Police Registration in China: What Foreigners Actually Need to Do (2026)
"Register at the local police station within 24 hours." Every visa guide mentions this rule, but almost none explain what it actually means in practice. Do hotels count? What if you're on Airbnb? What happens if you forget? Here's the clear answer.
In this guide
The rule in plain English
Every foreigner staying in China must register their accommodation with local police within 24 hours of arrival (or within 24 hours of changing accommodation). This applies every time you move — new city, new hotel, new apartment.
The registration is called "临时住宿登记" (línshí zhùsù dēngjì) — Temporary Accommodation Registration.
When it's automatic (you don't need to do anything)
Hotels, hostels, and serviced apartments register you at check-in when they scan your passport. This is automatic. You'll receive a registration slip — keep it.
The vast majority of tourists never need to visit a police station because they stay in hotels.
When you MUST do it yourself
You must register in person if you're staying at: a friend's or partner's apartment, a rented apartment (from a landlord, through an agency, or Airbnb), or any non-hotel accommodation. Your host or landlord is legally required to accompany you, but in practice you can often go alone with the right documents.
What to bring to the police station (派出所)
✅ Your passport (original)
✅ Your landlord's ID card (身份证) — or a copy
✅ Rental contract or proof of accommodation
✅ Your landlord's property ownership certificate (房产证) — or a copy
✅ Your Chinese phone number
Step-by-step process at the 派出所
Find the nearest police station (派出所). Ask your landlord or search "派出所" on Amap.
Go to the service window and say you need "临时住宿登记" — or show the bilingual template below.
Submit your documents. The officer will photocopy everything.
They’ll issue a "临时住宿登记表" (registration form). This is your proof.
The entire process takes 15-30 minutes on a good day.
Bilingual templates for the police station
"我是外国人，需要办理临时住宿登记。"
(I'm a foreigner and need to do temporary accommodation registration.)
"这是我的护照、租房合同和房东的身份证复印件。"
(Here is my passport, rental contract, and a copy of my landlord's ID card.)
"请问还需要什么材料？"
(What other documents do you need?)
"能给我一张登记表的回执吗？"
(Can I get a copy of the registration receipt?)
Need more phrases? Check our bilingual templates for police station and other scenarios.
What happens if you don't register
Technically: A fine of 500 RMB or less, and possible problems with visa renewal or extension.
Practically: Enforcement varies. In major cities like Shanghai and Beijing, it's strictly enforced. In smaller cities, less so.
The registration slip is required for: visa extensions, opening a bank account (some branches), certain government services, and resolving disputes with landlords.
Airbnb and the gray zone
Many Airbnb hosts in China are not licensed to host foreigners and cannot (or won't) help with police registration. If your Airbnb host won't help, your options are:
→ Find a different accommodation
→ Go to the police station yourself and explain the situation
→ Stay at a hotel for your first night (to get the initial registration) and then move to the Airbnb
Tip for Airbnb bookings:
"你能帮外国人办理临时住宿登记吗？"
(Can you help with foreigner police registration?) — Message the host before booking.
Common mistakes
→ Forgetting to re-register when changing cities (even for a weekend trip — hotels do it automatically; friends' apartments don't)
→ Not keeping the registration slip (you'll need it for visa renewals)
→ Going to the wrong police station (it must be the one in the district where you live)
For our detailed accommodation registration guide, see Registration Guide. If you're just arriving, check our First 72 Hours guide for the complete settling-in sequence.
Police registration is one of those tasks that feels bureaucratic but is genuinely important. Get it done early, keep your slip safe, and you won't have any issues. The process at the bank will be much smoother if you have it — see our bank account guide.
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Share this with anyone planning to stay in China. For the complete arrival playbook, start with our First 72 Hours guide.