Foreign nationals who stay in private residences, serviced apartments or company housing anywhere in mainland China can now complete the legally required **accommodation registration** entirely online. A feature article published on 22 October 2026 by Shenzhen-based information portal *Shenzhen Fan* confirms that the National Immigration Administration (NIA) has extended the digital service—previously piloted in seven provinces—to **all 31 provincial-level regions** as of 21 September 2026. Under China’s Exit-Entry Administration Law, foreigners must register their address with the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) within 24 hours (or 72 hours in rural areas) of arrival. Failure can attract fines up to RMB 2,000 and complicate future visa renewals. Traditionally, the process required an in-person visit to the neighbourhood police station with landlord, lease and passport in hand—an inconvenience for business travellers and assignees who move frequently. The **“Internet + Accommodation Registration”** platform—accessible via the “NIA Government Services” mini-program on WeChat, the *China Immigration* mobile app and the NIA web portal—lets hosts or foreigners upload passport photos, entry stamps and tenancy documents, then receive a time-stamped digital receipt in minutes. Landlords can pre-save property details and generate QR codes for new tenants, while companies running staff dormitories can bulk-upload room lists. Data automatically sync to local PSBs, reducing face-to-face contact and administrative backlog. For multinational employers, the nationwide launch standardises compliance across China. HR and mobility teams can build the registration API into relocation check-lists, roll out self-service kiosks in staff housing and track completion via the corporate WeChat backend. Business travellers renting Airbnbs or staying with colleagues can register on their phones, avoiding police trips that often derail tight meeting schedules. Relocation consultants expect the digital system to cut registration time from half a day to under ten minutes, lowering incidental costs and freeing staff for client work. The NIA urges foreigners to keep the electronic receipt (or a screenshot) readily available on their phones, as border officers may ask for proof of previous compliance when processing visa extensions. The agency also warns that **false uploads will incur the same penalties as failing to register**, and that hotels remain obliged to use the separate hotel-guest system. Further upgrades slated for early 2027 include English-language push notifications reminding users to re-register after domestic travel lasting more than 24 hours.
Source: Shenzhen Fan
