Registering where you stay in China: the 24-hour rule in Article 39

2026-10-11

A foreigner who stays in a domicile other than a hotel must complete registration with the public security organ in the place of residence within 24 hours after arrival, under Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law.

If you stay in China in a home, flat or other domicile that is not a hotel, Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law requires registration with the public security organ in the place of residence within 24 hours after your arrival. You may do it yourself or your host may do it for you. Article 76 sets the penalty wording for failing to register.

The rules below are quoted from the English texts published by the National Immigration Administration (NIA). In this article, "Law" means the Exit and Entry Administration Law and "Q&A" means the NIA's policy interpretation on online accommodation registration.

Hotels and other domiciles

Law, Article 39, first paragraph, covers hotels:

"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, and submit foreigners' accommodation registration information to the public security organs in the places where the hotels are located."

Under this paragraph, the hotel is the party that registers and submits the information.

Law, Article 39, second paragraph, covers everyone else:

"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."

This paragraph gives the 24-hour time limit. It applies to the foreigner, or to the person who accommodates the foreigner.

Online registration

Section I of the Q&A says that the NIA has rolled out online accommodation registration nationwide for foreigners who reside or stay in domiciles other than hotels. The Q&A is dated 21 September 2026, as shown in its title on the NIA website.

Section I also states:

"Foreigners who reside or stay in domiciles other than hotels may go through the registration formalities online without the need to visit the public security organs in person."

and

"Online registration has the same legal effect as on-site registration."

Who registers

Section III of the Q&A says that online accommodation registration may be completed by either of two people:

"the foreigners who reside or stay in domiciles or ... the persons who accommodate them."

Section III also says that the first registration should be completed with the host's help:

"the initial registration should be completed with their assistance to ensure the accuracy of the registration information."

Section III lists two situations in which the foreigner may register alone:

where the foreigners have previously gone through the registration formalities through the NIA Government Service Platform and need to register again at the same residence;
where the foreigners reside at a self-owned residence.

Section III states that the accommodation host may be either a Chinese citizen or a foreigner.

Suggestion, not a rule: Before you arrive, ask your host to be available for the first registration. Section III says the first registration should be completed with the host's assistance.

What happens if you do not register

Article 76 begins with this wording:

"Under any of the following circumstances, a warning shall be given, and a fine of not more than RMB 2,000 yuan may also be imposed:"

Item (6) of Article 76 is the item that covers registration:

"(6) Persons concerned fail to go through registration formalities in accordance with the provisions in the second paragraph of Article 39 of this Law."

So under item (6), a person who does not complete the registration required by the second paragraph of Article 39 may be given a warning, and a fine of not more than RMB 2,000 yuan may also be imposed.

Article 76 has a separate paragraph for hotels. It states that hotels that fail to submit foreigners' accommodation registration information to public security organs "shall be given a warning; where circumstances are serious, such hotels shall be fined not less than RMB 1,000 yuan but not more than RMB 5,000 yuan."

Sources

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 or the current notice of the office handling your case differs from this page, the official text and that notice prevail.