Anyone been asked for passport number when renting a villa in Greece?

[NoMoreLimbo]

Well as it says in the title... I am renting a self catering villa on Greek island with the family this summer. Have rented villas before. Not on same island though. For the first time I have been asked for my passport number 'for the local tax authorities'. Is this a thing? I am somewhat uncomfortable about this but maybe over cautious?

This is normal on the Balearic Islands. Always give my passport number.

I’ve had to do this in Greece and Spain, it’s quite typical.

Yes, lots of places ask for this now

It is for the host or hotel to register to pay the daily tourist tax

It will become normal across the EU.

Normal when renting a villa. It’s a legal requirement for many European countries. As pp said in Spain, Italy, canaries and as they also record this information in hotels in Greece I suspect it’s the law there too.

The host will need it because they have to register you as a customer with the authorities who will then tax them. There may be spot checks to make sure that who they said was staying actually is (or more likely, to check the owner is actually declaring all their customers). The authorities just want their tax you see. Same across the Med.

Thanks so much everyone.

Yes - in France at air bnb. Normal and safe for the owner to verify booking, and it's often a Government requirement anyway. No worries.