Police Registration for Airbnb and Private Stays in China (2026 Update)

Register at the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival, in person or online. The rule applies to every foreigner staying in non-hotel accommodation — Airbnb, friends' apartments, serviced apartments without hotel licensing. Hotels do this automatically; private stays do not. Failure carries a fine up to ¥2,000 (about $280) under Article 39 of the Entry-Exit Administration Law, and a record can complicate visa renewals or future re-entry. Since March 20, 2026, the National Immigration Administration runs an online registration channel through the 移民局12367 app, the NIA WeChat mini-program, and the Alipay mini-program; coverage is rolling out by city, with Shanghai and Shenzhen live first, then Beijing, Guangzhou, and Chengdu. Where online is not yet available, you and your host visit the nearest 派出所 (police substation) together with your passport, the host's ID card, and the property deed or lease. Many domestic Airbnb listings are not licensed to host foreigners — message the host before booking and ask them to confirm they can produce property documents and walk you to the station. Superhost badges plus a 'foreigners welcome' line in the listing usually mean compliance. Save a photo of the stamped registration form on your phone; visa officers and hotel front desks ask to see it on subsequent stays. Enforcement varies by district — central Shanghai is strict, Yangshuo is loose — but the law applies everywhere. Re-register at every new private address; the 24-hour clock resets each move.