Entry & Exit
Accommodation Registration in China for Foreigners
Learn when foreigners need accommodation registration in China, how hotels handle it, how to register a private stay online within 24 hours, and what changed nationwide in September 2026.
Foreign visitors staying in China are required to have their accommodation registered.
If you stay in a hotel, this is usually simple:
the hotel handles the registration for you.
If you stay somewhere other than a hotel — for example with friends, family or in a private residence — you or the person hosting you generally need to complete the registration within 24 hours of arrival.
Since September 21, 2026, China has rolled out online accommodation registration nationwide for foreigners staying in residences other than hotels.
That means many travelers no longer need to visit a local police station simply to complete this registration.
The Short Version
If you stay in a hotel
Give the hotel your passport at check-in.
The hotel normally registers your accommodation with the local public security authorities.
You generally do not need to complete a separate registration yourself.
If you stay somewhere other than a hotel
You or the person accommodating you should generally complete accommodation registration within 24 hours after arrival.
Since September 21, 2026, this can be done online nationwide through official National Immigration Administration channels.
You can also still register in person through local public security authorities.
What Is Accommodation Registration?
Accommodation registration is the process of recording where a foreign national is staying in China.
It is separate from:
- Your visa
- Visa-free entry
- Your Arrival Card
- Your hotel booking
- Your train or flight booking
It answers a different question:
Where are you actually staying after entering China?
Who Needs Accommodation Registration?
Foreign nationals staying in China are generally subject to accommodation-registration requirements.
How the process works depends mainly on where you stay.
There are two basic situations:
1. You stay in a hotel
The hotel handles the registration.
2. You stay somewhere other than a hotel
You or your host generally need to complete the registration within 24 hours.
If You Stay in a Hotel
This is the easiest case.
Under Chinese law, hotels are responsible for registering foreign guests and submitting the relevant accommodation information to local public security authorities.
In practice, this is one reason Chinese hotels ask to see your passport at check-in.
You usually:
- Arrive at the hotel
- Show your passport
- Complete normal check-in
- The hotel handles the accommodation registration
You do not normally need to visit a police station yourself.
Why Does the Hotel Need Your Passport?
Foreign-guest registration is one of the reasons hotels need your passport details.
The hotel may record information such as:
- Name
- Nationality
- Passport number
- Visa or immigration status
- Arrival information
- Dates of stay
This is normal procedure.
Do not confuse this with the hotel simply wanting identification for payment.
If You Stay With Friends or Family
If you stay in a private residence rather than a hotel, the process is different.
You or the person hosting you generally need to complete the accommodation registration within 24 hours after you arrive at the residence.
This can apply when staying:
- With a friend
- With family
- At a partner's home
- In a privately owned residence
- In other accommodation that is not registered as a hotel
Since September 2026, this can now be completed online nationwide.
The Major Change in 2026
China first piloted online accommodation registration for foreigners in selected regions in March 2026.
The pilot initially covered:
- Hebei
- Liaoning
- Zhejiang
- Hubei
- Guangxi
- Chongqing
- Sichuan
On September 21, 2026, the National Immigration Administration expanded the service nationwide.
Foreigners staying in residences other than hotels — or the people accommodating them — can now complete the registration online anywhere in China through official NIA channels.
This is a major practical change from older travel advice that simply tells every visitor staying with friends or family to go to a local police station.
How Long Do You Have to Register?
The general rule is:
within 24 hours after arrival at the residence.
Do not interpret this as 24 hours after entering China if you first stay somewhere else.
The relevant accommodation registration is tied to where you actually reside or stay.
If you change accommodation, further registration requirements may apply depending on where you move and how the new accommodation handles foreign guests.
Who Can Complete the Registration?
For non-hotel accommodation, registration can be completed by:
- The foreign traveler
- The person accommodating the traveler
So if you are staying with a friend or relative, either you or your host may be able to complete the process.
Where Can You Register Online?
Official online channels include:
- The National Immigration Administration Government Service Platform
- The NIA 12367 app
- The NIA 12367 WeChat mini-program
- The relevant Alipay mini-program
The official NIA website also provides access to the accommodation-registration service.
Use official channels when entering passport and residence information.
How Does Online Registration Work?
The exact screens may change, but the basic process is:
- Open an official NIA service channel
- Register or log in
- Complete identity verification
- Open the Accommodation Registration service under Foreigner Service
- Enter the required traveler and accommodation information
- Submit the registration
- Check the registration record
The National Immigration Administration states that online registration has the same legal effect as registration completed on site.
What Information Might You Need?
Prepare information such as:
- Passport
- Name
- Nationality
- Passport number
- Contact information
- Address of the residence
- Host information where relevant
- Arrival or check-in date
The exact information requested depends on the official form and your accommodation type.
Can Your Host Register for You?
Yes.
The official system allows the person accommodating the foreign traveler to complete the registration.
This can be useful if:
- You are staying with family
- You are staying with a friend
- The residence belongs to your host
- Your host is more familiar with the local address format
You do not necessarily need to complete the entire process alone.
Can You Still Register in Person?
Yes.
The nationwide online system does not eliminate the offline option.
You can still complete accommodation registration through local public security authorities.
This may include:
- Local police stations
- Exit-entry administration service locations
- Other designated public security service points
If you encounter problems with the online process, in-person registration remains available.
Is Online Registration Legally Valid?
Yes.
The National Immigration Administration explicitly states that online accommodation registration has the same legal effect as on-site registration.
You do not need to complete both simply because you used the online service successfully.
How Do You Check That Registration Was Successful?
After completing the process through the official platform, users can access the Registration Record Inquiry function to check the accommodation-registration record.
It is sensible to save:
- A screenshot
- Registration record
- Confirmation information
especially if you are staying in a private residence.
Arrival Card vs Accommodation Registration
These are not the same thing.
China Arrival Card
Completed when entering China.
It tells immigration authorities about:
- Your identity
- Your arrival
- Purpose of visit
- Planned accommodation
Accommodation registration
Completed after you actually stay at an address in China.
It records:
where you are really staying.
Submitting your hotel address on an Arrival Card does not replace accommodation registration.
Read next: How to Fill in the China Arrival Card
What If You Stay in Several Hotels?
Hotels normally handle registration each time you check in.
For example:
Shanghai hotel → Hangzhou hotel → Beijing hotel
each hotel manages the registration associated with your stay there.
You generally do not need to personally file a separate online registration simply because you changed hotels.
What If You Move From a Hotel to a Friend's Home?
This is where you need to pay attention.
For example:
Days 1–3: hotel
The hotel handles registration.
Days 4–7: friend's apartment
The hotel registration does not automatically cover the new private address.
You or your host should complete the required registration for the private residence within 24 hours after arriving there.
What If You Move From a Friend's Home to a Hotel?
When you later check into a hotel, the hotel will normally handle the registration for the hotel stay.
You do not need to keep the old private-address registration as though you still live there.
Accommodation records should reflect where you are actually staying.
What About Airbnb or Short-Term Rentals?
This can require a little more attention.
The important question is not simply which website you used to book.
It is:
Is the property operating as accommodation that handles foreign-guest registration like a hotel, or are you staying in a private residence?
If the host or property does not automatically handle foreign accommodation registration, you or the host may need to complete the non-hotel registration process.
Before booking a private apartment or short-term rental, ask:
- Can you legally accommodate foreign guests?
- Do you handle accommodation registration?
- If not, will you provide the information needed for online registration?
Do not assume every private rental handles this automatically.
What About Staying With a Chinese Friend?
If you are staying at a friend's home, either you or your friend can complete the registration through the official online system.
Have the residence address ready.
If the system asks for host-related information, your friend may find it easier to complete the process.
What If You Stay With Another Foreigner?
The rule still depends on the residence rather than the nationality of your host.
If you stay in a non-hotel residence, accommodation registration generally still needs to be completed.
Use the official system and provide the requested host and residence information.
What If You Own a Home in China?
Foreigners residing or staying in their own non-hotel residence are also covered by the accommodation-registration rules.
The official NIA guidance specifically recognizes self-owned residences within the online-registration framework.
Owning the property does not automatically remove the registration requirement.
Does Visa-Free Entry Change the Rule?
No.
Accommodation registration is separate from whether you entered China:
- With a visa
- Under 30-day visa-free entry
- Under 240-hour visa-free transit
- Under another eligible entry policy
If you stay in a hotel, the hotel registers you.
If you stay in non-hotel accommodation, the relevant registration rule still applies.
What About 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Travelers?
The same principle applies.
For example:
Tokyo → Shanghai → Paris
and you enter Shanghai under the 240-hour transit policy.
If you stay at a hotel, the hotel handles your accommodation registration.
If you stay at a friend's private residence, the relevant non-hotel registration requirement applies.
Visa-free transit does not make accommodation registration disappear.
Read next: China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Complete Guide
Do Children Need Registration?
Accommodation registration requirements apply to foreign travelers staying at the accommodation.
Hotels handle guest registration as part of check-in.
For private stays involving children, follow the information requested by the official system and register the relevant foreign guests as required.
If your family situation is unusual or the online system is unclear, contact official immigration services for guidance.
What If the Online System Doesn't Work?
Try:
- Checking your internet connection
- Checking your identity information
- Confirming the address details
- Reading the official online registration guide
- Trying another official NIA channel
- Calling the 12367 immigration service hotline
- Registering in person with local public security authorities
Do not simply ignore the requirement because the first online attempt failed.
What If You Register Late?
Chinese law requires non-hotel accommodation registration within the specified period.
The Exit and Entry Administration Law provides that foreigners or accommodation hosts who fail to complete accommodation registration as required may receive a warning and may also face a fine.
If you realize that you have missed the deadline, complete the registration as soon as possible and follow guidance from the local authorities.
Do not intentionally leave it unresolved.
Common Mistake 1: “My Arrival Card Already Has My Address”
That is not the same thing.
The Arrival Card is part of entry procedures.
Accommodation registration records where you actually stay after arrival.
Common Mistake 2: “My Friend Said Tourists Don't Need This”
The legal requirement does not disappear simply because your stay is informal.
Private accommodation is exactly the situation where travelers need to pay attention to the registration requirement.
Common Mistake 3: Following Old Advice That Says You Must Visit a Police Station
That advice may now be outdated.
Since September 21, 2026, online accommodation registration for non-hotel stays has been rolled out nationwide.
In-person registration is still available, but it is no longer the only option.
Common Mistake 4: Assuming Every Rental Platform Handles Registration
Booking through an app does not automatically tell you who is responsible for foreign-guest registration.
Ask the property or host before arrival.
Common Mistake 5: Registering the First Address and Forgetting About Later Private Stays
Accommodation registration should reflect where you actually stay.
If you move from a hotel to a friend's residence, the hotel's earlier registration does not automatically cover the new private stay.
Private Stay Checklist
If you are staying somewhere other than a hotel:
Before arrival
- [ ] Confirm the full address
- [ ] Ask the host whether they can accommodate foreign guests
- [ ] Ask who will complete the registration
- [ ] Save the official NIA registration channel
After arrival
- [ ] Complete registration within 24 hours
- [ ] Use the correct passport details
- [ ] Enter the actual residence address
- [ ] Save the registration record
If there is a problem
- [ ] Check the official NIA guidance
- [ ] Ask your host for help
- [ ] Call 12367 if necessary
- [ ] Use the in-person registration option if needed
Hotel Stay Checklist
If you stay in a hotel:
- [ ] Bring the passport used to enter China
- [ ] Give it to the hotel at check-in
- [ ] Make sure every foreign guest is checked in correctly
- [ ] Ask the hotel if you are unsure whether registration has been completed
For most normal hotel stays, that is all you need to do.
What We Recommend
For a first trip to China, hotel accommodation is the simplest option because the registration process is normally handled automatically.
If you want to stay with friends, family or in a private residence, that is also entirely manageable.
Just remember:
complete the accommodation registration within 24 hours.
And as of September 2026, you usually do not need to make a special trip to a police station just for this.
Use the official online system, save the registration record and get on with your trip.
Official Sources
This guide was checked against information published by:
- National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China
- Announcement on the Nationwide Implementation of Online Accommodation Registration for Foreigners Residing or Staying in Domiciles Other Than Hotels
- National Immigration Administration policy interpretation on accommodation registration
- Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China
Accommodation registration procedures and online services can change. Check current National Immigration Administration guidance if your accommodation situation is unusual.