Owner guide
Getting Tourism NI certification for your holiday let
Who needs certification
Tourism NI states that the Tourism (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 requires tourist accommodation providers to be certified by Tourism NI before they begin operating. Self-catering accommodation is one of the categories covered.
Do I need a licence for Airbnb in Northern Ireland?
There is no separate licence for listing a home on Airbnb or other booking sites. What the law requires is Tourism NI certification: under the Tourism (Northern Ireland) Order 1992, self-catering accommodation, however it is booked, must be certified by Tourism NI before it starts operating.
Applying
Applications are made to Tourism NI, online or on a paper form, and are accompanied by a fee. Tourism NI publishes the current fee and form on its certification pages; check them before you apply, as fees can change.
Tourism NI's start-up guide for self-catering accommodation sets out what it expects to see and is the best place to begin.
The inspection
Once your application is received, Tourism NI arranges an inspection visit. Its self-catering inspection checklist lists what inspectors look at, and advises having the property ready as if a guest were arriving.
Keeping your certificate
Tourism NI's self-catering guidance describes a statutory inspection cycle for renewing certificates. Its guidance also sets out other duties for operators, such as keeping a register of guests.
Certification is separate from Tourism NI's quality grading (star ratings), which is voluntary.
Rules may change
The Department for the Economy has consulted on changes to how tourist accommodation is regulated in Northern Ireland. Check the current position before you apply.
General guidance, not legal advice. Always check the current requirements with Tourism NI.