Online accommodation registration for foreigners: channels and when you need not register again

If you stay in a place other than a hotel in mainland China, you can register your accommodation online, and the National Immigration Administration (NIA) says online registration has the same legal effect as on-site registration. You do not need to register again after every trip in the two cases listed in Question IV below. The NIA's policy interpretation on the nationwide online service is dated 21 September 2026.

Who the online service covers

Question I quotes Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law (the Law) on two groups of foreigners.

• Where foreigners stay in hotels in China, the hotels shall register their accommodation in accordance with the regulations on the public security administration of the hotel industry. The hotels shall also submit the foreigners' accommodation registration information to the public security organs in the places where the hotels are located.
• For foreigners who reside or stay in domiciles other than hotels, they or the persons who accommodate them shall, within 24 hours after the foreigners' arrival, go through the registration formalities with the public security organs in the places of residence.

For foreigners in domiciles other than hotels, Question I says the NIA has rolled out the online accommodation registration service nationwide. These foreigners may register online without visiting the public security organs in person.

Channels for online registration

Question II names the following channels. Accommodation hosts or foreigners may access the NIA Government Service Platform through:

• the official website of the NIA Government Service Platform
• the "NIA 12367" App
• the "NIA 12367" WeChat mini program
• the Alipay mini program

Question II describes the steps in this order:

• Complete user registration.
• Complete identity verification.
• Follow the step-by-step prompts of the Accommodation Registration module under Foreigner Service.
• Click "Registration Record Inquiry" to view your accommodation registration record.

When re-registration is not needed

Question IV applies to foreigners who stay in domiciles other than hotels and who have already completed the registration formalities after arrival under the relevant regulations. Question IV names two circumstances in which re-registration is not required.

• Foreigners reside at their own residences within China and return to the same residences after travelling within or outside China.
• Foreigners holding residence permits or permanent residence permits reside at their habitual residence within China and return to the same residences after travelling within or outside China during the validity period of the same permit.

Question IV defines the terms as follows:

• A self-owned residence is a residence owned by the foreigner or his or her spouse within China.
• A habitual residence is a residence where the foreigner resides or plans to reside in China for a long term.

Question IV cites Article 36 of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (the Regulations) for the meaning of "long term". Under Regulations, Article 36, "long term" refers to residing in China for a period exceeding 180 days.

Where to get help

Question V lists three sources of help for accommodation hosts and foreigners who reside or stay in domiciles other than hotels.

• The Guide to Online Accommodation Registration, which is on the accommodation registration page of the NIA Government Service Platform. Follow the instructions in the guide.
• The NIA 12367 service hotline, for inquiries.
• The exit-entry administration service windows of the local public security organs, or local police stations, for help with on-site registration.

What happens if registration is not completed

Question VI quotes Article 76 of the Law. Under Article 76, foreigners or their accommodation hosts who fail to process accommodation registration in accordance with the relevant regulations "shall be given a warning and may also be subject to a fine".

Before you travel

Check the current rules on the NIA page dated 21 September 2026 before you travel, because the rules and the online service may change.

Sources

• National Immigration Administration — Policy Interpretation of the Nationwide Implementation of the Online Accommodation Registration Service

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by or affiliated with the National Immigration Administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, any embassy, consulate or visa application service centre. It is not legal or immigration advice. If the official text differs from this page, the official text and the current notice of the office handling your case prevail.