Visas & Residence
Accommodation Registration in China After Travel or Moving
Know when foreigners should refresh accommodation registration in China after entry, travel, moving, or staying with friends, and keep usable proof.
Rules and procedures can change. Check the linked official sources before acting on time-sensitive information.
Quick answer
What you need to know
Treat accommodation registration as an address-and-stay record: confirm the local process promptly after each relevant arrival or move, save accepted proof, and resolve uncertainty with the local public security authority.
- Hotels normally submit guest information, while a non-hotel host or foreign guest must handle the local registration process.
- National rules set a 24-hour window for non-hotel accommodation, but submission channels and required files vary locally.
- Keep the accepted record and update linked HR, bank, insurance, and immigration files separately when needed.
- For a late or rejected filing, contact the local public security authority or 12367 instead of guessing.
Accommodation registration is easy to forget because it happens in the background at hotels. At an apartment, company residence, or a friend’s home, however, the foreign guest and host may need to act. Build a repeatable routine for arrivals and address changes rather than relying on an old screenshot.
This is general administrative information, not legal advice. The public security authority responsible for the actual address decides the accepted channel and documents.
Know the basic rule
The National Immigration Administration’s accommodation guidance explains that hotels register foreign guests. For lodging other than a hotel, the foreigner or host must complete formalities with the public security organ at the place of residence within 24 hours of check-in.
Local online services are not identical. Some cities provide a portal, mini-program, QR flow, service station, or police-station counter. Ask the building manager, landlord, local police station, or 12367 which route applies to your exact address.
Identify the trigger before assuming
Check promptly after entering China, moving to a new home, beginning a non-hotel stay, or returning when local authorities require a refreshed filing. A hotel night in another city and a return to your apartment can create questions that are handled differently by locality.
Do not confuse accommodation registration with a residence permit, rental filing, building registration, or an address update held by HR. These records may use the same address but serve different systems.
Prepare a compact document pack
Common requests include the passport identity page, current entry or stay information, a lease or property document, the host’s identity and contact details, and a current photo. Online systems may require live verification or specific image formats.
Use the same romanized name and passport number that appear in your immigration record. After a passport replacement, consult our record-update guide and ask whether the accommodation record must be recreated.
Save proof that can be reused
After acceptance, save the full confirmation page or PDF, submission date, registered address, passport number, and any reference number. Keep both a phone copy and an offline copy. Check that the address is complete and that the status says accepted rather than merely submitted.
You may need the proof for a residence-permit matter, work-permit support, school registration, banking, or another local service. Requirements change, so ask the receiving office what format and issue date it accepts.
Handle problems early
If the portal rejects the address, the landlord will not assist, or the filing is late, do not invent an address or repeatedly submit conflicting data. Capture the error, bring the real documents, and contact the responsible police station or 12367. Our rental document guide can help you preserve notices and receipts.
Accommodation-registration checklist
- I identified whether this stay is a hotel or non-hotel stay.
- I checked the local process immediately after arrival or moving.
- My passport number, name, and address match the source documents.
- The landlord or host knows what assistance is needed.
- I saved proof showing acceptance and the registered address.
- I separately checked HR, bank, insurance, school, and permit address records.
- I will call 12367 or the local authority if the filing is late or unclear.
Official reference points
- National Immigration Administration: accommodation registration
- China immigration service hotline 12367
- Beijing government online-registration example
The Beijing page illustrates one local implementation, not a nationwide portal promise. Always use the channel confirmed for the residence where you are actually staying.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
Must I register again after returning from a trip?
Requirements can depend on where you stayed, your return, and local implementation. Ask the public security authority responsible for your address and do not assume an old record automatically remains sufficient.
Does a hotel register me?
Hotels normally collect and submit foreign guest information at check-in. Confirm that the passport used is correct and request proof if another procedure requires it.
Can my landlord or host register for me?
National rules refer to the foreign guest or the person providing accommodation. Local portals and document requirements differ, so confirm who must submit in your city.
What if I missed the deadline?
Contact the responsible police station, local exit-entry authority, or the 12367 immigration service promptly, explain accurately, and follow their instructions.
