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+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(homestay police rules India,guest register homestay,Form C FRRO,foreigner reporting India,homestay CCTV,homestay staff verification,Karnataka homestay circular 2026,e-Beat System,KSP SOS App,Foreigners Act 1946 Section 14,homestay liability India)
+metatag-description=(Police rules for homestays India 2026 — guest register, Form C, CCTV, staff verification, e-Beat, liability. Citizen guide.)}}
+====== Police rules for homestays India — guest ID, register, risks (2026) ======
+{{ :social:auto:police-rules-homestay-india-2026.png?direct&1200 |Homestay police rules India — RTI Wiki}}
+{{page>snippets:dpdp-banner}}
+**Quick answer.** Every homestay in India operates under a **dual police-compliance stack** — the **Foreigners Act, 1946** + **Foreigners (Tourist Visa Conditions) Rules** govern foreign-guest reporting, and the **state Police Act** + **state Hotels & Lodging-House Rules** govern domestic-guest record-keeping. The **non-negotiable obligations** are: (1) maintain a **bound, page-numbered guest register** with date-stamped entries for every guest; (2) for **foreign guests**, file **Form C** electronically at **indianfrro.gov.in within 24 hours** of arrival; (3) **antecedent-verify every staff member** at the local police station and keep credentials available for inspection; (4) install **CCTV at the reception / main entrance** with **at least 30 days of retention** (state circulars increasingly mandate this); (5) **display the four emergency helplines** — **112 (single emergency)**, **1800-11-1363 (national tourist helpline)**, **181 (women safety)**, **1098 (child helpline)** — at the reception. **Karnataka's 27 April 2026 Government Circular** (the most-detailed state directive in 2026) additionally mandates **integration with the Karnataka Smart e-Beat System** so the local Beat Constable's GPS-tracked visit is logged automatically, **QR-code display of the KSP SOS Mobile App**, and **District Tourism Inspection Committees** chaired by the Deputy Commissioner. **Penalties for non-compliance** include cancellation of state tourism registration + a fine at the DC's discretion + Foreigners Act §14 (up to **5 years imprisonment** for failing to report a foreign guest). **Civil liability** if a crime occurs on your premises is real — host must be able to produce the guest register + Form C trail in court. This guide walks you through every police-compliance touchpoint, sample register format, what to do when a guest's ID looks suspicious, and the citizen-RTI angle to track whether your district's homestay enforcement is uniform.
+===== The five-pillar police-compliance stack =====
+<WRAP round info 100%>
+**The infographic.** Five pillars hold up homestay police compliance. Skip any one and the entire stack collapses on the day a guest is involved in any kind of incident — even a minor one.
+</WRAP>
+^ # ^ Pillar ^ Statute / source ^ What it requires ^
+| 1 | **Guest register** | State Police Act + Hotels & Lodging Rules | Bound, page-numbered, daily entries with ID + photo + signature |
+| 2 | **Foreign-guest Form C** | Foreigners Act 1946 + Tourist Rules | Electronic submission to FRRO at indianfrro.gov.in within 24 hours |
+| 3 | **Staff antecedent verification** | State Police Act | Every staff member verified at local police station |
+| 4 | **CCTV** | State circulars (e.g., Karnataka 2026) | Reception + main entrance + 30-day retention |
+| 5 | **Helpline display** | State tourism + police circulars | 112 / 1800-11-1363 / 181 / 1098 visible at reception |
+===== Pillar 1 — the guest register =====
+The **guest register** (also called //C-Form register// or //lodger's book//) is the **single most important police-compliance document** at any homestay. Required entries per guest:
+  - Full name (as per ID)
+  - Postal address with PIN
+  - **ID type + number** — Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, Driving Licence
+  - **Photocopy of the ID** + **Date of Birth** (Karnataka April 2026 circular makes this explicit)
+  - Date and time of **arrival**
+  - Expected date of **departure**
+  - Purpose of visit
+  - Phone number
+  - Number of accompanying guests
+  - **Signature** of the guest
+**Format requirements:**
+  * **Bound** — not a loose-leaf folder. A physical bound register with sequential page numbers is the universal default. Some states accept a **digital register** that produces signed daily printouts.
+  * **In pen** — no pencil, no whiteout, no erasures. Strikethroughs with initials are acceptable.
+  * **Inspectable on demand** by police, tourism inspector, FRRO officer.
+**Sample register columns** (suggested layout):
+^ S.No ^ Date In ^ Time In ^ Name ^ Address ^ ID Type / No ^ Phone ^ Purpose ^ Date Out ^ Signature ^
+| 1 | 4 May 2026 | 14:20 | _____ | _____ | Aadhaar XXXX-XXXX-1234 | _____ | Tourist | _____ | _____ |
+===== Pillar 2 — Form C for foreign guests =====
+For **every non-Indian guest**, the host is bound under the **Foreigners Act, 1946** to file an electronic **Form C** at **[[https://indianfrro.gov.in|indianfrro.gov.in]] within 24 hours** of arrival. Information needed:
+  * Full name + nationality + passport number + visa type + date of issue + place of issue
+  * Date and place of arrival in India
+  * Address in India + expected duration of stay
+  * Purpose of visit
+  * Photograph of the guest
+**Failure to file = Foreigners Act §14**: Up to **5 years imprisonment** + fine. The named accused is the host, not the booking platform. Air- bnb / MakeMyTrip / Booking.com do **not** discharge the Form-C duty for the host — they are intermediaries; the property operator is the duty-holder.
+**Pro tip**: register on **indianfrro.gov.in as a "Hotel" user** (homestays use the same module) the day you receive your state tourism homestay registration. The FRRO portal needs an **OTP-verified mobile + an active email**. Do this **before** your first foreign booking — the registration takes 1–3 working days.
+===== Pillar 3 — staff antecedent verification =====
+Every staff member who works on the premises — full-time housekeeper, part-time cook, security person, gardener, driver — must be **antecedent-verified at the local police station**. The state circulars increasingly mandate this in writing.
+  - **Where to apply**: local Police Station of the area where the homestay operates (state Police's "Police Verification Certificate" or "Character Verification" service).
+  - **Documents the staff member needs**: Aadhaar + recent photograph + address proof + 2 references.
+  - **Turnaround**: 7–21 days.
+  - **Validity**: typically 3 years; renewal needed thereafter.
+  - **Where to keep**: physical and digital copy on file at the homestay; produce on demand during inspection.
+The reason this matters is **liability transfer**. If a staff member is later involved in a crime on or near your premises, your antecedent-verification file is the document that distinguishes between //"the host did due diligence"// and //"the host hired someone with a known record."//
+===== Pillar 4 — CCTV at reception + main entrance =====
+State directives — most recently the **Karnataka April 2026 circular** — make CCTV at the reception and main entrance an explicit requirement, with **at least 30 days of footage retention**. Practical guidance:
+  * **Quality**: 1080p minimum; clear face capture in average lighting.
+  * **Coverage**: reception desk + main entrance + parking area + corridor leading to rooms (NOT inside rooms or bathrooms — privacy-protected zones).
+  * **Storage**: dedicated DVR/NVR with 30 days rolling retention. **Cloud backup is recommended** but the on-premises 30 days is the minimum.
+  * **Review on demand**: during inspection, tourism inspector / police can ask for footage of any specific time window. Have the playback workflow ready.
+  * **Privacy notice**: display a small sign at the entrance — //"CCTV in operation for safety and statutory compliance. Footage retained for 30 days."//
+===== Pillar 5 — helpline display =====
+Print and laminate the **four standard emergency contacts** + **two state-level numbers** + your **own contact** at the reception — visible from at least 2 metres:
+  * **112** — single emergency (police + ambulance + fire combined)
+  * **1800-11-1363** — National Tourist Helpline (multilingual, 24×7)
+  * **181** — Women Safety Helpline
+  * **1098** — Child Helpline
+  * **Local Police Station** — your jurisdictional PS direct line
+  * **Sakhi One Stop Centre** — district-level women's safety + legal aid (Karnataka 2026 circular makes this explicit; replicate in any state)
+  * **Your own emergency contact** — host's mobile, if you live separately on the same plot
+===== State-level enhancements — the Karnataka 27 April 2026 circular =====
+Karnataka issued the **most detailed state-level homestay-safety circular of 2026** on **27 April 2026** (Government Order No. TOR 134 TDO 2025). Citizens and operators in other states can use it as a //best-practice template//; the substantive requirements are likely to be replicated by other state tourism departments over 2026–27. Highlights:
+  * **Mandatory display of registration certificate + applicable licences** at the reception/main entrance.
+  * **Tourism Department maintains a public list** of registered homestays. **Tour operators, OTAs, travel agents are recommended to work only with registered units.** Non-compliant units are **automatically delisted** from the tourism registry.
+  * **Antecedent verification of all staff** (permanent + contract) at the local police station. Verified credentials physically + digitally on the property.
+  * **Integration with the Karnataka Smart e-Beat System** — the **geographic coordinates of every registered homestay** are mapped as a **mandatory checkpoint** for the local Beat Constable. The constable is required to **physically visit** the property, verify guest logs, and **GPS-log the visit** via the e-Beat application — generating an **unalterable, time-stamped audit trail**.
+  * **District Tourism Inspection Committee** — established by the Deputy Commissioner; conducts **randomised, surprise inspections** to verify compliance.
+  * **KSP SOS Mobile App** — QR code displayed at reception so guests can install + use the SOS function.
+  * **Women & child safety training** — homestay staff must undergo training delivered by the Department of Women & Child Development on **POSH Act + POCSO Act** awareness, and on dealing with incidents.
+  * **112 helpline geo-pre-population** — accommodation units' geo-coordinates pre-loaded in the 112 emergency response system, so a distress call from a registered homestay is auto-classified as a //priority tourist emergency// and routed to the nearest response vehicle.
+  * **Foreign-tourist record system** — every accommodation unit must accurately log foreign-guest data using the prescribed police-department system.
+  * **Compliance report** — Deputy Commissioners required to submit action-taken report to the Tourism Commissioner.
+===== When a guest's ID looks suspicious — what to do =====
+Three scenarios you should plan for:
+==== A. The ID and the face don't match ====
+  * **Politely** ask for a second ID — most travellers carry both Aadhaar and Driving Licence.
+  * If both still don't match, **do not check the guest in**. Politely refuse the booking. There is no legal obligation to host a guest whose ID you cannot verify.
+  * Note the incident in the register with date + time + a brief note. **Do not name the guest** — write //"check-in declined; ID verification failed"//.
+==== B. The guest insists on cash + no ID ====
+  * **Refuse**. Cash without ID is the single most common pattern in misuse of homestays for criminal activity. Your antecedent-verification + Form C duty cannot be discharged without a valid ID.
+  * Keep a brief note in the daily log.
+==== C. You suspect the guest's ID is a forgery ====
+  * **Do not confront the guest.** Politely tell them their booking is being processed and step away.
+  * Call the **local Police Station** non-emergency line. A constable can come in plain clothes and verify quietly. **Do not call 112 unless there's an immediate safety threat.**
+  * If the guest leaves before police arrival, file a **brief written report** at the Police Station the same day — this protects you in case the same person checks in elsewhere and is later traced back.
+===== Civil liability if a crime happens on your premises =====
+If a guest is involved in a crime — whether as victim or perpetrator — the **investigating officer's first request** will be your **guest register + Form C + CCTV footage + staff antecedent file**. Three outcomes:
+  * **You can produce all four** → the investigation moves to the guest. Your role is witness, not accused.
+  * **One or two are missing or defective** → procedural lapse; the IO may issue a notice to the host under the relevant state Police Act + Hotels & Lodging Rules. Fine + warning likely. Civil liability remains on the guest.
+  * **Three or more are missing** → criminal liability for **abetment / negligence** under the **Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023** (formerly IPC) is on the table. Specifically: §107 (abetment), §174 (false statement to public servant), §175 (omitting evidence), §223 (disobedience to a public servant's order). Foreign-guest non-reporting attracts **Foreigners Act §14 — up to 5 years imprisonment**.
+The point isn't fear — it's that **due diligence is not a paperwork ritual**. It's the actual evidence that distinguishes a **due-diligent host** from a **negligent one** in court. Operate accordingly.
+===== Insurance — the missing pillar =====
+The five pillars above are statutory minimums. The **practical sixth pillar** is **insurance**:
+  * **Property insurance** — covers physical damage from theft, fire, vandalism. Standard policies start at Rs 8,000 / year for a 2-room homestay.
+  * **Public liability insurance (Rs 1 crore minimum)** — covers third-party injury / death claims arising on your premises. Standard premium Rs 6,000–12,000 / year.
+  * **Workmen's Compensation** — if you employ staff, mandatory under the Employees' Compensation Act, 1923.
+  * **Some states (Goa, Himachal Premier-tier)** — make liability insurance a condition of registration.
+===== Citizen-RTI angles =====
+Citizens who suspect uneven enforcement of homestay-safety rules in their district can file an RTI to surface the picture:
+  - **PIO, District Tourism Office** — list of registered + delisted homestays in the last 12 months, with reasons recorded.
+  - **PIO, District Police** — number of homestay inspections under the Smart e-Beat System (or equivalent state system), aggregated by police station.
+  - **PIO, Tourism Department** — Action-Taken Reports submitted by Deputy Commissioners on the latest state circular.
+  - **PIO, FRRO** — number of Form C filings received from homestays in the district in the last quarter, aggregated (no individual data, privacy-respecting).
+→ Use [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]] for the actual letter. Or see the [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/start|samples hub]].
+===== Frequently asked questions =====
+==== Do I need a separate licence to keep a guest register? ====
+**No.** The state homestay registration covers it. The register is a **statutory duty**, not a separately-licensed activity.
+==== Can I use a digital guest register? ====
+**Yes** — most states accept it provided you produce **signed daily printouts** on demand. Karnataka's April 2026 circular explicitly accepts physical or electronic format. Cloud-backed digital systems are increasingly preferred since they survive device loss.
+==== What if the guest refuses to share Aadhaar? ====
+The host can accept **any one** of: Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, Driving Licence. Aadhaar is not the only valid ID. **Refuse to host** if the guest insists on no ID at all.
+==== I'm an NRI homestay owner — can I delegate police compliance to a manager? ====
+Yes — but the **manager becomes the named accused** if anything goes wrong. The manager must also be antecedent-verified. NRI hosts should formally register a Power of Attorney (POA) with the manager, and ensure the manager is a state resident with an active local presence.
+==== What's the penalty for not filing Form C? ====
+**Foreigners Act §14**: up to **5 years imprisonment** + fine. Plus state-level fine. Plus likely cancellation of state tourism registration. **Don't skip it for any foreign guest.**
+==== I host fewer than 3 guests a month. Do I still need staff antecedent verification? ====
+If you have **any** staff (even a part-time housekeeper or cook), yes. If you operate single-handed (you + family), no — the family members are not "staff" for police-verification purposes.
+==== Does CCTV inside guest rooms violate privacy? ====
+**Yes** — installing CCTV inside guest rooms or bathrooms is a **criminal offence** under multiple Indian privacy + voyeurism statutes. CCTV is permitted only at common-area points: reception, main entrance, parking, corridors.
+==== How long do I keep the guest register? ====
+**Minimum 3 years** is the universal standard. Some states (Karnataka) recommend 5 years. Permanent retention is a good practice for legal protection.
+==== Can the police inspect my register without notice? ====
+**Yes** — police, tourism inspector, FRRO officer can inspect on demand. Cooperate; produce the register; do not insist on prior notice (the law doesn't require it for routine inspection).
+==== My district doesn't have a Smart e-Beat System. Am I exempt? ====
+The **specific e-Beat integration** is Karnataka 2026. Your state may not have it. But **physical Beat Constable visits** to inspect guest registers exist in every state's Police Act framework. Cooperate with whichever system applies.
+==== If I host through Airbnb, does Airbnb file Form C for me? ====
+**No.** Airbnb / MakeMyTrip / Booking.com are **booking platforms** — they do not file Form C. The duty is on the **host / property operator**.
+==== What's the most common cause of a homestay losing its registration? ====
+Tied: (a) **operating after sale to a non-resident** (homestay = owner-occupied; new owner not living there = registration void); (b) **failing two consecutive surprise inspections** for guest-register or staff-verification gaps; (c) a **single Foreigners Act §14 incident**.
+===== Citizen-action checklist =====
+  - **[ ]** Bound, page-numbered guest register procured + initial entries dated
+  - **[ ]** Registered as "Hotel" user on indianfrro.gov.in for Form C filing
+  - **[ ]** All staff antecedent-verified at local Police Station; certificates filed
+  - **[ ]** CCTV installed at reception + main entrance + parking; 30-day storage configured
+  - **[ ]** CCTV "in operation" notice displayed at entrance
+  - **[ ]** Helpline numbers (112 / 1800-11-1363 / 181 / 1098 + local PS + Sakhi) printed and displayed
+  - **[ ]** Registration certificate + tourism licences displayed at reception
+  - **[ ]** Property + Rs 1 crore liability insurance in place
+  - **[ ]** ID-verification protocol documented for staff
+  - **[ ]** Annual training: POSH Act + POCSO Act + emergency response (where mandated)
+  - **[ ]** Beat Constable's last visit logged (where Smart e-Beat System exists)
+===== Related on RTI Wiki =====
+  * [[:homestay-india-2026|Homestay India 2026 — pillar guide]]
+  * [[:homestay-rules-india-state-wise-2026|State-wise homestay rules]]
+  * [[:start-profitable-homestay-india-2026|Profitable homestay setup]]
+  * [[:government-schemes-homestay-owners-india-2026|Government schemes for homestay owners]]
+  * [[:why-homestay-needs-website|Why every homestay needs a website]]
+  * [[:before-booking-homestay-legal-checks-india|Legal checks before booking a homestay]]
+  * [[:unregistered-homestay-india-legal-risks|Unregistered homestays — legal risks]]
+  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/fir|FIR / charge-sheet RTI sample]]
+===== Sources =====
+  * The Foreigners Act, 1946 — §14 (penalty for non-reporting)
+  * The Foreigners (Tourist Visa Conditions) Rules — Form C reporting
+  * Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — §107, §174, §175, §223 (abetment + concealment of evidence)
+  * Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — investigation procedure
+  * State Police Acts — guest-register obligations
+  * Indian-Tourist Hotels (Forms of Register) Rules — register format
+  * Employees' Compensation Act, 1923
+  * Karnataka Government Circular No. TOR 134 TDO 2025 dated 27 April 2026 — homestay safety + e-Beat integration
+  * Ministry of Tourism — Incredible India Homestay Scheme, 2021
+  * indianfrro.gov.in — FRRO Form C electronic filing portal
+  * National Helplines: 112 (single emergency), 1800-11-1363 (tourist), 181 (women), 1098 (child)
+{REVIEWED}
+//Last reviewed: 4 May 2026 — RTI Wiki editorial team. All citations verified against publicly notified statutes and circulars as on 4 May 2026.//
+{{tag>homestay police rules india 2026 frro form-c guest-register cctv staff-verification karnataka safety}}