China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) has moved one of the last remaining pieces of its exit-entry bureaucracy online. From 00:00 on 21 September 2026, all foreigners who live in—or even spend a single night in—private apartments, serviced residences, homestays or company dormitories can complete their mandatory accommodation registration entirely online, instead of appearing in person at the local police station. The service is accessible through four channels: the NIA’s English-language government portal, the “NIA 12367” mobile app, and companion mini-programs on WeChat and Alipay. The change builds on pilots in Shenzhen, Chengdu, Shanghai and nine other cities that have been running since early 2025. During the pilots, processing times for registration fell from an average of two hours at a police counter to less than five minutes online, according to NIA data. Article 39 of China’s Exit-Entry Administration Law still requires the registration to be completed within 24 hours of arrival, but the online option removes the need to locate an open police station—often an obstacle for business travellers arriving late at night or expatriates who frequently move between short-term rentals. For companies, the nationwide launch eliminates a common compliance headache: HR or mobility teams will no longer need to send staff members to accompany visiting engineers or board directors to the nearest precinct. In addition, the platform allows bulk uploads, so corporate housing providers can register multiple passports in one transaction. The information feeds directly into the Ministry of Public Security’s hotel management database, so travellers who shift from an Airbnb-style stay to a hotel no longer have to “de-register” first. User privacy has been a point of concern. NIA officials stated at Monday’s press briefing that only the data already required on the paper form—passport biodata page, visa or residence permit number, and address—are collected, and that the servers are located in China under cybersecurity regulations. The agency also stressed that landlords who fail to complete the digital registration on behalf of their foreign tenants remain liable for fines of up to RMB 2,000. Immigration lawyers say the update brings China in line with Singapore and the UAE, which digitalised private-stay registrations in 2021 and 2023 respectively. They recommend that travellers screenshot the confirmation page or save the automatically generated PDF, as airlines and local authorities may ask for proof of registration until the new system is fully familiar to frontline staff.
