In a move widely welcomed by expatriates and digital-nomad communities, China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) has expanded its online accommodation-registration pilot nationwide. Effective 21 September, foreigners staying in apartments, homestays or other non-hotel lodgings no longer need to visit a police station within 24 hours of arrival; they—or their hosts—can file the mandatory address report through the “NIA 12367” mobile app or its WeChat and Alipay mini-programs. Vietnamese outlet VnExpress highlighted the change on 24 September, noting that the service covers urban short-term rentals as well as rural guesthouses. The shift tackles one of the most frequently cited pain points in China’s entry-exit regime. Previously, business travellers who preferred serviced apartments over hotels had to budget half a day to locate the correct local precinct, queue and surrender their passports for photocopying—an inconvenience that often deterred week-long assignments. The digital procedure now takes under five minutes and produces a QR code that landlords can scan. For employers, the benefits go beyond convenience. Failure to register on time can trigger fines of up to RMB 2,000 and jeopardise future visa renewals. Automating the process reduces compliance risk and creates an auditable trail. Mobility managers should, however, update arrival checklists: the 24-hour deadline still applies, and screenshots of the electronic confirmation should be retained in personnel files. NIA officials told domestic media the upgrade is part of a broader digitisation drive that will eventually integrate e-visas and online residence-permit renewals into the same platform. Tech providers see an opening: at least two start-ups are developing API plug-ins that would allow serviced-apartment chains to pre-populate guest data with passport chip reads, pending NIA approval. While the policy was announced on 21 September, foreign media picked it up only this week, suggesting authorities are testing the waters before a bigger publicity push. Mobility teams should disseminate the new option to assignees immediately—especially during the upcoming Golden Week, when police stations operate reduced hours.
Source: VnExpress International
