A trip might begin at a hotel in Shanghai, continue with two nights in Hangzhou, and then include a short stay at a friend’s home. As booking habits change, so do the procedures for accommodation registration. For foreign travelers, the most important things to understand in advance aren’t what the forms look like, but rather who is responsible for registration, when the registration period begins, and how to accurately express an address. Once these issues are clarified, changing accommodations can be prepared just like packing your luggage.
小红书作者Tracy Travel的入境准备笔记提到住宿登记，反映了旅行者常见的行前疑问。网络清单可能把不同事项混在一起，本文住宿规则采用国家移民管理局二〇二六年九月二十一日公告，其他证件与签证内容不从该笔记推断。实际入住地及相应办事渠道决定需要提供的信息。
Hotels and friends’ homes follow two distinct registration procedures.
An announcement by the National Immigration Administration cites legal provisions stating that when foreigners stay at hotels, the hotel must handle the accommodation registration and report the information to the local public security authorities; when staying at accommodations other than hotels, the individual or the host must register with the public security authorities at the place of residence within twenty-four hours of check-in. Since the time frame here is tied to check-in, interpreting this as a one-time requirement after entry can easily lead to overlooking subsequent changes in accommodation.
Hotel registration and booking are not the same thing. Entering your name online helps the hotel verify your reservation, but upon arrival, you must still provide identification and guest information according to the hotel’s actual procedures. When traveling with others, each person actually staying at the hotel must cooperate with the registration process. You can inform the hotel at the time of booking that you will be using a foreign passport and inquire about the required documents and check-in procedures. This allows the hotel to be aware of your reservation in advance and ensures you know what to bring.
If staying at a friend’s home, be sure to include the registration process in your itinerary rather than waiting until the last minute to remember it. If the host knows the full house number and local address, and the guest has their passport and check-in time, cooperation between both parties will go more smoothly than if one person has to guess the address alone. Discussing in advance who will handle the arrangements, when they should be completed, and how to save the details will ensure that your conversations and rest on the night of arrival aren’t interrupted by forgotten tasks.
Nationwide online processing—what has changed is the channel.
A hotel entrance, the silhouette of a traveler pulling luggage, and street-side greenery. Photo:🐷Plump and Juicy · Original Post.
The aforementioned announcement states that, effective September 21, 2026, online registration for accommodations other than hotels will be rolled out nationwide. The listed channels include the National Immigration Administration’s government service website, the “12367” app, as well as WeChat and Alipay mini-programs; offline registration methods will continue to be available, and online registration carries the same legal validity as offline registration. This is the nationwide scope explicitly stated in the current announcement; earlier generalizations based on localized pilot programs can no longer be applied.
Just because you can complete the process online, does that mean you don’t need to prepare the address? Quite the opposite—accuracy of the information is even more important. What the page requires should be determined by the actual booking channel; it’s best to prepare the full address, actual check-in date, and relevant identification information in advance. Especially in residential complexes with multiple buildings, or when the building entrance does not match the map location, please have the guest confirm the house number—do not use the name of a nearby shopping mall as the address.
Travelers unfamiliar with Chinese can first work with their host to break down the address into recognizable parts: city and administrative district, street or road, residential complex or building, building number, and room number. Enter the information according to the fields on the registration page, and avoid cramming an entire long string of translated names into a single field. Keeping the original Chinese address on hand is also helpful for inquiries; Pinyin or English descriptions can serve as supplementary references for your own reference.
When changing cities, ensure that your registration information is updated accordingly.
When traveling between cities, it’s easy to focus only on transportation tickets and hotel payments, while assuming registration has already been completed at the previous location. In reality, each new accommodation constitutes a new situation. Upon arrival at each location, first determine whether it qualifies as a hotel or other type of residence, then proceed according to the relevant requirements. When moving between hotels, you can complete check-in and registration upon arrival; when staying at a friend’s home, make the necessary arrangements accordingly.
For those moving from a hotel to a relative’s or friend’s home, the most common source of confusion is assuming that, since they’re staying in the same city, they don’t need to report the new address. Whether your trip crosses city lines and where you’ll actually be staying tonight are two separate issues. By listing each night’s accommodation in your itinerary, you can clearly see which nights will be handled by the hotel and which nights require you or your host to handle the registration yourself, allowing you to plan the necessary documents and arrival times accordingly.
Nighttime city skyline and the Oriental Pearl Tower visible from the window. Photo:🐷Plump and Juicy · Original Post.
The colloquial term “homestay” alone cannot determine who is responsible for handling the registration. Before booking, you can ask the operator directly: How is registration for foreign guests handled at this accommodation? Who will assist upon arrival? What documents are required? Whether the website looks like a residential listing or a hotel listing, it’s not as clear as the actual process. If the response is vague, confirm through local official channels first, then decide on your booking and arrival arrangements to avoid a situation where both parties assume the other is responsible upon arrival.
How can I organize the information for my family members clearly?
Often, one family member is responsible for making the reservation, and the name of the contact person on the reservation serves as a placeholder for everyone. However, during check-in, registration must be processed according to the details of each actual guest, including any children traveling with the group. Before departure, you should compile a list of all members’ names and valid identification documents, and keep the required materials in a safe place. Follow the instructions on the booking page regarding what to upload or fill out; do not automatically assume that the booking contact represents all guests.
room assignments and registration information must also be kept separate. When booking two rooms, the payment may be made by the same family, but the actual occupants may differ; if relatives or friends join the group at the last minute, you should explain the actual situation to the hotel staff. By clarifying bed types, the number of guests, and any special accommodation requests before arrival, the hotel can prepare according to the accurate reservation. Check-in is part of the accommodation process, and clearly stating the number of guests can reduce the need for the hotel to rearrange rooms upon arrival.
Personal identification information should only be provided through official channels and when strictly necessary for reception procedures. Posting complete passport pages in public chat groups or sharing screenshots of registration details for travel purposes may lead to information leaks. Records kept for your own reference should be stored securely. When sharing accommodation details with travel companions, you only need to provide the Chinese address, contact information, and relevant booking details; there is no need to include everyone’s full identification information.
The sink, mirror, and coat rack at the entrance to the guest room. Photo:Sugar-Free American Coffee · Original Post.
After submitting, what else can I view?
After completing the online form, review the processing results and related prompts displayed by the platform, and save a record according to the specified method. If there are errors in the information, follow the inquiry or correction guidelines provided by that platform. Screenshots can help identify issues, but the processing status should be determined by the official platform and the channel through which the request was submitted. Knowing where to view the results is more useful than simply remembering that you clicked “Submit.”
In the event of internet or device issues, the announcement provides an offline registration option; travelers may consult the relevant local public security authorities for assistance. The National Immigration Administration’s service portal can also help locate policy information. Providing your actual address, check-in time, and details of the page error you encountered will make your inquiry more specific. While online channels offer added convenience, travelers are not required to wait indefinitely for their mobile devices to resume functioning when they are unavailable.
When reviewing a multi-city trip, an accommodation log can include a brief additional field: “Who handled the registration for this night?” This makes it immediately clear to the hotel, the host, or yourself, and allows for planning the time needed upon arrival. This approach avoids turning every night into a complicated verification process and prevents accommodation registration from being squeezed out of the itinerary. For those making last-minute changes to their accommodations, this column is particularly helpful in reminding them of the next steps.
Foreign travelers can prepare for their accommodations by taking three steps: confirming tonight’s actual address, clarifying who is responsible for registration, and processing the registration through official channels within the specified timeframe while verifying the results. The rules are derived from current official announcements; online travel guides are responsible for addressing questions, and hosts provide on-site information. By connecting these three elements, you can clearly arrange accommodations for hotels, friends’ homes, and your next destination throughout your journey.
Source and Editorial Notes
This article is an original travel interpretation compiled by the Dongxing Travel Editorial Department based on the listed information; it is not a firsthand account by the author. The full text of the original post has not been reproduced; accompanying images are used within the scope of authorization and are credited to the author and the source of the original post. They do not serve as proof of actual travel experiences or services provided to Dongxing Travel clients.
Tracy Travel · 🇲🇾 Latest Entry Regulations for Malaysians Entering China Are Here 😂 · Travel Notes; Verified/Updated: October 3, 2026.
National Immigration Administration · Announcement by the National Immigration Administration on the Nationwide Promotion of Online Registration for Foreigners Staying at Accommodations Other Than Hotels · Official source; Verified/Compiled on: October 3, 2026.
National Immigration Administration · Registration Platform for Foreigners Staying at Accommodations Other Than Hotels · Official source; Verified/Compiled on: October 3, 2026.
🐷 Plump and Juicy · Stayed at an Amazing Hotel on My First Visit to Shanghai · Image source: This article does not cite the post as a basis for current policy.
Sugar-Free American Coffee · 🇲🇾 Where to Stay in Shanghai, China | Full Season Hotel · Image source: This article does not cite the post as a basis for current policy.
