 rooms; not in municipal corporation areas; check the fee |
| Himachal Pradesh | Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Rules, 2025 (replaced the 2008 scheme) | Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation | Online through HP Tourism's e-services | Reported: owner in the revenue record, no leased houses or flats; fees vary by area and room count; check the current fee |
| Jammu and Kashmir | J&K Homestay Policy, 2026, with registration under the J&K Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1978 | Tourism Department | Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir or Jammu | Check rooms, category and fee with the Directorate |
| Uttar Pradesh | Bed and Breakfast and Homestay Policy, 2025 (since amended) | Reported: district committee led by the District Magistrate | UP Tourism | Check room limit, fee and renewal with UP Tourism |
| West Bengal | West Bengal Homestay Policy, 2026 (replaces the 2022 policy) | District Magistrate, after an inspection committee visit and police verification | wbhomestaytourism.gov.in | Rural areas only; 1 to 8 rooms, 16 beds; no leased premises; ₹1,000 Gold, ₹500 Silver; valid 3 years |
| Assam | Assam Tourism Accommodation (Development and Registration) Rules, 2026 | Department of Tourism | tourism.assam.gov.in | Check the room requirement in the 2026 rules |
| Goa | Homestay and Bed and Breakfast Scheme (2023), with registration under the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982 | Department of Tourism | Goa Online portal | Goan owner; Silver or Gold classification; grant only in notified hinterland talukas; check rooms and fee |

### Notes on the states

- **Kerala.** Apply for reclassification with the fee at least three months before expiry, and your classification stays valid until the decision. Display the certificate where guests can see it, and report changes in facilities to the district office within 30 days.
- **Karnataka.** The committee must decide within 45 working days, after which approval is deemed. Renewal is for up to five years at a time, and you should apply at least three months before expiry. The guidelines also require a guest register with ID copies, a complaint register and emergency contact numbers on display.
- **Uttarakhand.** Applications are made online through the state homestay portal. There have been reports of new state registration rules in 2026; confirm with the District Tourism Development Officer which rules your application falls under.
- **Himachal Pradesh.** Units registered under the old 2008 scheme reportedly had to re-register under the 2025 rules. Objections were filed against the first fee table, so take the current fee from the department, not from a news report.
- **Jammu and Kashmir.** The government notified the Homestay Policy, 2026 in October 2026, according to news reports. Ask the Directorate of Tourism for the current form, room limit and fee.
- **West Bengal.** No fresh urban homestay registrations are allowed under the 2026 policy; new urban units are directed to a separate Bed and Breakfast policy. The published policy left its start date blank, so confirm with the District Magistrate's office that it is in force.
- **Assam.** The older Directorate of Tourism guidelines allowed one to six rooms. News reports of the 2026 rules mention a minimum of eight rooms for registration. We could not confirm this from the rules themselves, so read them on the department's website before you plan rooms.

> **Rules change fast**
>
> Six of these nine states issued new homestay rules or policies in 2025 or 2026. Always check the department's own website for the current version before you apply.

## Documents required for homestay registration

Each state has its own form, but expect most of this list. It is based on Karnataka's 2025 checklist, Goa's scheme and West Bengal's 2026 form:

- **Proof of ownership:** sale deed, revenue records or property tax receipt. For joint ownership, an affidavit from the other owners.
- **Owner's identity and address proof:** Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or PAN.
- **Proof that you live there,** where the scheme requires it, and proof of relationship if a spouse or child applies.
- **Photographs:** the front of the house, sample rooms and bathrooms, and in some states the kitchen and parking.
- **Location:** a map pin or location plan showing access from the road.
- **Application form, checklist of facilities and a signed undertaking** to follow the operating rules.
- **Fee payment proof.**

Some states add police verification (West Bengal) or working CCTV at the entrance (Karnataka). Keep scanned copies in one folder; you will need most of them again at renewal.

## Homestay registration fees and renewal

The figures we could confirm from official sources:

| State | Fee | Validity | Renewal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Kerala | ₹3,750 per homestay | 3 years | Apply 3 months before expiry |
| Karnataka | As notified by the government | 5 years | Apply 3 months before expiry |
| West Bengal | ₹1,000 Gold, ₹500 Silver | 3 years | Online, with an inspection; ₹100 penalty if late |

For Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Goa, check the current fee with the state tourism department. Fees in some states depend on whether you are in a rural or urban area and on the number of rooms.

Karnataka's guidelines say no gram panchayat or urban body may charge an extra fee for homestay registration on top of the notified fee. If anyone asks, ask for that in writing.

Put the expiry date in your calendar the day the certificate arrives. In Kerala, a late application is treated as a fresh one.

## Homestay registration online, step by step

The flow is similar across states:

1. **Read the current scheme** on the state tourism website and check you qualify: residence, room count, area.
2. **Create an account** on the state portal and fill in the application.
3. **Upload documents and pay the fee** online, or by the route the district office tells you if the portal is not live.
4. **Host the inspection.** A district team checks ownership, facilities, safety and, in some states, police records and CCTV.
5. **Receive the certificate** and display it where guests can see it. Add the registration number to your booking site listings.

Once you are registered, set up your Form C (Form-III) account on [indianfrro.gov.in](https://indianfrro.gov.in) before your first foreign guest arrives. Our guide to [Form-III for hotels](https://guesthawk.com/guides/form-iii-for-hotels) walks through it, and [homestay house rules](https://guesthawk.com/guides/homestay-house-rules) covers what your registration may require you to display.

## The central Bed and Breakfast scheme

The Ministry of Tourism has long run the Incredible India Bed and Breakfast scheme, which classifies owner-occupied homes of one to six rooms as Silver or Gold. Some states, such as Goa, offer help registering with the Ministry as part of their own scheme. The Ministry also runs NIDHI, a national database of accommodation units.

Central classification is not a substitute for state registration. If you want it, confirm on tourism.gov.in whether applications are open and what the current fee is.

## Common mistakes that slow an application

Most delays come from a handful of avoidable problems:

- **Applying under the wrong category.** If you do not live in the house, or you have more rooms than the scheme allows, a homestay application will be rejected. Check whether a bed and breakfast or guest house category fits you better before you start.
- **Ownership papers that do not match.** The name on the property record, the applicant's ID and the application form should agree. Where a parent owns the house and a son or daughter runs it, include the relationship proof and any affidavit the state asks for.
- **Counting rooms the way you would like, not the way the scheme does.** Karnataka caps beds at 12 and three per room, and bans bunk beds. A room you plan to add later should not appear in the application until it is built and inspected.
- **An unready house on inspection day.** Inspectors look at cleanliness, bathrooms, safety and, in some states, CCTV and fire extinguishers. Treat the visit like a guest's arrival.
- **Missing the renewal window.** States set a deadline before expiry, and a late renewal can mean starting again.

Keep a simple file for each year: the certificate, the fee receipt, inspection notes and any letters from the district office. It makes renewal a morning's work.

## After registration: running it well

Registration is a promise to keep certain standards, and states do inspect. Keep a guest register with ID copies, report foreign guests within 24 hours, display your certificate and tariff, and keep the house as clean and safe as it was on inspection day.

GuestHawk helps with the daily side: guests share ID and Form-III details on their phone before they arrive, and one calendar keeps every booking site and direct booking in step. See [GuestHawk for homestays](https://guesthawk.com/solutions#homestays).

## Frequently asked questions

### Is homestay registration mandatory in India?

It depends on the state, but the trend is clear. Karnataka's 2025 guidelines say an unregistered homestay is illegal, and Uttarakhand's scheme makes registration mandatory. Assume you must register with your state tourism department before taking paying guests.

### What documents are required for homestay registration?

Usually proof of ownership, the owner's ID and address proof, photographs of the house, rooms and bathrooms, the location, and an application form with an undertaking. Some states add police verification, a no-objection certificate from the local body or CCTV. See the checklist in this guide and your state's form.

### How much are homestay registration fees?

They vary by state and category. Kerala charges **₹3,750** per homestay for classification and West Bengal's 2026 policy sets **₹1,000** for Gold and **₹500** for Silver. Karnataka's fee is as notified by the government. For other states, check the current fee with the state tourism department.

### Can I register a rented house as a homestay?

In most schemes, no. Kerala, Karnataka and West Bengal exclude leased or rented premises. Uttarakhand's scheme mentions owners or leaseholders who are permanent residents, so check the current rules with the District Tourism Development Officer.

### Do I still need Form C if my homestay is registered?

Yes. State registration and reporting foreign guests are separate duties. Every foreign guest must be reported on Form C (Form-III) within 24 hours of arrival. See [Form-III for hotels](https://guesthawk.com/guides/form-iii-for-hotels).

## Sources

- [Kerala Tourism: guidelines and reclassification of homestays](https://www.keralatourism.org/cls/homestays/guidelines.php)
- [Karnataka Tourism: Government Order on homestay registration guidelines, 2025](https://web-cms.karnatakatourism.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TOR-133-TDO-2025-G-O-COPY-.pdf)
- [Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board: homestay scheme eligibility criteria](https://hsapi.uttarakhandtourism.gov.in/pdfs/generated_pdf_6700e56869596.pdf)
- [West Bengal Department of Tourism: West Bengal Homestay Policy 2026](https://www.wbtourism.gov.in/assets/pdf/principal-notice/Final%20WB%20Homestay%20Policy%202026.pdf)
- [Goa Government: Homestays and Bed and Breakfast Scheme, details](https://msme.goa.gov.in/home/Scheme-Details/Homestays-and-Bed-and-Breakfast-Scheme)
- [India Today NE: Assam Cabinet brings homestays under new registration rules, Jun 2026](https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assam-approves-rs-975-crore-vrs-for-tea-corporation-staff-brings-homestays-under-regulatory-framework-1413090-2026-06-23)
- [UNI India: J&K government notifies Homestay Policy 2026](https://www.uniindia.com/north-india/tourism-jk-home-stay-policy/214201)
- [The Tribune: Himachal tourism department lays down strict norms for homestays](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/tourism-department-lays-down-strict-norms-for-homestay-units)