Practical guide
Staying outside a hotel: register your residence locally
A private stay has a different registration route from a hotel stay.
The Ministry of Commerce’s English guide says foreigners staying somewhere other than a hotel need to register residence at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival, using a valid passport or other international travel document together with a rental contract or property-ownership certificate. Confirm the current local process before relying on this summary.
A clear next step
- Keep your passport or other valid international travel document ready.
- Collect the rental contract or property-ownership documentation for the stay.
- Contact the local police station promptly to confirm the current registration process.
Sources & verification
Last verified
- Guide to Working and Living in China | Ministry of Commerce non-hotel stays require local police-station residence registration · published 24-hour timing and listed documents