With over 8 million active listings and a global community of 150 to 275 million users, safety is a big concern that raises the common question: “Does Airbnb do background checks on guests?” In 2016, Airbnb began conducting background checks on both hosts and guests to create a safer environment. So, yes, Airbnb does background checks.
But the background check only applies to the U.S. and India, so what about the rest of the countries? Also, can you fully trust Airbnb’s guest background checks? Actually, no. How do we know this?
At STR Assistance, we work with tons of hosts as Airbnb virtual co-hosts. We closely understand hosts’ pain, and guest background checks are a big concern for many.
We’ve learned a lot about where and how Airbnb conducts these checks, and today, we’re sharing from our personal experience.
Today, we will be talking about how reliable Airbnb background checks are, how the process works, whether there are any limitations, and if you need to conduct your own guest screening process. Let’s talk.
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Does Airbnb Do Background Checks on Guests?
Yes. According to Airbnb, the platform performs background checks on both guests and hosts. For guests, Airbnb runs a background check when a stay or experience is booked. For hosts, Airbnb checks when they log in after creating a listing or when someone books a stay at their vacation rental property.
However, these background checks are currently limited to the US and India. In select countries (e.g. Australia, Canada, Mexico, U.K.), Airbnb may also screen service/experience hosts.
For guests, Airbnb runs the background check 10 days before their check-in date. If the booking is made within 10 days of check-in, the check happens as soon as possible after booking.
For the background check Airbnb may ask for additional verification details, such as their legal name, date of birth, or a government-issued ID. Guests often provide this basic information when creating an Airbnb profile.
Airbnb states that it doesn’t run background checks on every user.
If you have a property on Vrbo, then read this post about “Does Vrbo Do Background Checks?“
If you have a property on Vrbo, then read this post about “Does Booking.com Do Background Checks?“
What Airbnb Really Checks in Guest Background Screenings
For the guests’ background check Airbnb submits user information to one of its approved third-party background check providers called Inflection Risk Solutions. These providers then verify the person’s identity against public records and available databases. Airbnb checks for criminal records going back about 7 years.
Another way, Airbnb claims that all users making transactions on the platform are screened against the OFAC list. Airbnb uses the U.S. Treasury’s SDN list to screen all hosts and guests worldwide. This includes individuals with terrorist designations. For users based in the US, Airbnb further checks certain public state and county criminal record databases, as well as state and national sex offender registries.
These background checks can reveal important information such as:
- Criminal history
- Sex offender status
- History of property damage
- Verification of identity
- Fraud or scam records
- Past violent behavior
- Financial fraud or theft charges
- Any matches on watchlists (e.g., OFAC)
If a guest’s criminal record shows an offense that does not break Airbnb’s policies, the booking is marked as Pending until Airbnb confirms additional details. After review, the guest is informed if they can proceed. In serious cases, the user may be permanently removed from Airbnb.
Airbnb Guest Screening Process
The Airbnb guest screening process involves automated identity verification, limited-scope background checks (mainly in the U.S.), predictive risk analysis to detect suspicious activity, profile completion, and a user review system. Here is a breakdown how the process work,
1. Automated Identity Verification: Airbnb asks guests to provide a government-issued ID, such as a passport or driver’s license, along with a valid email address and phone number through an automated guest screening system. These details help Airbnb confirm guests are real people. Also can also easily contact them.
2. Profile Completion: Guests must fully complete their Airbnb profiles. Informations includes a clear profile picture, personal bio, travel preferences, and other helpful information. This profile helps hosts understand who their guests are.
3. Background Check (Limited Scope): Airbnb performs background checks primarily on guests based in the U.S. These checks involve looking through criminal records from state and county databases, as well as national sex offender registries. Airbnb also checks watchlists like OFAC for serious offenses. However, Airbnb admits these background checks have limitations.
4. Predictive Risk Analysis: Airbnb uses automated algorithms to look for unusual booking patterns or suspicious activity. For example, Airbnb may flag a booking if it involves large groups, last-minute reservations, or guests who appear likely to throw a party in the Airbnb. However, predictive analysis isn’t perfect. While it helps identify some risky behaviors, it sometimes incorrectly flag safe guests or miss real threats.
5. Decision & Notification: If Airbnb’s system finds a high-risk guest, the platform can cancel the booking automatically. Then inform the guest. Airbnb informs hosts that the guest failed their safety screening or violated certain guidelines.
6. Guest Appeal Process (If Required): If Airbnb rejects or bans a guest due to a background check, the guest can appeal. Guests can request a copy of their background check. They have a chance to challenge the accuracy if they find mistakes.
What Information Does Airbnb Require from Guests?
For the background check Airbnb requires guests to provide:
- Government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license, passport, identity card, or visa): to confirm the guest’s legal identity.
- Email address: for account verification and communication.
- Phone number: to verify contact details and for security purposes.
- Profile details: to give hosts more information about the guest.
- Booking history: to build trust and track past stays.
If Airbnb has at least a first name, last name, and date of birth for a U.S.-based user who creates a listing or is linked to a booking, it may perform a background check on that user.
Airbnb’s background checks vary based on country-specific local legal requirements. In the U.S. and some countries in Europe, checks are more detailed information about the guest. In other regions, they may focus only on basic identity verification.
What are the Limitations of Airbnb Background Checks?
Airbnb background checks have limitations as they don’t catch everything, especially for users outside the U.S. They may miss past crimes and can’t predict future behavior. For the limitations of background checks, hosts always need to take extra steps to stay safe when hosting or booking.
Here are the limitations Airbnb has while background check for guests:
- Basic Information Used: Airbnb checks rely only on names and date of birth, so it can be vulnerable to false or stolen IDs and errors due to name similarities.
- No Financial Checks: Airbnb does not review guests’ financial history, bank statements, or credit records.
- Geographic Restrictions: Full background checks are mostly limited to the USA and India due to legal and database limitations in other countries.
- Incomplete or Outdated Databases: Public records used may be outdated or incomplete, and minor or international offenses may not be detected.
- Regional Variations in Thoroughness: The depth and accuracy of checks vary by country and local data availability.
- Timing of Checks: Screenings are often done after booking (around 10 days before check-in) rather than proactively.
- No Guarantee of Future Behavior: Even cleared guests may still engage in harmful or unsafe actions during their stay.
How Much Can You Trust Airbnb’s Background Checks?
You cannot fully trust Airbnb’s background checks. Why? Airbnb’s background checks add a layer of safety, but they’re not foolproof. They may miss past crimes, smaller ones or those not reported. Also no ongoing monitoring for recent criminal activity.
Moreover, Airbnb’s process only verifies the person booking the property, other guests are not screened. Checks are not repeated before each booking; the time since last screening may be months.
Additionally, identity fraud remains another issue, as Airbnb doesn’t verify if a guest’s government ID is stolen or fake.
So you should not rely solely on Airbnb’s vetting system.
Let’s have a quick comparison about who really provides the best guest screening for short term rental.
Do Airbnb Hosts Need to Screen Guests Themselves?
Yes, Airbnb hosts often need to screen guests themselves due to local laws and for their own safety. You wouldn’t want a guest with a criminal background staying at your property and causing issues.
Since Airbnb operates in over 220 countries and regions, and only performs background checks in the US and India, hosts in other countries must take responsibility for screening their guests.
Benefits of Doing Your Own Background Check:
- More control over who stays.
- Helps prevent damage, theft, or parties.
- Builds trust with guests.
- Shows you care about safety.
- Attracts better guests, boosts earnings.
However, in countries like Spain, Italy, and Portugal, it’s common for hosts to ask for a passport. Also, guest screening rules vary from country to country foreign laws. Here are some country specific rules based on that Airbnb hosts may ask for documents from their guests for screening,
France
- Hosts often verify guest IDs and request additional info.
- In cities like Paris, stricter regulations and local registration requirements push hosts to be more cautious.
Germany
- Some regions require hosts to report guest information for tax and tourism purposes.
- Many hosts ask for passports or official IDs.
Greece
- Especially in tourist-heavy areas, hosts often manually verify guests.
- Due to tourism tax laws, they may collect passport details for record-keeping.
Japan
- Under the Minpaku Law, hosts must collect and keep guest ID info, especially for foreign tourists.
- Many hosts follow strict procedures due to government enforcement.
UAE (Dubai)
- Airbnb is legal but regulated.
- Hosts are often required to collect passport copies to comply with Dubai Tourism rules.
How to Manually Screen Airbnb Guests Before Accepting a Booking?
Before you confirm a guest booking for your short term rental property you can do some manual screening such as communicate with them, check their past reviews, or sneak peak into their social profiles. You may find important information about them.
1. Communicate with Guests
With direct communication you can better understand your guests. Hosts can start by sending a friendly message when you receive a booking request. Ask about their trip plans, number of guests, and arrival times. Pay attention to how they respond.
You can also ask open-ended questions to learn more. If the guest avoids answers or seems uncomfortable, there can be something wrong, you need to deal with them.
2. Reviewing a Guest’s Airbnb Profile
You must not forget about the guest’s Airbnb to screen. Check if the profile is complete with a clear profile photo, bio, and verified ID badge. Look at how much effort they’ve put into their profile.
Read the past review about them, how the guest gave a review if they were respectful, and clean. Pay attention to any negative comments or cancellations.
3. Check The Guests Online Presence
Give a quick Google search of your guest’s name. You may find additional background information such as social media profiles, professional pages like LinkedIn, or other public details that confirm their identity.
4. Ask Them Some Basic Information & Create a Questionnaire
Asking guests a few basic questions can reveal a lot about their intentions. You can create a questionnaire with some basic information, like;
- “What’s the purpose of your trip?”
- “Have you stayed at an Airbnb before?”
- “What’s the purpose of your trip?”
- “Have you stayed at an Airbnb before? If so, how was your experience?”
- “Who will be staying with you? Can you provide the names of all guests?”
- “How many people are in your group?”
- “Are you traveling for work, vacation, or a special event?”
- “What time will you be arriving and departing?”
- “Do you plan to have any visitors during your stay?”
5. Check Other Platforms
Some guests who are new to Airbnb may have stayed on other platforms like Vrbo, Booking.com, or HomeAway. Search for reviews or references from those platforms to get an idea.
You can also check social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Many people have public profiles that make it easy to know about them. For example, a professional LinkedIn profile with their name and photo can help confirm they are a real and trustworthy guest.
Do You Need an Airbnb Virtual Assistant for Guest Screening?
Yes, you need an Airbnb virtual assistant because you don’t want a criminal or burglar on your property and proper screening would cost your precious time.
Since Airbnb does not facilitate a strong guest background check, guest screening is important and also takes your time and keen eye. You must thoroughly check the background, from asking their valid ids to social media. An experienced VA can do all of them for you, and STR Assistance has such experts to help the hosts.
We’ve helped many Airbnb hosts avoid bad guests through our thorough guest screening. We check every possible source to look into a guest’s background and communicate directly with them. With us, you can rest assured you’re protected from unwanted guests.
FAQ About Airbnb Background Check
In this section, we address key details about Airbnb’s background check process, including its availability across countries, the types of checks conducted, and the timeframe for criminal history reviews. This helps hosts understand how Airbnb ensures guest safety and what to expect from the screening process.
Are Airbnb background checks available worldwide?
No, Airbnb background checks are mainly done in the U.S. and for some hosts in India. In other countries, checks are limited or may not happen at all.
Are background checks run on every booking?
No, background checks are not run for every booking. They are usually done when a user first creates an account or updates their details.
What kind of background checks does Airbnb do?
Airbnb checks public criminal records, national and state sex offender registries, and global watchlists like OFAC for serious offenses.
Does Airbnb do criminal background checks?
Yes, but only in certain countries (mainly the U.S.) and only for serious criminal convictions found in public databases.
How far back does an Airbnb background check go?
Airbnb typically checks the last 7 years for criminal convictions, which is standard for most background check providers.
Bottom Line
We Protect From Bad Guest
Protect your property with trusted screening solutions, combining manual checks and automation to ensure safe and reliable bookings.
Airbnb does perform background checks on guests, but they are limited in scope and availability, mainly applying to the U.S. and India. These checks cover basic criminal history, sex offender status, and identity verification, but they aren’t foolproof. There are gaps in the process, especially for international guests, and Airbnb does not conduct background checks on every booking. As a host, it’s essential to take extra steps to ensure your guests are safe and trustworthy.
At STR Assistance, we understand the challenges hosts face when it comes to guest screening. As a short-term rental virtual assistant, we offer 24/7 guest communication support, including thorough background checks, to ensure you have peace of mind. We handle guest inquiries, check profiles, and go the extra mile to ensure you’re only hosting the best guests. Let us take care of the screening process so you can focus on providing an excellent experience for your guests.
