Homestay registration in India: state-by-state rules

There is no single national licence for homestays in India. Tourism is a state subject, so each state sets its own rules for homestays and bed and breakfasts, and many have updated them recently. This guide summarises the main schemes so you know where to start.

Rules change often. Always confirm the latest requirements and fees with your state tourism department before you apply.

The national scheme: Incredible India Bed & Breakfast / Homestay

The Ministry of Tourism runs a voluntary scheme for classifying homestay establishments as Gold or Silver based on their facilities. The scheme does not come with financial assistance from the Ministry; its value is recognition and visibility.

Registered and classified units are recorded on the NIDHI portal (National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry), which the Ministry uses as a national database of accommodation units under its "One India, One Registration" initiative.

Goa

Goa's Homestay and Bed & Breakfast policy covers establishments with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 6 lettable rooms (12 beds).

• For a homestay, the owner and family must live in the establishment.
• For a B&B, the owner need not live there, but a designated agent or operator must reside on the premises.
• Units register with the Department of Tourism under the Goa, Daman and Diu Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982 and are classified as Silver or Gold.
• Requirements include attached bathrooms with hot and cold water, internet, guest ID records and local body NOCs.

Kerala

Kerala has one of India's oldest homestay classification schemes, run by the Department of Tourism.

• The applicant must be a resident of Kerala staying in their own house.
• A homestay can set apart a minimum of 1 room (2 beds) and a maximum of 6 rooms (12 beds) for guests.
• Applications go to the Director, Department of Tourism, and approved homestays are classified by category.

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh replaced its earlier scheme with the Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Rules, 2025.

• A homestay can have up to 6 rooms or 12 beds.
• Homestays are categorised as Diamond, Gold or Silver, linked to tariff and facilities, with registration fees that depend on the category and whether the property is in a municipal, town-planning or panchayat area.
• Applications are approved by the District Tourism Development Officer, and registration can be taken for one or three years.

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand brought tourism businesses, including homestays, under its Tourism and Travel Business Registration Rules 2026, which replaced the earlier 2014 and 2015 rules.

• Homestays register with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board.
• A homestay can have up to 8 rooms and 24 beds, and the owner must be a permanent resident of Uttarakhand living on the premises.
• Homestays are graded Gold, Silver or Bronze, and registration is valid for five years.
• The state's Deen Dayal Upadhyay Homestay Development Scheme has offered loan-linked subsidies for homestays in hill districts.

Other states

Most states with strong tourism, including Sikkim, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and the north-eastern states, run their own homestay or B&B schemes. Search for "[your state] homestay registration" on the state tourism department's website, or visit the district tourism office.

Other licences and registrations to check

Depending on your size and location, you may also need:

• Local body permission: trade licence or NOC from the municipality or gram panchayat.
• Police verification of the owner and property.
• Fire NOC, usually for larger properties.
• FSSAI registration if you serve meals.
• GST registration if you cross the threshold or sell through certain platforms. See GST on homestays.
• Form C for foreign guests, submitted through the FRRO portal within 24 hours of arrival.

Why this matters if you run a platform

If you run a booking platform, your hosts' registration is part of your trust story. Good platforms let you ask hosts for registration details and documents during listing, verify them, and show a verified badge to guests. That is exactly the kind of local knowledge that lets a regional brand beat a global one. Read how to start your own BNB booking platform in India to see how operators do it, for less than ₹3 lakh to get started.