Tourism Registry for an Airbnb in Ecuador: the procedure step by step

The Tourism Registry is the first permit required for any property rented out on a daily basis in Ecuador (via Airbnb, Booking, etc.), and it is the prerequisite for everything else: without it, one cannot apply for the Unified Annual Operating License from the municipality.

The good news is that it is free and done entirely onlineThe downside is that the portal isn't always obvious, and there are three points where people tend to get stuck. This guide covers them.

What you need to have before starting

Do not open the portal without having this with you, because the process cannot easily be saved halfway through:

• Valid RUC or RIMPEregistration that includes accommodation services. This is the requirement that holds most people back: if your RUC does not list this activity, you must first update it with the SRI.
• ID card or passport of the holder.
• Precise details of the property: address, number of rooms, and number of sleeping spaces.
• If the holder is a company, the corporate documents and the appointment of the legal representative.
• An email address you have access to, because that’s where the notifications are sent.

The process, step by step

Registration is carried out on the Ministry of Tourism's portal. Here are the steps:

1. Registration is carried out on the Ministry of Tourism's portal. Here are the steps:
2. Select the type of establishment: tourist accommodation in a residential property.
3. Enter the property details: location, number of bedrooms, capacity, and amenities.
4. Attach the holder's documentation.
5. Review the summary and submit the application.
6. Download the certificate with the QR code once the system issues it.

The three points where people get stuck

1. The RUC without the accommodation activity

It is, by far, the most common one. Simply having a RUC is not enough; the economic activity of providing accommodation must be listed. If it is not listed, the portal will not allow you to proceed, and you must first visit the SRI to update it.

2. The address that does not match

The property address must be the actual one and match the documentation. A different house number or a misspelled sector leads to issues that delay the process by weeks.

3. Confusing the Registry with the municipal license.

These are two different things, and many people think that one is enough. The Tourism Registry is national and issued by the Ministry. The LUAF is municipal, issued by the Cuenca GAD (Decentralized Autonomous Government), and is paid for annually. requires the Registry certificate as a prerequisite. First one, then the other.

What comes next when it ends

Upon completion of registration, the system issues a certificate with a QR code. This certificate must be displayed at the property; it serves as visible proof that the accommodation is registered and allows guests or inspectors to verify its status on the spot.

And then: LUAF.

With the certificate in hand, the next step is the Municipality of Cuenca to process the Single Annual Operating License, which is renewed annually and carries a fee based on the establishment's category.

Beyond that, there remains a third obligation—not merely a procedural step, but a routine practice: registering every guest who stays, including their name, length of stay, number of adults and minors, and a contact telephone number, with records kept for six months.