Quick answer
For a stay outside a hotel, arrange accommodation registration with your host promptly. NIA states that the foreign visitor or host must complete the formalities with the local public security authority within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels handle registration under their own lodging process.
Online service: nationwide availability
NIA’s policy interpretation published on 21 September 2026 confirms that online accommodation registration for foreigners staying outside hotels has been rolled out nationwide. Completed online registration has the same legal effect as on-site registration. The 24-hour registration requirement still applies.
The official channels include the NIA government service website, NIA 12367 app and its WeChat or Alipay mini programs. Use the links or QR codes provided on NIA’s own page, rather than paying an unrelated intermediary.
Complete user registration and identity verification, then follow the Accommodation Registration module under Foreigner Service. After finishing, use Registration Record Inquiry to check that your accommodation record is present. Opening an account or starting a form is not proof that registration is complete.
Reference NIA portal screen: Accommodation Registration is at the lower left. The red Service Appointment highlight belongs to a separate exit-entry procedure.
Image source: Shanghai International Services. Screenshot rights remain with the publisher. Reference example; screens can vary by device, account and app version. Dates and prices shown are not live.
Before you arrive at the property
Ask the host who will assist, what local documents are required and how the submission will be made. Obtain the full Chinese address. A commercial booking confirmation by itself does not demonstrate that accommodation registration has been completed.
For an initial online registration, NIA advises host assistance so that residence details are entered accurately. Keep the resulting accommodation registration record. The online service’s nationwide rollout does not guarantee that every account or submission will work without assistance.
If the online form fails
Check the official registration guide in the service, record the error and call 12367 if you need help. Ask the host to check the address and required property information. Local public security exit-entry service windows or police stations can assist with on-site registration. If the deadline is approaching, contact them promptly instead of repeatedly retrying a failed form.
After moving
Ask whether a move to a different address or a later return requires a new registration. NIA describes limited exceptions for particular residence circumstances; a short tourist stay should not assume those exceptions apply.
Before booking private accommodation
Choose a host who can explain the registration arrangement. If they cannot, resolve the issue before paying a non-refundable rate. See hotel booking for a more straightforward alternative.
Sources and review
Sources reviewed on 2026-09-30. These sources support the service or policy facts; the practical fallback steps are editorial guidance. This is not a recorded field test.