How to set up SIBA Web Services in 2026 (Portuguese AL hosts)
Step-by-step guide to register on the SIBA portal, switch to Web Services submission, and get your tax number, establishment number and access key.
If you've just opened an Alojamento Local in Portugal — or you're tired of typing every guest into the SEF portal one by one — this guide walks through the exact steps to get SIBA Web Services working so your guest registrations can be submitted automatically.
It's based on real-world setup we've done for properties in Madeira and the Algarve, including the gotchas that aren't in the official documentation.
What is SIBA?
SIBA (Sistema de Informação de Boletins de Alojamento) is the system the Portuguese authorities use to receive the Boletim de Alojamento — a registration form that every foreign guest staying in an Alojamento Local must have submitted within three working days of arrival.
Failing to submit on time is one of the most common reasons AL hosts get fined. Since 2024, AIMA (which replaced SEF) has been steadily tightening enforcement.
There are two ways to send a Boletim:
- Manual: typing each guest into the SIBA web portal yourself.
- Web Services: software like Chave AL sends the data automatically by API.
Web Services is what you want. It's free, it's official, and it removes the single biggest source of late submissions.
Step 1 — Register your establishment on SIBA
Go to siba.ssi.gov.pt and choose "Registar novo estabelecimento". (The old siba.sef.pt address no longer works — SEF was dissolved and the service now lives with AIMA/SSI.)
You'll need:
- Your AL licence number (e.g. 12345/AL)
- Your NIF (taxpayer number) and company details if applicable
- Your AL property address
- A working email
At the bottom of the registration form there is a critical question:
Tick "Web Services". This is the one setting that decides whether automation will work for you. If you tick Manual now, you'll get a "O método de envio selecionado no momento do registo não lhe permite esta operação" error later, and you'll have to email AIMA to change it.
Step 2 — Wait for the letter
After registering, the UCFE sends you an ofício (an official letter) by post containing your Chave de Acesso — the access key for Web Services. It is never shown on screen in the portal.
This typically takes a few days to two weeks, depending on the post. Until the letter arrives, no software can submit a Boletim for you. This is normal. Don't panic, don't disconnect anything — just wait.
If after two weeks nothing has arrived, email siba@ssi.gov.pt with your NIF and establishment number and ask them to reissue the ofício — and to confirm your account is set to Web Services envio.
A note on the "URL de Acesso" / WSDL screen
After registration, SIBA may show you a screen titled "URL DE ACESSO" with two addresses:
- Development: https://siba.ssi.gov.pt/bawsdev/boletinsalojamento.asmx?wsdl
- Production: https://siba.ssi.gov.pt/baws/boletinsalojamento.asmx?wsdl
You do not need to open these or paste them anywhere. These WSDL links are for the software developer (Chave AL), not for you. Chave AL already uses the production endpoint to submit your Boletins automatically.
If you see this screen, it simply confirms Web Services is enabled — you can close it and move on to Step 3.
Step 3 — Find the three things you need
Once your letter arrives, you'll have the three pieces of information to plug into Chave AL (or any other compliant software). Note: SIBA does not use your portal username and password for automatic submissions — the Web Services credentials are these three:
The establishment number is not your AL licence number. It's a separate code the UCFE assigns. Most hosts miss this on the first try.
Step 4 — Plug it into Chave AL
In Chave AL, open the property, click SIBA credentials, and enter the tax number, establishment number and access key — then press Test connection to confirm the key works before any guest data is sent. Credentials are encrypted at rest using Lovable Cloud's secret vault — they never sit in plain text.
From this point onwards, every time a guest completes their online check-in form, Chave AL submits the Boletim to SIBA in seconds. You'll see a green ✅ next to the booking when it lands.
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