Yes, you can ask shortlet guests for ID. Do it fairly and safely: say so before anyone books, ask every guest the same way, collect it somewhere private, and never ask for more than you need. On Cabans, you tick one box and the guest uploads their ID on their stay page, where only you and the Cabans team can see it.
This guide is not legal advice. It explains good practice for hosts. If you have a specific legal question, ask a lawyer.
Why hosts ask for ID
You are handing the keys of a furnished home to someone you have probably never met. A photo ID gives you a little more confidence about who is walking through the door. Common reasons:
- Knowing who is staying. The name on the ID should match the person who booked, or you should know why it does not.
- Estate security. Some estates ask hosts to register visitors at the gate. A name, not a copy of the ID, is usually enough for that.
- Putting off bad bookings. Someone planning a party, or worse, may think twice when they know ID is checked.
- Peace of mind at check-in. You can match a face to a name before you hand over the keys.
An ID check does not promise good behaviour. Clear house rules, a caution deposit and a proper check-in and check-out do more of the work. See our shortlet house rules template and check-in instructions template.
Turning on ID for your home
On Cabans, ID is a setting on each listing, in its “Stay information”. To turn it on:
- Open your listing’s edit page and find the card “For your guests’ stay”.
- Open “Stay information”.
- Tick “Guests must upload an ID”.
- Press “Save stay information”. It goes live at once, with no approval needed.
The step-by-step guide, with the other boxes on the same page, is how to add house rules, arrival steps, door code and Wi-Fi.
Guests see the ID request only after their booking is confirmed. So say it in your listing description too, for example: “We ask every guest for a photo ID after booking, and check it at check-in.” Nobody likes a surprise after paying.
One thing to know: you cannot see the ID before you accept a booking request, because the upload card appears only once the booking is confirmed. ID is a check for arrival day, not a way to screen requests.
If you want to decide on each booking yourself, turn instant book off. Our guide to instant book or request to book weighs up both.
Words you can copy
Put a line like this in your listing description, so guests know before they pay:
- “For everyone’s safety, we ask each guest for a photo ID after booking. Please upload a passport, driving licence or national ID card on your stay page. Only we and the Cabans team can see it.”
And a friendly reminder to send a day or two before arrival:
- “Hello [name], we look forward to hosting you on [date]. If you have not yet uploaded your ID, please add it on your stay page under ‘Your ID’. It helps us hand over the keys quickly.”
What guests can send
The guest sees a card called “Your ID” on their stay page. It tells them: “This property asks guests for an ID. Only your host and our team can see it.” They can upload:
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Documents | A passport, a driving licence or a national ID card |
| File types | A photo (JPEG, PNG, WebP or HEIC) or a PDF |
| Size | Up to 10 MB per file. Most phone photos are much smaller. |
| When | From the moment the booking is confirmed until check-out |
Guests can press “Send another” to add more than one file, for example the front and back of a card. If a guest cannot find the card, check that you saved the setting on the right listing.
Checking the ID on arrival day
Open the booking from your Bookings page. Under “ID and condition photos”, open “Guest ID”. Each file opens through a link that works for 15 minutes, so you are not left with a copy lying around.
- Check the name matches the booking, or that you know why it does not.
- Check the photo is clear and the document looks complete.
- Match the face to the person at the door when you hand over the keys.
The guest can upload once their booking is confirmed, and also after you press “Hand over keys”. The door code and Wi-Fi password only appear to them once you press “Approve check-in”.
So a simple order works well: keys, a quick ID check, then approve. The steps are in how to hand over keys and check your guest in.
If something does not add up, talk to the guest calmly and in writing before arrival. A company may have booked for a member of staff, or a name may have changed after marriage. If you are still worried, contact Cabans before you hand over the keys.
Keeping ID private
An ID photo is sensitive personal data. Nigeria’s data protection law, the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, expects anyone who collects personal data to take only what they need and to keep it safe. Treat every guest’s ID as if it were your own passport.
- Collect it in one private place. The upload card on the stay page is better than WhatsApp or email, where copies spread and never go away.
- Do not save copies. No screenshots, no downloads to your phone gallery, no printing.
- Do not forward it. Not to the estate group chat, not to a friend, not to your cleaner. If the gate needs a name, give the name only.
- Limit your team. Only people who manage bookings for you should be able to open booking files.
- Never use it for anything else. An ID collected for a stay is for that stay.
On Cabans, guest ID documents are kept securely for up to 6 years, as data laws require, and then deleted. You can open a guest’s ID only until 30 days after check-out. That is one more reason not to keep your own copies.
What not to ask for
Asking for too much puts good guests off and puts their safety at risk. Never ask for:
- Bank or card details. No BVN, no photos of cards, no bank statements, no one-time codes (OTPs). Payment happens securely online through Paystack.
- Passwords for anything, ever.
- ID for every visitor. The person who booked is enough, unless your estate has its own rules at the gate.
- Children’s documents. They are not needed for a stay.
- Personal questions. Religion, ethnic group, relationships and similar questions have no place in a booking. Treat every guest the same.
- A deposit by transfer outside the booking. On Cabans, the caution deposit is part of the booking price.
Fairness matters. Ask for ID from every guest at a listing, or from none. Choosing whom to ask based on a name, an accent or a photo is not fair, and guests notice.
Take bookings with ID checks built in
Take bookings onlineand turn on ID for the homes that need it. Guests pay online through Paystack when they book, and Paystack’s processing fee is paid by the guest. Cabans charges you a 5% commission, and you are paid within 7 days after the stay, or sooner when the guest taps “Approve payment” after their trip.
Not listed yet? List your short let first. To see how other hosts describe their rules, browse shortlets in Lagos or shortlets in Abuja.
Frequently asked questions
Can a shortlet host ask a guest for ID in Nigeria?
Yes. Say so in your listing before anyone books, ask every guest the same way, and keep the document private. This guide explains good practice; it is not legal advice.
When do guests upload their ID on Cabans?
Once the booking is confirmed. If you have ticked “Guests must upload an ID”, the guest sees a card called “Your ID” on their stay page, and can upload from then until check-out.
Can I see a guest’s ID before I accept their booking request?
No. The ID card appears only after the booking is confirmed, so ID is a check for arrival day, not a way to screen requests. Decide on a request from what you know, and check the ID before you approve the check-in.
Who can see the ID a guest uploads?
Only you, as the host, and the Cabans team. The guest is told this on the upload card. You open each file from the booking page through a link that works for 15 minutes.
How long is a guest’s ID kept?
Guest ID documents are kept securely for up to 6 years, as data laws require, and then deleted. You can open a guest’s ID only until 30 days after check-out. Do not keep your own copies on your phone or in chats.
What if the name on the ID does not match the booking?
Ask politely before arrival. There is often a simple reason, such as a company booking for staff or a name change after marriage. Keep the conversation in writing, and contact Cabans if something still feels wrong.
Related guides
What ID do you need to book a shortlet? · Shortlet house rules template · Shortlet check-in instructions · Instant book or request to book · Shortlet agreement template
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