Diwali falls on 8 November. The Pushkar Fair opens on 17 November, the same day direct flights from Bangkok return to Jaipur. After that comes the wedding season. For the next five months, guests from Delhi, Mumbai, the Gulf and Europe will be looking for a home in the Pink City.
Many of those homes are run by owners who do not live there. Until this year, that was a problem. Rajasthan's old homestay rules said the owner or a family member had to live on the property. The Rajasthan Homestay (Paying Guest House) Scheme 2026 has removed that rule. It also raises the room limit from 5 to 8 and lets a caretaker manage the home for you.
If you host on Airbnb or any other platform in Jaipur, this is the most important rule change of the year. Here is what it says, what it costs and what to do before peak season starts.
What the 2026 Scheme Changes
The Rajasthan Tourism Department notified the new scheme in February 2026, replacing the Paying Guest House Scheme of 2012. It applies across the state with immediate effect. The main changes are:
- More rooms. A homestay in a residential unit can now have up to 8 lettable rooms and 24 beds, up from 5 rooms and 15 beds (UdaipurTimes, Business Standard).
- No need to live on site. The owner no longer has to live in the home. The unit can be run by the owner, a lessee or an appointed caretaker, who must follow the same rules and standards.
- Faster registration. A temporary registration is issued within seven working days, so you can start operating. Permanent registration follows an inspection within three months and is valid for two years. If the certificate is not issued in time, the application is treated as registered (The Travel and Tourism Times).
- Two categories, low fees. Homestays are classed as Silver (₹1,000) or Gold (₹2,000). Gold homes offer extras such as AC or heating, internet, better furnishing, smoke detectors and security arrangements.
Praveen Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism), called the scheme "a significant and transformative initiative" and said the caretaker option is meant to give owners "operational flexibility and business efficiency" (Business Standard).
Why This Matters for Jaipur Hosts
Jaipur's short-stay market has grown far beyond family-run guest houses. The city has around 1,081 active Airbnb listings, with an average daily rate of about ₹4,977 (AirROI). Many belong to people who own a second flat, live in another city or run several homes at once.
Under the 2012 rules, those owners could not register as a homestay at all. Now they can, as long as someone responsible is managing the home.
Demand is also there. Rajasthan received 25.44 crore tourists in 2025, up 9.74% on the year before (Business Standard). In the first half of 2026 alone, the state recorded 10.85 crore domestic and 8.45 lakh foreign tourists, according to state figures. Airbnb says Gen Z hosts in India grew nearly 40% year-on-year in the same period, with their earnings up over 60% (Media Brief). More hosts means more competition, and a registered, well-run home stands out.
Three benefits matter most:
1. You can grow to 8 rooms. A family with a larger villa or two adjacent floors can now list more rooms under one registration. That suits wedding guests and big family groups, who often book whole homes in November and December.
2. Your caretaker becomes official. If you live in Delhi or Bengaluru and someone else runs your Jaipur flat, the scheme now recognises that setup. You just need to appoint the caretaker properly and make sure they meet the standards.
3. You gain trust. A government registration certificate is something you can show guests, banks and housing societies. It can also help if a neighbour or society ever questions your guests.
What the Scheme Expects From You
Registration is cheap. Meeting the standards is where the real work lies. According to the scheme, every registered homestay must have:
- An attached bathroom and toilet for every room you rent.
- Adequate water and electricity, proper ventilation and cleanliness.
- Fire safety arrangements, plus parking and waste disposal that follow local body rules.
- A home inside a fully residential premises.
- A guest register kept for at least seven years.
- Reporting of every foreign guest to the authorities.
- Clear display of tariffs. If breakfast is included, you cannot charge for it separately.
The foreign-guest rule needs special care this season, with Bangkok flights and Pushkar visitors on the way. Under the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992, any host who takes payment from a foreign guest must submit Form C within 24 hours of check-in on the Bureau of Immigration portal at indianfrro.gov.in (Business Standard, Airbnb Help Centre). You first need a one-time FRRO registration. Each guest needs their own Form C, and you should also keep a signed Form B guest register. Penalties under the Foreigners Act can go up to five years in prison, so this is not a box to skip.
Your 6-Step Plan Before Diwali
- Check your home against the standards. Walk through every room. Does each have an attached bathroom? Is there a working fire extinguisher and a smoke detector? Write down what is missing.
- Choose Silver or Gold. If your home already has AC, Wi-Fi, good furnishing and smoke detectors, the extra ₹1,000 for Gold is worth it. It signals a better stay to guests.
- Appoint your caretaker in writing. If you do not live on site, name your caretaker and record their role and contact details. They will be the person the department and guests rely on.
- Apply at the local Tourism Department office. In Jaipur, apply through the regional tourism office. The department says the process will soon be fully online. Keep property papers, ID and photos ready. Your temporary registration should arrive within seven working days, so apply this week to be covered for Diwali.
- Register on the FRRO portal now. Do the one-time registration before your first foreign guest arrives. Add a line to your listing telling guests you will need their passport and visa copy at check-in.
- Make cleanliness provable. The scheme names cleanliness as a standard, and inspectors will visit within three months. Keep a written cleaning checklist, date-stamped photos after each turnover and fresh linen for every guest. (Swabha tip: keep at least three sets of linen per bed in peak season.)
Registered, Ready and Rated Five Stars
The 2026 scheme makes it easier than ever to run a legal, professional homestay in Jaipur, even if you live miles away. But the rules that matter most to an inspector are the same ones that matter to your guests: a clean bathroom, fresh linen, working safety kit and a well-kept home.
That is exactly what Swabha does. Our team handles turnover cleaning, linen management and restocking for Jaipur hosts, with checklists and photo records after every clean. We can work alongside your caretaker, or be the reliable support behind them, so your home stays guest-ready and inspection-ready through the busiest months of the year.
Planning to register your homestay before the festive rush? Message us on WhatsApp or become a Swabha partner today.
This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Check the latest scheme document and fees with the Rajasthan Tourism Department before you apply.
Sources: Business Standard, 23 Feb 2026; The Travel and Tourism Times, 21 Feb 2026; UdaipurTimes, 21 Feb 2026; Sach Bedhadak, 2 Sep 2026; Media Brief, 25 Aug 2026; Business Standard on Form C; Airbnb Help Centre: FRRO for hosts in India; Wego: Pushkar Mela 2026; AirROI Jaipur data.