China accommodation registration online: new 2026 process

Foreign visitors staying somewhere other than a licensed hotel in mainland China can now register that accommodation online nationwide. The service started on September 21, 2026. The existing 24-hour deadline has not changed, and a first registration at a private address should be completed with the host's assistance.

The online route is available through the National Immigration Administration government website, the NIA 12367 app, and NIA 12367 mini programs in WeChat and Alipay. In-person registration remains available, and the NIA says an online registration has the same legal effect as one completed at the local public security authority.

*Original editorial image created for this guide. It illustrates a traveler using a generic online form and does not reproduce the NIA service, a real registration record or a specific property.*

What to do: If you are staying only in licensed hotels, the hotel handles registration. If you move to a friend's home, a private apartment or another non-hotel address, ask the host to help with the first online registration within 24 hours of arrival. Save the completed record. If the service does not work, use the NIA 12367 helpline or register in person rather than letting the deadline pass.

This guide was checked on September 24, 2026 against the NIA announcement, its policy interpretation and the official service channels. It covers accommodation registration, not visa eligibility or permission for a particular property to operate. For entry documents, read the separate China entry rules guide.

China's new online registration rule at a glance

Who needs to register accommodation in China?

The dividing line is the type of accommodation, not whether the visitor holds a visa or entered visa-free.

Under Article 39 guidance published by the NIA, hotels register foreign guests and report the details to the local public security authority. A foreign national staying elsewhere must be registered by the traveler or the person providing the accommodation within 24 hours after check-in.

The nationwide service is relevant when you stay:

• at a friend or relative's home;
• in a privately rented apartment;
• at a short-term rental that is not registered and managed as a hotel;
• in an urban or rural homestay outside the hotel reporting system;
• in your own residence; or
• at another private address between hotel stays.

China Daily's government service report says licensed homestays managed as hotels fall on the hotel side of the distinction. A listing described as a homestay, apartment or guesthouse does not by itself answer who reports the stay. Ask the operator directly: Will you register my foreign passport through the hotel system, or do the host and I need to use the NIA accommodation-registration service?

Do not treat an online booking confirmation as proof that registration has been completed.

What hotels still do for foreign guests

The September change does not transfer hotel reporting duties to the traveler. When a licensed hotel checks your passport and completes its normal foreign-guest process, the hotel submits the accommodation information.

If a hotel front desk seems uncertain, ask whether it has registered the passport rather than starting a private-address application without explanation. The new public service is for lodging outside the hotel process. It is not a way for a property to avoid its own reporting responsibilities.

This also means a hotel registration covers the hotel stay, not the rest of the itinerary. If you check out and spend the next night at a friend's home, that new address needs its own registration within the applicable 24-hour window.

How to register a non-hotel stay online

The NIA policy interpretation gives the core sequence:

1. Open the official NIA Government Service Platform at s.nia.gov.cn, the NIA 12367 app, or the NIA 12367 mini program in WeChat or Alipay.
2. Create or access the user account and complete identity verification.
3. Open Foreigner Service and choose the accommodation-registration module.
4. Follow the prompts for the traveler, host and residence information.
5. Review the address carefully before submitting.
6. After completion, open Registration Record Inquiry and confirm that the record appears.
7. Save the completed record or a screenshot where it remains available offline.

The official application-channel page links the website and the app or mini-program routes. Start from that page or type the NIA government domain yourself. Avoid QR codes or download links forwarded by an unknown account.

The precise fields and evidence can depend on the residence and the person submitting. Have the traveler and host together for the first attempt, with the passport and accurate address information available. Follow the live official prompts instead of relying on an old city-specific checklist.

Why the host should help with the first registration

The NIA says a host is generally more familiar with the residence information, so the initial online registration should be completed with the host's assistance. That instruction matters for travelers using a friend's spare room or a privately booked apartment.

The foreign guest may register independently in two situations identified by the NIA:

• the guest has already registered through the NIA platform and is registering again at the same residence; or
• the guest is staying in a residence they own.

That is narrower than saying every tourist can complete every first registration alone. Before paying for a private stay, ask whether the host will provide the accurate property details and assist with the online process. A host who says registration is unnecessary is not a substitute for the published rule.

What to do on a mixed hotel and private-stay itinerary

Many questions arise because a trip moves between accommodation types. Use each arrival at an address as a fresh decision point.

The service records where a foreign visitor is staying. It is not a one-time registration for the whole country and it is not replaced by the address written on an arrival card.

Private apartments, homestays and short-term rentals

The online rollout removes a major practical obstacle, but it does not make every listing suitable for a foreign guest.

Before booking, ask the property:

1. Is the accommodation licensed and managed as a hotel?
2. If not, who is the legal host for the address?
3. Will that person help with the first NIA registration?
4. Is the address shown in the booking exactly the address used for registration?
5. What happens if the online submission is rejected?

Keep the reply with the booking. If the host refuses to help or cannot provide a usable address, choose another property. The ability to open the NIA website does not solve inaccurate residence information or a host who will not participate.

If the NIA 12367 registration does not work

Do not submit guessed details repeatedly. First check that you are using an official channel, that the passport information matches, and that the host has supplied the correct local address.

If the problem continues, the NIA identifies three support routes:

• consult the online accommodation-registration guide inside the service;
• call the NIA 12367 service hotline; or
• visit the local exit-entry administration service window or police station for in-person help.

The offline route remains legally valid. Take the passport and ask the host what residence evidence the local office needs. Requirements described in old forum posts can vary by address and may predate the nationwide platform, so use the current official prompt or local authority's instruction.

If the 24-hour window is close, use the support or in-person route rather than waiting for a technical problem to resolve itself.

Keep proof without exposing passport data

After submission, use Registration Record Inquiry to check the result. Keep an offline copy for the trip, but treat it as personal information.

• Do not post a registration record, passport image or host document in a public forum.
• Do not send those records to an unofficial support account.
• Keep the original file or screenshot in a protected folder on the phone.
• Record the host's phone number and the address in Chinese separately.
• If you need help, contact NIA 12367 or the responsible local office.

A screenshot is useful for access when the connection drops. It does not change a pending or rejected submission into an accepted record, so confirm the status shown by the official service.

Phone and data preparation for arrival

The online process makes mobile access more useful, not legally decisive. Before leaving the airport or hotel Wi-Fi, save:

• the private address in Chinese;
• the host's contact details;
• the official NIA channel you plan to use;
• a translation tool with Simplified Chinese downloaded offline;
• an offline map around the accommodation; and
• the location of the relevant local office as a fallback.

Keep the usual SIM available if an account or bank may send a verification message to that number. A data-only travel eSIM should not be assumed to receive the home number's calls or SMS. The calls and SMS guide explains that distinction.

The public OpenSim catalog returned 34 mainland China plans when checked on September 24. Current fixed-data examples included 1 GB for 7 days at USD 1.40, 3 GB for 15 days at USD 3.80, 5 GB for 30 days at USD 5.92 and 10 GB for 30 days at USD 11.70. Those examples listed China Mobile 5G and top-up support. Retail prices, plan availability, networks and features can change, so use the live product card as the checkout source.

The practical OpenSim advantage for this task is route choice rather than immigration help. A traveler can compare current allowances for the actual China trip, install on a compatible phone before departure, and keep the normal SIM in the device while using the travel profile for supported data. OpenSim cannot complete the NIA form for you, verify the address or guarantee access in every building.

Use the travel data calculator to estimate an allowance, check the eSIM-compatible phone list, and follow the eSIM installation timing guide. The commercial best eSIM for China options remain on the China product page rather than this registration guide.

Questions travelers ask about China accommodation registration

Do tourists still have to register within 24 hours?

Yes. The nationwide online option changes how eligible non-hotel stays can be registered. It does not remove the requirement or extend the 24-hour period stated by the NIA.

Do I need to register if I stay in a hotel?

The hotel is responsible for registering foreign guests through the hotel process. Ask the front desk if you are uncertain, but do not normally submit a separate private-address registration for the same hotel stay.

What if I stay with a friend for only one night?

The NIA rule for non-hotel accommodation does not publish a one-night exemption. The traveler or host should complete registration within 24 hours after arrival at that address.

Can a tourist use the NIA 12367 app?

The NIA describes the service for foreigners who reside or stay outside hotels, not only long-term residents. The traveler or host can use the official website, app, WeChat mini program or Alipay mini program, subject to account and identity verification.

Can I register without my host?

For an initial registration at a private address, the NIA says the host should assist. A foreign guest may submit independently when registering again at the same residence after a prior platform registration, or when staying in a residence they own.

Do I register again when I move to another city?

Yes, if the next stay is at another non-hotel address. The record concerns the place where you are staying. A new private address is not covered by a hotel or private registration from another city.

Does an apartment booking platform register me automatically?

Do not assume so. Ask whether the property is licensed and managed as a hotel and whether it submits foreign-guest information. If it is a private residence outside that process, arrange online registration with the host.

What if the online registration is rejected?

Check the official guide and accurate address details, call NIA 12367, or go to the local exit-entry service window or police station. In-person registration remains available and has the same legal effect.

Is the online record valid everywhere in China?

The online service is now available nationwide, and the NIA says online and on-site registrations have equal legal effect. The record still belongs to the address submitted; it is not a permanent nationwide address registration.

Does online accommodation registration replace a Chinese visa?

No. Visa or visa-free eligibility, border admission and accommodation registration are separate questions. Completing the accommodation record does not create permission to enter or remain in China.

OpenSim plans for a China trip

The product cards below are limited to four route choices. Use the mainland China card for a trip contained within mainland China. Choose a China, Hong Kong and Macao or wider Asia card only when the selected live package covers every stop on the same itinerary. Check the current data allowance, validity, network, hotspot terms and top-up eligibility before purchase.

NIA evidence behind this China registration guide

The effective date, 24-hour rule, nationwide scope, four official channels, host-assistance instruction, independent-registration exceptions and offline fallback come from the National Immigration Administration's September 21 announcement and policy interpretation. The accommodation examples were checked against the government service report published on September 22. Public traveler discussions were used to identify common questions, not to establish legal requirements.

OpenSim will update this guide if the NIA changes the 24-hour rule, supported channels, identity process, host-assistance requirement, proof-of-registration process or nationwide availability. Travelers should use the live NIA platform and call 12367 when a property or individual case does not fit the published examples.