China foreigners can skip police desks with online filings launched Sept. 21

Foreigners staying in private residences, short-term rentals and homestays across China can now submit their mandatory accommodation filings online instead of reporting in person to local police stations.

The shift from police desks to mobile apps

China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) expanded its digital accommodation-registration system nationwide on Sept. 21, 2026, under Announcement No. 7 of 2026. The rollout follows a pilot program launched March 20, 2026, across Hebei, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Hubei, Guangxi, Chongqing and Sichuan.

The underlying statutory requirement remains unchanged. Under Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law, any foreign national staying in a non-hotel domicile must register with public-security authorities within 24 hours after arrival. Hotels continue to log guest details automatically, but private stays previously required an in-person trip to a police station or foreigner service window. Online and offline submissions now carry equal legal weight, the NIA confirmed.

Platforms and filing procedures

Foreign visitors and their accommodation hosts can file declarations through four official digital channels:

• The NIA government-service portal website

• The NIA 12367 mobile application

• The NIA 12367 WeChat mini program

• The NIA 12367 Alipay mini program

Users must complete identity verification and submit property details under the Accommodation Registration module within the Foreigner Service section. The platform generates a verifiable electronic filing via its Registration Record Inquiry tool.

Either the guest or the property provider can initiate the filing. The NIA advises property hosts to handle the initial declaration because local address formats and landlord details require precise entry. Foreign nationals may file independently when returning to an address they previously registered on the platform or when staying in a property they personally own. Official documentation lists no government filing fees for submitting registrations online.

Narrow exemptions and the 24-hour deadline

The digital option eases administrative friction, but it doesn't relax filing deadlines. Short-term tourists, visa-free visitors and digital nomads moving between different private apartments must still file a new registration within 24 hours of checking in to each address.

Repeat-filing exemptions apply only in narrow circumstances under official guidance:

• Foreigners or their spouses who own residential property in China and return to that same home after domestic or international travel.

• Foreigners holding valid residence permits who return to their habitual residence, defined by the NIA as a stay exceeding 180 days.

Anyone outside those two categories must file upon every address change. Navigating China's residency rules requires keeping track of these check-in windows, especially when booking private rentals on domestic platforms that don't submit data automatically.

Penalties and unresolved edge cases

Failing to register within the 24-hour statutory window carries legal penalties. Under Article 76 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law, unregistered visitors or non-compliant hosts face a formal warning and fines of up to 2,000 RMB (about $285).

The digital rollout leaves several practical implementation details unresolved. Official materials don't outline a nationwide grace period for late submissions caused by platform outages or identity-verification errors. The system also doesn't alter underlying visa conditions, create a dedicated remote-work status or guarantee that every private rental host possesses the required permits to house foreign guests.

Travelers experiencing technical errors are directed to call the NIA 12367 service hotline or complete their registration at a local police station.