From September 21, 2026, foreign residents in China can complete mandatory accommodation registration online nationwide. The 24-hour rule still applies for non-hotel stays, with in-person registration remaining available and equal in legal effect.
Tags:- China Accommodation Registration
- Foreign Residents
- Online Registration
- 24-Hour Rule
- National Immigration Administration
China Expands Online Accommodation Registration for Foreign Residents Nationwide
An online option took effect on September 21, 2026 — but the 24-hour registration rule still applies.
If you live in China and stay somewhere that is not a hotel, one small but important administrative task just became easier.
Starting September 21, 2026, foreign residents and the people hosting them can complete the required accommodation registration online nationwide, according to a new announcement from the National Immigration Administration.
What has changed?
China’s registration rule itself has not disappeared. The change is the way people can complete it.
Foreign nationals staying at a hotel do not normally file the registration themselves. The hotel handles the registration and reports the accommodation information to the local public security authorities under hotel-management rules.
If you are staying somewhere else — for example, a rented apartment, a friend’s home or another private residence — you or the person hosting you must register the accommodation with the public security authority where you are staying within 24 hours of arrival.
The new announcement allows that registration to be completed online across the country. The in-person option at the local public security authority remains available, and the online and offline registrations have the same legal effect.
How can you submit it online?
The National Immigration Administration lists four official online channels:
1. The National Immigration Administration government services website
2. The NIA 12367 app
3. The NIA 12367 WeChat mini program
4. The NIA 12367 Alipay mini program
The announcement says that either the foreign resident or the person hosting them may complete the online registration.
The official announcement keeps both online and in-person registration available.
Because the announcement does not list every screen or document field inside each channel, users should follow the prompts in the official service and keep their passport and current address information ready.
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Why this matters for foreigners living in China
For many foreign residents, the rule was less confusing than the practical question: Where do I go, who needs to go, and how quickly do I have to do it?
The new online option is especially useful when a landlord or host is helping with the registration, when the local police station is far away, or when someone arrives outside normal office hours. It also gives residents a way to start with an official digital channel instead of trying to explain the situation at a counter without knowing the local process.
The key point is that online convenience does not change the deadline. If you are staying outside a hotel, the announcement still refers to registration within 24 hours of arrival.
A simple checklist before you move in
Confirm whether your accommodation is being treated as a hotel stay or a private residence.
Ask your landlord or host who will submit the registration.
Keep your passport and exact address information available.
Use one of the official NIA 12367 channels or go to the local public security authority.
Save the confirmation or registration record after submitting.
A small change with a practical effect
If you are unsure which local office or service channel applies to your address, use the official NIA 12367 service rather than relying on an unofficial guide or an old social-media post.
For foreign residents renting, visiting friends or moving between addresses in China, this is a small administrative change with a very practical effect: one more step can now be handled from a phone.
Source: 国家移民管理局
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