A digital visiting card for Kerala homestays, and your classification on show
A guest booking a room in a stranger's house looks for proof. In Kerala, the Department of Tourism's classification is that proof, and the scheme says exactly how long it lasts and where it must be displayed.
Yes. Kerala's homestay scheme classifies owner-occupied homes with one to six guest rooms as Diamond, Gold or Silver, for three years at a time. The certificate must be displayed visibly to guests, so put a copy on the profile with its valid-until date, and apply for reclassification three months before it expires.
Sources: Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala
- Classification category and valid-until dateShow it
- Copy of the certificateShow it
- Rooms with rates, up to sixShow it
- "Classified" after it lapsedLeave off
- Free night for a reviewLeave off
Six rules of Kerala's homestay classification
The Department of Tourism describes a homestay as a family business carried out by the owner of the house, providing food and accommodation to tourists. Its guidelines for classification and reclassification and its classification criteria set the rules below. The Department can change them, so check its site before you apply.
Owner-occupied only
Classification is issued in the owner's name for a house where the owner and family live. Leased or rented houses are not considered.
One to six rooms
A minimum of one room with two beds and a maximum of six rooms with twelve beds are set aside for tourists.
Diamond, Gold or Silver
A government committee inspects and recommends, and the Director of Tourism issues the order. The certificate is valid for three years.
Certificate on show
The certificate must be displayed properly visible to guests. It is mandatory.
Food on demand
Food has to be prepared and provided to guests when they ask for it.
Report changes in 30 days
Any change in the facility or service goes to the district office within 30 days, and the Department can inspect without notice.
The application fee is ₹3,750 per homestay, paid online. If you are unhappy with the committee's remarks, you can appeal to the Director within 30 days. This is Kerala's scheme only: other states run their own, so outside Kerala, check your state tourism department before you use the word "classified".
When does your classification end, and when must you file?
Enter the date on your certificate. A classification lasts three years, and you must file for reclassification, with the fee, at least three months before it ends. The Department's list of approved homestays writes a term as, for example, valid from 17 February 2017 to 16 February 2020, and this calculator counts the same way. It runs in your browser and sends nothing anywhere.
Rule source: the Department's guidelines. Your certificate and the Department's word decide your actual dates.
Can this go on my profile? Pick a line
Each answer comes from the Kerala Department of Tourism's scheme pages or Google's policy. The table lists 11 items: 5 marked "Show it", 2 marked "Only if true" and 4 marked "Leave off".
The rule behind this answer: Guidelines.
| Item | Verdict | Why | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond, Gold or Silver classification | VerdictOnly if true | WhyOnly while your classification is valid, and only the category on your certificate. It lasts three years. | RuleClassification criteria |
| A copy of your classification certificate | VerdictShow it | WhyYou must display the certificate properly visible to guests. The same copy on the profile reaches a guest before they book. | RuleGuidelines |
| The date your classification runs to | VerdictShow it | WhyA dated claim is a checkable one. Use the calculator on this page to work out the date, and update it when you are reclassified. | RuleGuidelines |
| "Classified" after the three years have ended with no reclassification filed | VerdictLeave off | WhyThe existing classification stays valid only if you applied for reclassification, with the fee, three months before expiry. Otherwise it is treated as a fresh application. | RuleGuidelines |
| More than six guest rooms as a classified homestay | VerdictLeave off | WhyThe scheme allows a maximum of six rooms for tourist accommodation. A bigger property is not a homestay under this scheme. | RuleGuidelines |
| A leased or rented house presented as a classified homestay | VerdictLeave off | WhyLeased or rented houses are not considered, and the classification is issued only in the name of the owner. | RuleGuidelines |
| That the family lives in the house and hosts the guests | VerdictShow it | WhyClassification is given only where the owner and family are physically residing there, so this is the true description and the reason guests choose a homestay. | RuleGuidelines |
| Home-cooked meals on request | VerdictShow it | WhyThe guidelines say food has to be prepared and provided to guests on demand. State what you serve and the rate. | RuleGuidelines |
| A new room, a closed facility or a changed service | VerdictOnly if true | WhyTell the district tourism office within 30 days, and change the profile the same day so the two never disagree. | RuleGuidelines |
| A Google review button after the stay | VerdictShow it | WhyGoogle lets any business ask for reviews of a genuine stay, by link, QR or message, to every guest and not only the happy ones. | RuleGoogle Maps policy |
| A free night or a discount for a review | VerdictLeave off | WhyGoogle names discounts and free goods as incentives it does not allow in exchange for a review. | RuleGoogle Maps policy |
The house, the proof and the enquiry on one page
Put a small card or a QR code in the room and at the gate. A guest who taps it opens the profile with no app on an iPhone XS or later or any NFC Android phone, and can save your number for the next trip. Beeps Card is based in Kochi, so the setup is local.
Product listings
Each room with its bed count, facilities and nightly rate, with an enquiry button on every one.
Photo gallery
The rooms, the garden, the kitchen and the view, so a guest knows the house before they arrive.
Enquiry form and lead capture
Dates and guest count arrive together in your dashboard with the guest's name, email and phone.
Google Maps location
A pin for the house, because homestay addresses are the hardest to find.
Direct UPI payments
A button that opens the guest's own UPI app with your UPI ID filled in, for an advance. The money goes to your bank.
Google review button
One link for every guest after the stay, with nothing offered in return.
What a homestay pays
Room listings, the gallery, the map and the enquiry form are on Basic. UPI and the Google review button are on Pro.
Questions from homestay owners
What are the Kerala homestay categories?
Diamond, Gold and Silver, based on the facilities and quality of the accommodation. A committee set up by the government visits the unit, and if it finds the facilities satisfactory it recommends the classification. The Director of the Department of Tourism issues the order.
How long does a classification last?
Three years. A homestay that applies for reclassification with the fee three months before its expiry stays classified until the new decision. If it applies later, the application is treated as a fresh one.
Do I have to display the certificate?
Yes. The guidelines say it is mandatory for a homestay to display the classification certificate so that it is properly visible to guests. A copy on the profile helps a guest who has not arrived yet.
Who can be classified as a homestay?
A Kerala resident living in their own house who sets aside between one room (two beds) and six rooms (twelve beds) for tourists. The classification is issued only in the owner's name, only for operating units, and only where the owner and family actually live in the house. Leased or rented houses are not considered.
Sources: Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala
What does it cost?
The application fee is ₹3,750 per homestay, paid online with the application. The Department can revise the guidelines and fees, so check its site before you apply.
What must I tell the Department after I am classified?
Any change in the facilities or services of the unit, within 30 days, to the Deputy Director of the district tourism office. Officers can also inspect a homestay at any time without prior notice, and serious deficiencies can lead to the classification being cancelled.
Is this the same in other states?
No. This is Kerala's scheme, run by its own Department of Tourism. Other states have their own homestay rules and registration, so if you are outside Kerala, check your state tourism department before you use the words "classified" or "approved".
Do guests need an app to open the profile?
No. A tap on the NFC card or a scan of the QR code opens the profile in the phone's browser.
See also: travel agents and tour operators, caterers and Kochi, where Beeps Card is based. Every profession is on the industries page.
This page explains a published Government of Kerala scheme. It is not legal advice, and the Department of Tourism decides how it applies to you.
Sources
The scheme's rules are quoted from the Kerala Department of Tourism's own pages, read on the date shown. Google's rule is from its Maps content policy.
- Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, Classification of Homestays. Checked .
- Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, Guidelines and Reclassification of Homestays in Kerala. Checked .
- Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, Classification Criteria for Homestays. Checked .
- Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, Homestay Classification Scheme - List of approved Homestays. Checked .
- Google, Prohibited & restricted content - Maps User Generated Content Policy. Checked .
Let a guest see your classification before they send an advance.
One tap or one scan opens your rooms, your certificate and an enquiry form, and you edit it once for every guest.