> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.hostelmate.co/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.hostelmate.co/finance-management/settings/self-check-in.md).

# Self Check-In

Let guests complete their check-in online before they arrive. Once configured, a unique check-in link is automatically included in every pre-arrival email. Guests click the link, fill out the form, and submit — saving time at the front desk and giving staff the information they need before arrival.

The link is always active from the moment the pre-arrival email is sent until two days after the last night of the stay.

***

## Content Sections

These appear on the guest-facing check-in page above the form.

### House Rules

Rich-text field displayed at the top of the page. Use it to list rules guests must acknowledge before submitting — noise policy, check-out time, pet rules, etc.

### Check-In Instructions

Rich-text field shown below the form, after guests have filled everything in. Use it for arrival logistics: door codes, parking instructions, directions from the nearest station, etc. It appears just before the submit button so guests see it at the right moment.

### Post Check-In Message

Rich-text field shown on the success screen after the guest submits the form. Use it for things the guest needs immediately upon arrival — Wi-Fi password, room number, locker code, breakfast hours. Leave it empty to show only booking details on the success screen.

***

## Collection Toggles

These control which fields appear on the guest form.

| Toggle                         | What it does                                                                                                                             |
| ------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Ask estimated arrival time** | Guest selects an ETA from a time picker. Visible to staff in Booking Logs.                                                               |
| **Request ID document upload** | Guest uploads a photo of their passport or national ID (JPG, PNG, PDF, HEIC — max 10 MB). Staff can view the document from Booking Logs. |
| **Collect guest signature**    | Guest draws their signature on a canvas. Stored against the guest record, same as a desk check-in signature.                             |

***

## Custom Questions

Add free-text questions that appear on the check-in form. Each question has:

* **Label** — the question text shown to the guest
* **Required** — if checked, the guest cannot submit without answering

Drag questions to reorder them. Questions are saved and restored in the order you set.

Use custom questions for anything you need that the standard fields don't cover: dietary requirements, special requests, purpose of travel, loyalty programme number, etc.

***

## How the link reaches guests

The self check-in link is injected automatically into the **Pre-Arrival Guide** email as a button and a plain-text fallback URL. No extra setup is needed.

If you want to include the link in a **custom** pre-arrival email template, add the placeholder `{{self_check_in_link}}` anywhere in the body. It will be replaced with the guest's unique URL.

You can also send the link manually at any time from the **Check-In popup** on the Front Desk. See [Self Check-In (Front Desk)](/front-desk/self-check-in.md) for details.

***

## Tips

* Settings are saved per property. Switch properties from the top selector before editing.
* All three content fields (House Rules, Check-In Instructions, Post Check-In Message) support bold, italics, lists, and links.
* Leave the Post Check-In Message empty if you prefer guests to see only their booking summary after submitting.
* Custom questions with empty labels will appear as blank labels on the guest form — always fill in the label before saving.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.hostelmate.co/finance-management/settings/self-check-in.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.