Registering your accommodation, whether it is a temporary stay at a hotel or a more permanent residence in an apartment, is a requirement for foreigners within 24 hours of arrival in Beijing and all of China. Doing so may sound pretty complicated for first timers, especially those with limited Mandarin-speaking abilities. That’s why learning the following rough guide will ease your mind when the time arises.

These days, with reforms of visa laws and stories of foreigners being deported for breaking laws, it’s becoming more important to paying attention to laws and regulations to stay in China legally. One of these actions is registering your place of residence. It’s quite easy for tourists staying at hotels, hostels, and other leisure accommodations. That’s because when you check in, you will hand over your passport to the front desk to make a copy and put you in the system. After several minutes, you’re in the system and that’s all there is to it. This system logs your stay into the database to confirm your whereabouts.

For foreigners living in Beijing and desiring more comfortable accommodations that only an apartment will provide, you will have to complete the process yourself with the help of your landlord. Contact your landlord once you have received your keys and moved in about registering your residence. That is because you along with your landlord will need to go to the police station for the initial registration. Your landlord will need to provide his/her ID, a photocopy of it, and their copy of the property ownership papers. You, the tenant, will need to bring your passport, a photocopy of your passport, a photocopy of your Chinese visa, and a photocopy of the most recent arrival stamp into China. Make sure you go to the local police station that has jurisdiction of your residence.

Foreigners will need to register if staying in China on a visa each time. For foreigners working or studying on the respective valid visa, once the visa is changed into a residence permit, one only needs to make a one-time registration of residence. It’s pretty straightforward and here’s to a great and legal stay in China!