China: Travelers Can Now Register Their Accommodations Online

Effective September 21, 2026, a significant convenience has been introduced throughout China for travelers who are not staying at a hotel: Accommodation registration, which previously often required a personal visit to a government office, can now be completed online nationwide. The relevant Chinese immigration authority has rolled out the corresponding digital procedure nationwide, after it had previously been available only on a regional basis or as a pilot program.

The registration requirement itself is not new; it has long been part of China’s Entry and Exit Administration Law. What is new is that the bureaucratic process can now be completed entirely digitally, without travelers or their hosts having to visit a local police station.

It’s important to note that this requirement doesn’t affect many tourists at all—or they may never even be aware of it. Those who stay exclusively in hotels don’t need to take any action themselves—the hotel automatically handles the registration and forwards the data to the local authorities. The situation is different if travelers are staying with friends, relatives, in private accommodations, or in their own apartment in China: In these cases, either the traveler or the host must register the accommodation at the respective address within 24 hours of arrival.

This deadline does not begin automatically upon entry into China, but only when the traveler actually moves into the non-hotel accommodation. Therefore, anyone who first spends a few days in a hotel and then moves to a private host’s home does not need to observe the 24-hour deadline until that point. This distinction is particularly relevant for travelers who combine multiple types of accommodations during their stay in China, such as a city trip followed by a private visit with friends or family.

For anyone planning to obtain a visa for a longer or repeated stay in China, it’s worth reviewing the requirements in advance, as different types of stays may entail different registration requirements and formalities. We assist applicants in applying for the appropriate visa type, such as the China tourist visa for private or tourist trips, the China private visa for stays with hosts, or the China e-visa, provided it is available for the respective nationality and type of trip.

The new online option for accommodation registration does not change the basic visa requirements for entry into China. Travelers should continue to check well in advance which visa is required for their specific purpose of stay and ensure they have the necessary documents in order well before their trip. Anyone who is unsure about what additional registration requirements apply during their stay, in addition to the visa application, should clarify this in advance to avoid delays or inconveniences during their trip.