On 20 November 2026, Airbnb's new house rules policy takes effect. One line in it worries a lot of Indian hosts: you may not ask guests for a government ID, "except where required by law and in other limited circumstances" (Airbnb Help Centre, House rules policy).
Now set that next to what happened in Jaipur this week. On 3 November, Chitrakoot police registered a case against the operator of Hotel Ellora under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. Two Thai women had stayed there without the required C-Form being filed. One had overstayed her visa since 19 October. Hotel staff said another foreign guest had been checked in using the passport of a woman recently deported from Jaipur. The FRRO then told every hotel, guest house and homestay in the city to "verify the original passports and valid visas of foreign nationals before providing accommodation", and warned of "strict legal action" for anyone who does not (IANS via SocialNews.XYZ, 3 November 2026).
So which rule wins? The short answer: Indian law does, and Airbnb's policy already allows for it, but only if you set up your listing the right way before a guest books. This guide explains how.
What Airbnb Is Changing on 20 November
Airbnb emailed hosts on 20 October 2026 about "simplifying house rules" (The Host Report, 22 October 2026). The new policy applies to every reservation booked on or after 20 November 2026. The booking date is what counts, not the stay date. A booking made on 19 November for a stay in February follows the old rules. A booking made on 20 November for that same weekend follows the new ones (Tabivista).
For guest data, the new rules say hosts may not ask for:
- ID documents or details, including passports, driving licences and photos
- Contact details such as phone number, home address or email
- Financial data such as card or bank details
- Background or credit checks, and biometric data such as fingerprints or face scans
There are narrow exceptions. Collecting data is allowed when it is needed to comply with the law or a documented community rule, or to support an allowed contract such as a monthly stay. When an exception applies, you must:
- Say what you need and why in the listing's designated rules section, before the guest books.
- Collect no more than the law requires.
- Store and dispose of the data securely (Tabivista; Airbnb Help Centre).
You can still check ID in person at check-in if your listing says so. But you may not keep a copy unless an exception applies. Airbnb also says you cannot add new rules later through messages, signs in the home or in person. If it is not in the listing at the time of booking, it does not count (Airbnb Help Centre, article 4168).
What Indian Law Still Requires
Foreign guests: no exceptions
Under Section 8 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 and Rule 17 of the 2025 Rules, every keeper of accommodation must report each foreign guest online within 24 hours. The report is now called Form III, though most hosts still call it Form C. The rules list homestays, rented accommodation, paying guest houses and bed and breakfasts, so a paid Airbnb is covered. Missing a filing can be settled with a ₹50,000 fine per case, and every unreported guest is a separate case (Nicobar Times; The Hans India, 25 September 2026).
Airbnb's own India help page agrees. It says hosts need a one-time FRRO registration, must file a C-Form for each guest "even for a few hours" of paid hosting, and must attach the passport photo page and visa copy (Airbnb Help Centre, article 1641). That is a legal requirement, so it fits Airbnb's exception. But you must disclose it in the listing.
All guests: the guest register
Airbnb's India page also tells hosts to keep a Form B register with details of every guest, Indian and foreign, signed by the guest and the host. If you are registered under the Rajasthan Homestay (Paying Guest House) Scheme 2026, you must keep a guest register for at least seven years (Business Standard, 23 February 2026). Local police stations can also issue their own orders for guest records, so check with your thana.
The Risk for Jaipur Hosts
Jaipur is where this matters most in Rajasthan. The city received 2.56 lakh foreign visitors in January to June 2026, more than any other city in the state (Outlook Traveller, 27 August 2026). The busiest foreign months are just starting: Pushkar Fair (17-24 November), the Jaipur Jewellery Show in December and the Jaipur Literature Festival in January all bring overseas guests.
That leaves hosts with two separate risks:
- The police risk. If you skip the passport check or the Form III because Airbnb "banned ID", you are breaking Indian law. The Ellora case shows Jaipur police are acting on it. 69 foreign nationals have been deported from Jaipur so far this year (Amar Ujala, 29 October 2026).
- The Airbnb risk. If you ask for ID without a listing disclosure, or demand Aadhaar photos from every guest on WhatsApp, Airbnb may flag your rules. Airbnb starts reviewing listings on 20 November, with a first round running until March 2027. You get an email and at least 20 days to fix or appeal once. If you keep a rule Airbnb has not approved, your listing may show a notice to guests and appear lower in search (Tabivista).
The good news is that one well-written listing solves both.
Our 7-Step Plan for Jaipur Hosts
- Update every listing before 20 November. Bookings made from that day follow the new rules, so do this now, not after your next booking.
- Add a clear legal ID line in the rules section. Airbnb's own suggested wording is a good start: "Government issued ID needed for every guest staying to comply with Indian registration requirements." For foreign guests, add: "Foreign guests must show their original passport and valid visa at check-in. We are required by law to file Form III (C-Form) with the FRRO within 24 hours."
- Remove anything that is not legally needed. Delete requests for selfies, home addresses, extra phone numbers, security deposits for chores and separate rental agreements (unless the stay is 28 nights or more). These are now outside the rules.
- Check in person, and copy only what the law needs. Look at the original ID at check-in. For foreign guests, the passport and visa details go into Form III. For Indian guests, record what the register needs. Do not collect full Aadhaar copies by default.
- Register on the FRRO portal once. If you have not done it, sign up as an accommodation provider at indianfrro.gov.in before your next foreign booking. Then file Form III the same day the guest arrives.
- Keep your register safe. Keep the Form B register (and the seven-year homestay register, if you are registered) in a locked place or a password-protected file. Delete ID images you do not need. Airbnb asks you to store and dispose of data securely.
- Brief your caretaker and cleaning team. Whoever does check-in must know the script: check the original ID, fill the register, file the form, and never send ID photos over personal chats. Put it in your check-in checklist, next to the keys.
Keep Your Home Inspection-Ready
New rules mean more checks, from Airbnb's listing reviews to police and FRRO visits. A spotless, well-documented home makes every check easier, and it earns the reviews that keep you high in search.
At Swabha, we help Jaipur hosts run guest-ready homes with turnover cleaning, linen management and restocking. Our team works to a fixed checklist with photo records after every visit, so your home is ready for the next guest and for any inspection.
Getting your listing ready for 20 November? Let Swabha handle every turnover while you handle the paperwork. Message us on WhatsApp at +91-96490-96964 or email info@swabha.in.
Also read: Foreign Guests: File Form III Within 24 Hours and Rajasthan Homestay Scheme 2026: A Guide for Jaipur Hosts.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Airbnb's policy text and Indian rules can change; check the Airbnb Help Centre, the Bureau of Immigration portal and your local police station before you update your listing.
Sources: Airbnb Help Centre, House rules policy (from 20 Nov 2026); Airbnb Resource Centre, Important changes to house rules; Airbnb Help Centre, FRRO and C-Forms for hosts in India; The Host Report, 22 Oct 2026; Tabivista, Airbnb house rules policy 2026; ChargeAutomation, what hosts can still ask after 20 Nov; IANS via SocialNews.XYZ, Jaipur Hotel Ellora case, 3 Nov 2026; Amar Ujala, Jaipur deportations, 29 Oct 2026; The Hans India, fines for not reporting foreign guests, 25 Sep 2026; Nicobar Times, Form III guidelines; Business Standard, Rajasthan Homestay Scheme 2026, 23 Feb 2026; Outlook Traveller, Rajasthan H1 2026 tourist visits, 27 Aug 2026.