Quick Answer (30 seconds)
Chinese law requires all foreigners to register their accommodation within 24 hours of arrival. Staying at a hotel? The hotel handles it automatically — just hand over your passport. Staying at an Airbnb, apartment, or with friends? You must go to the local police station yourself, with your passport and the accommodation address. Since March 2026, 7 provinces are piloting online registration.
Failure to register: hotels face ¥1,000-5,000 fines. You personally may get a warning or fine. Enforcement varies by region, but don't gamble on this.
Full Guide
You flew 14 hours, took a taxi to your Airbnb, the host gave you the key, and you crashed. The next morning, the host calls: the police station wants you to come register. This isn't a joke — it's Chinese law.
Legal Basis
Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the PRC:
"Foreigners who reside or stay in domiciles other than hotels shall, within 24 hours after their arrival, go through the registration formalities with the public security organs in the places of residence."
In plain English: stay at a hotel, the hotel registers for you. Stay anywhere else, you register yourself.
If You're Staying at a Hotel
You don't need to do anything.
The hotel front desk will ask for your passport at check-in, scan it, and automatically submit the registration to the public security system. You just need to:
- Hand your passport to the front desk
- Wait for them to scan and return it
- Done
All legitimate hotels (budget chains, luxury hotels, some hostels) handle this automatically.
If You're Staying at an Airbnb, Apartment, or with Friends
You must go to the local police station (派出所 - pài chū suǒ) within 24 hours of check-in.
What to bring:
- Original passport (required)
- Accommodation address (detailed Chinese address, including apartment number)
- Host's contact info (some stations ask for this)
Process:
- Find the nearest police station — search "派出所" on your map app
- Tell the officer: "Foreigner accommodation registration" (外国人住宿登记 - wàiguó rén zhùsù dēngjì)
- Show your passport, fill out a registration form (name, passport number, nationality, address, check-in time)
- The officer enters it into the system and gives you a registration receipt
- Keep the receipt — you'll need it for visa extensions
2026 Online Registration Pilot
Since March 20, 2026, the National Immigration Administration has been piloting online accommodation registration for foreigners in 7 provincial-level regions:
- Hebei, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Hubei, Guangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan
In these areas, you can submit your registration online via the "移民局12367" (NIA 12367) app or WeChat mini-program — no need to visit a police station. The service will gradually expand nationwide.
Enforcement Varies by City
Tier 1 cities (Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou): Strict enforcement, especially Beijing. Airbnb hosts usually remind you to register before you arrive. Tier 2 cities: Moderate enforcement. Some police stations are casual about it. Small cities and tourist areas: Looser, but if you later need a visa extension, missing registration records will cause problems.
Moving Between Cities
Each time you check into a new hotel in a new city, the hotel registers you again. For example, if you stay 3 nights in Beijing and 3 nights in Shanghai — both hotels register you independently. No action needed from you.
Moving from Hotel to Airbnb
If you stay 3 nights at a hotel (registered), then move to a friend's apartment — you must register at the police station within 24 hours of moving.
Troubleshooting
Problem 1: Forgot to Register, Now Need Visa Extension
What happens: You stayed at an Airbnb for 5 days without registering. Now you need a visa extension, and the Entry-Exit Administration requires proof of registration.
Fix: Go to the police station immediately and register retroactively (you may get a verbal warning). If they won't do a retroactive registration, book one night at a hotel and have them register you. Use the hotel registration record for your visa extension.
Problem 2: Police Station Says "No Need to Register"
What happens: You go to register, and the officer says "you're only here a few days, no need, go."
Fix: Some local officers are lenient with short-term tourists. Ask them politely to enter it into the system anyway, saying you need the record for a visa procedure later. If they insist it's not needed, document that you tried (photo/recording of the station visit) as backup.
Problem 3: Airbnb Host Says Registration Isn't Needed
What happens: Your host says "no need to go to the police station, it's fine here."
Fix: The host doesn't make the rules. The law requires the foreigner to register — not the host. The host may want to avoid hassle or has other concerns. Go to the police station yourself; you don't need the host to accompany you.
Last verified: August 2026 · Sources: Exit and Entry Administration Law of the PRC Article 39 (en.nia.gov.cn), State Council online registration announcement (english.www.gov.cn, March 2026), china-briefing.com registration guide · Policies may change — confirm with the 12367 hotline.