China Accommodation Registration: Hotels & Private Stays

The short answer

Hotels register foreign guests. If you stay outside a hotel, you or your host must complete accommodation registration within 24 hours of arrival at that accommodation. NIA introduced nationwide online registration on 21 September 2026.

Jump to the question you need

Start with the kind of accommodation

Accommodation registration records where you are staying; it is separate from your arrival card and entry permission. A reservation email alone is not proof that registration is complete.

Who handles the registration?
Your stay	Responsible next step
Hotel	Present your travel document at check-in; the hotel handles guest registration.
Friend’s home or other private residence	Arrange registration with your host within the required period.
Apartment booked through a platform	Confirm whether the actual operator registers you as a hotel guest or whether private-stay registration is needed.
A new private address during the trip	Check the registration process for that stay; do not assume the first address covers later accommodation.

The nationwide online option

The NIA announcement makes online registration available nationwide from 21 September 2026 for foreign nationals staying outside hotels. Shanghai’s implementation guide directs users to the NIA 12367 app or official mini-programs, then Foreigner Service → Accommodation Registration.

For a first registration at someone else’s residence, arrange the host’s help. The official guide explains specific situations in which the guest can complete the process independently, such as returning to the same residence after an earlier platform registration or staying in a self-owned home. Use the current official instructions for your case.

Agree the process with your host before arrival

Send a short message before booking: “I will be travelling on a foreign passport. How will accommodation registration be completed for this address, and who can help when I arrive?” Resolve this while you can still choose a different stay.

Keep your original travel document and the exact accommodation address available. Ask the host to identify the address as it appears in the registration system; do not substitute a nearby landmark. Provide personal information only through the required official or accommodation process.

Confirm whether the stay is handled as a hotel or private accommodation.
Agree who will complete or assist with registration.
On arrival, follow the official process within the applicable deadline.
Check the submitted address and stay details and retain the confirmation.
If the service cannot complete your case, contact the local public security authority promptly; a technical problem does not itself extend the deadline.

Three assumptions to avoid

“I filled in the arrival card” does not establish that accommodation registration is done. The two processes serve different purposes.

“The platform accepted my payment” does not establish who will register the stay. Ask the property or host directly.

“I registered once in China” does not mean every later address is covered. Check the process when you move, especially from a hotel to a private residence.

Book a China Hotel with Your Foreign Passport →

Questions worth asking

Does visa-free entry remove registration requirements?

Do not assume so. Registration concerns your accommodation, while visa-free entry concerns the basis on which you entered. Follow the official instructions for your stay.

What if I cannot use the online service?

Contact the public security authority responsible for the accommodation or the NIA service channel for instructions promptly. Keep your host involved and do not simply wait past the deadline.

Put this into your trip

Continue with the decision that comes next.

Sources & useful official links

Source review: 24 September 2026. Published rules can change; check the linked authority before committing to a booking. This is a desk review, not a claim of a field test.