GUEST GUIDE · CHECK-IN, ID & ARRIVAL
Check-in Rules at Homeland Stay Ahmedabad: ID Proof, Web Check-in & Arrival Guide
Complete web check-in before you travel, then just show your original ID at the door and collect your smart card.
Check-in Rules at Homeland Stay: Everything to Know Before You Arrive
Indian law requires every hotel, guest house and homestay to record a valid photo ID for each adult guest and to report every foreign national to the immigration authorities. At most places this means filling in forms at a front desk after a long journey. At Homeland Stay we moved it online. Five days before your stay, you receive a web check-in link, much like an airline’s. You submit your details and IDs from your phone, so on arrival you simply show your original ID, collect your smart card and go up to your private floor. Homeland Stay is a Gujarat Tourism Gold Category homestay in Maninagar, near Kankaria Lake, hosting guests since 2017.
Check-in at a Glance
- Check-in time From 1:00 PM. Early check-in on request, subject to availability.
- Check-out time By 10:00 AM. Late check-out on request, additional charges may apply.
- Web check-in Secure link emailed 5 days before arrival to every confirmed booking.
- ID for every adult Original valid photo ID for each guest aged 18 and above.
- Foreign guests Passport and visa; the host files Form-III (Form C) within 24 hours.
- Late arrival After 10 PM, inform the host in advance; self check-in via coded lock box.
- Smart card keys One card opens your main door, one switches on power for your floor.
- Help on site The host family lives on the ground floor; intercom in your living room.
How Web Check-in Works (5 Days Before Arrival)
- Your booking is confirmed, whether you booked directly with Homeland Stay or through Airbnb, Booking.com or another platform.
- 5 days before check-in, a secure web check-in link is emailed to you on your registered email ID. Please check your spam folder too.
- Fill in details for every adult: full name, date of birth, ID type and number, a clear photo of the ID, where you are coming from, where you go next, and purpose of visit. Foreign nationals add passport, visa and arrival details.
- You also receive our digital house guide, covering how to collect your smart card, switch on power, connect to Wi-Fi, use the TV, microwave and UV-filtered drinking water, and find nearby milk, grocery, pharmacy and ATM.
- On check-in day, a welcome email arrives with your arrival details.
- At the door, show your original ID (about a minute), collect your smart cards and settle in.
Accepted ID Proof for Check-in
Every adult guest (18 and above) must submit a valid government photo ID through web check-in and show the original at arrival. Details are used only for the guest register and legally required reporting.
- Indian citizens (accepted): Aadhaar Card, Voter ID (Election Card), Passport, Driving Licence
- Not accepted: PAN Card, company or office ID cards, student ID cards
- Foreign nationals: original passport, valid Indian visa or e-Visa, and a photograph
- OCI card holders: passport and OCI card (OCI holders are also reported on Form-III)
- Original documents: carry the original ID of every adult; photocopies or phone photos alone are not accepted at the door
Foreign Guests: Form-III (Form C) Is Filed for You
Under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which replaced the Foreigners Act, 1946 from 1 September 2025, every accommodation provider in India must report each foreign guest’s arrival and departure online within 24 hours. The report is now officially called Form-III but is still widely known as Form C. You don’t need to visit any FRRO office: the host files it for you using the passport, visa and photo you submit in web check-in. For full details, see our Mandatory Foreigner Registration guide.
Arrival Day: What Happens at Check-in
- Check-in from 1:00 PM. For early check-in, ask in advance; it depends on availability and charges may apply.
- Show the original ID of each adult guest. With web check-in done, this takes about a minute.
- Receive your smart cards: White Smart card - just bring near to main door lock key pad to open door, same card use to power on, and a key ring with a tracker keeps them together. A ₹2,000 replacement fee applies if a card is lost or damaged.
- Direct bookings pay the remaining 50% on arrival. Platform bookings are paid through that platform.
- A refundable security deposit is collected and returned at check-out if nothing is damaged or missing.
- The private floor is on the first floor, reached by a private gated staircase (no lift) with handrails and motion-sensor lights.
- Parking: one small-car space near the main gate (book in advance) and space for two two-wheelers.
Arriving Late at Night
Arriving after 10:00 PM? Message or call the host in advance with your expected arrival time. Once your web check-in is complete, the host shares the code of a lock box at the entrance, so you can collect your smart card and let yourself in without waiting. Original IDs are checked the next morning. Please note: entry after 11:00 PM is possible only if you have informed the host in advance.
Check-out by 10:00 AM
- Check-out is by 10:00 AM. Late check-out is on request, subject to availability, and may be charged.
- Switch off ACs, lights and taps, and hand back all smart cards with the key ring.
- Report any damage or missing items. Your security deposit is returned once the floor is checked.
- Checking out early or shortening your stay after arrival is not refundable.
House Rules to Know Before You Arrive
- Only registered guests may stay overnight. Daytime visitors (7:00 AM – 10:00 PM) can meet you in the first-floor balcony seating area, not inside bedrooms.
- Quiet hours run from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM, as this is a residential neighbourhood.
- Vegetarian food and egg preparations only. No meat, chicken or fish.
- No alcohol, smoking, parties, meetings or events on the premises.
- Unmarried couples who live in Ahmedabad are not permitted. Out-of-town couples and Ahmedabad families are welcome.
As an international guest travelling for medical reasons, an easy check-in was my top priority. Homeland Stay offers airline-style web check-in, so everything was done before I even arrived. When I came late at night, due to my flight schedule of arrival, with my children, there were no forms and no queue. I just took the smart card from the lock box and rested after a long journey. Will stay again on my next trip to Ahmedabad.” — Prakash W., International Guest, Verified Stay
Check-in Compared: Homeland Stay vs Hotel vs Rented Stay
| Check-in Factor | Homeland Stay (Gold Category) | Standard 3–4 Star Hotel | Standard Rented Accommodation / Airbnb | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-arrival web check-in | ✅ Secure link emailed 5 days before arrival | ⚠️ Mostly forms at the front desk on arrival | ⚠️ Varies by host | ||
| Time spent at arrival | ✅ About a minute to show original ID | ⚠️ Queue possible at busy times | ⚠️ Depends on key handover | ||
| Late-night arrival | ✅ Lock box + smart card, with advance notice | ✅ 24-hour front desk | ⚠️ Depends on host or lockbox | ||
| ID records as per local law | ✅ Collected through web check-in | ✅ Standard front-desk process | ⚠️ Often inconsistent | ||
| Foreign guest Form-III (Form C) | ✅ Filed by host within 24 hours | ✅ Filed by front desk | ⚠️ Often missed by private hosts | ||
| Door access | ✅ Smart card lock + power card for your floor | ✅ Room key card | ⚠️ Physical key or keypad | ||
| House guide before arrival | ✅ Digital house guide emailed in advance | ❌ Rarely provided | ⚠️ Some hosts share one | ||
| Help after check-in | ✅ Host family on ground floor + intercom | ✅ Staff on duty | ⚠️ Host often remote | ||
| Government registration | ✅ Gujarat Tourism Gold Category | ✅ Commercial hotel licence | ⚠️ Often unregistered |
Booked with Homeland Stay?
Look out for your web check-in email 5 days before arrival. Booked within the last 5 days, or can’t find the link? call / email / WhatsApp us.
Foreign Guest Registration Guide
What are the check-in and check-out times at Homeland Stay, Ahmedabad?
Check-in is from 1:00 PM and check-out is by 10:00 AM. Early check-in and late check-out can be requested in advance; they depend on availability and additional charges may apply.
What is web check-in and when will I receive the link?
Web check-in is an online form, like an airline's, where you submit each adult guest's details and photo ID before you travel. The secure link is emailed 5 days before check-in to every confirmed booking, whether direct or through Airbnb, Booking.com or other platforms.
Is web check-in mandatory?
Yes. Indian law requires a record of every adult guest's ID. Completing it online means no paperwork at the door, and it is required for late-night self check-in.
Which ID proofs are accepted for Indian guests?
Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport or Driving Licence. PAN Card, company or office ID and student ID are not accepted. Every adult (18+) must show the original ID at arrival.
What documents do foreign nationals need to check in?
An original passport, a valid Indian visa or e-Visa (or OCI card), and a photograph. The host files Form-III (formerly Form C) online within 24 hours of arrival, as required by the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. You don't need to visit an FRRO office.
Can I check in late at night?
Yes. If you arrive after 10:00 PM, inform the host in advance with your arrival time and complete web check-in. The host shares the lock box code so you can collect your smart card and enter. Original IDs are checked the next morning.
What keys will I receive?
A small black smart card that opens the main door, a large white smart card that switches on power for your floor, and a key ring with a tracker. A ₹2,000 replacement fee applies for a lost or damaged card.
Do I pay anything at check-in?
Direct bookings pay the remaining 50% on arrival. Platform bookings are paid through that platform. A refundable security deposit is collected and returned at check-out if nothing is damaged or missing.
Do the same check-in rules apply to Airbnb and Booking.com bookings?
Yes. Every guest, whatever the booking channel, receives the web check-in link and must show original ID at arrival.
How is my ID information used?
Only for the guest register and legally required reporting to the authorities. Homeland Stay does not sell or share your data for marketing.
What should I do before check-out?
Check out by 10:00 AM, switch off ACs, lights and taps, hand back all smart cards and report any damage. Your security deposit is returned once the floor is checked.