Quick Answer
Ask your hotel to confirm registration and keep a copy if provided. If you stay in a private rental, go to the local police station with your host and documents. If you change lodging, confirm registration again. Do not wait until the last day.
Exact Actions
- Confirm if the hotel handles registration.
- At check-in, ask the front desk to confirm registration for foreign guests.
- If they provide a receipt or printout, take a photo and save it.
- If they are unsure, ask them to call their manager before you leave the desk.
- If you move to a new hotel, repeat this check at the new property.
- If staying in a rental, contact the host immediately.
- Message the host and ask for the registration process and address of the police station.
- If the host cannot assist, switch to a hotel that can complete registration.
- Prepare your documents.
- Bring your passport, entry stamp page, and the rental add// ===== police-registration-basics.mdx =====
title: “Police Registration Basics for Foreigners in China” description: “What police registration is, when it is required, who handles it, and how to fix it if it was missed.” category: “life” questions:
- “q102”
- “q103”
- “q104” lastUpdated: “2026-01-09” tags:
- “police”
- “registration”
- “legal” difficulty: “easy”
Quick Answer
Yes, foreigners must register their place of stay in China.
If you stay at a hotel, the hotel usually does it for you.
If you stay at an apartment or private residence, you must register yourself—and missing it is easy to fix.
This is a routine administrative step, not a police investigation.
What Police Registration Actually Is
Police registration means:
- Reporting where you are staying
- Linking your passport and visa to that address
- Updating it when you change accommodation
It is required by law, but handled routinely.
Who Needs to Register (and Who Does It)
Staying at a Hotel
- The hotel registers you automatically
- You only need to show your passport at check-in
- No extra action required
This covers most short-term visitors.
Staying at an Apartment or Private Home
- You must register in person
- This includes:
- Short-term rentals
- Staying with friends or family
- Serviced apartments without hotel registration
This is where most confusion happens.
When You Must Register
- Within 24 hours of arrival at a new address
- In rural or less central areas, this may extend to 72 hours
Do not wait until the end of your stay.
Exact Actions: How to Register Without Stress
Option A: Hotel Stay (Easiest)
- Check in normally.
- Confirm the hotel has your passport details.
- Done—no further steps.
Option B: Apartment or Private Stay
- Find the local police station responsible for your address.
- Bring:
- Passport
- Visa entry stamp
- Rental contract or host information
- Ask for Temporary Residence Registration for Foreigners.
- Receive a registration slip or digital record.
The process is usually quick and routine.
What If You Missed Registration?
This is common and usually fixable.
If You Realize Late:
- Go to the police station as soon as possible
- Explain calmly that you were unaware
- Register your current address
In most cases:
- You will be registered
- No fine is issued
- The matter ends there
Do not ignore it once you know.
When Registration Actually Matters
Registration is checked when:
- Applying for visa extensions
- Changing visas
- Registering for long-term services
- Rarely, during official checks
It is not checked daily and not used to track tourists.
Failure Scenarios & Fixes
- Host says “no need”: incorrect—register anyway.
- Police station unsure what to do: ask for the foreign affairs desk.
- Language barrier: show your passport and address calmly.
- You already moved again: register your current address only.
- You are leaving soon: still register if possible.
Polite, calm handling solves most issues.
Reality Check
- This is administrative, not punitive.
- Hotels handle it seamlessly.
- Apartments require initiative.
- Fixing it late is better than ignoring it.
Fear causes more problems than the rule itself.
What Locals and Long-Term Expats Do Instead
- They always register after moving.
- They keep registration slips digitally.
- They do not panic if they miss a deadline.
- They resolve it early in the stay.
Follow this mindset.
Checklist
- Staying at a hotel → confirm passport recorded.
- Staying at an apartment → register within 24 hours.
- Passport and visa details ready.
- Address information available.
- Registration slip saved (photo or PDF).
Next Steps
- Hotel check-in: what to expect
- Hotel foreigners policy
- Renting apartments basics
- Emergency contacts
- Visa basics
ress in Chinese.
- If you do not have the address in Chinese, ask the host to write it down.
- Register at the local station if required.
- Go to the police station with the host and present your passport and address.
- Fill in any form fields like Name, Passport No, Address, and Phone.
- If you do not understand a field, ask the officer to point to it.
- Save proof of registration.
- If a receipt is issued, take a photo and store it with your travel documents.
- If no receipt is given, record the station name and date in Notes.
Failure Scenarios & Fixes
- Hotel cannot confirm registration: ask to speak to a manager or switch to a hotel that can register you.
- Host refuses to help: move to a hotel; do not risk missing registration.
- Address not in Chinese: get the Chinese address from the host before you go.
- Station asks for more documents: return with the required documents rather than arguing.
- You are close to the deadline: go to the station immediately and delay travel plans.
- You change cities or lodgings: confirm registration again at the new address.
Reality Check
- The hotel says “maybe” about registration; ask for a clear yes and a receipt.
- The host is slow to respond; book a hotel that can handle registration.
- The station asks for an address you cannot show; return with the Chinese address.
- You are already traveling to another city; stop and resolve registration before moving.
- You switch hotels mid-trip; confirm registration at the new property before you unpack.
What Locals Do Instead
- If a hotel is unclear, locals choose another hotel because registration problems waste time later.
- If a host is unhelpful, locals leave because the station will not process without documents.
- If a form is confusing, locals ask staff because guessing creates errors.
- If time is short, locals go immediately because missing deadlines causes bigger issues.
- If they change lodgings, locals re-register because the address must match the current stay.
Checklist
- Hotel confirmed registration or provided a receipt.
- Host confirmed registration steps if renting.
- Passport and entry stamp ready.
- Address in Chinese saved in notes.
- Registration proof saved or recorded.