Arrival & the 24-Hour Registration Rule
What happens at the border (digital arrival card, fingerprints, customs) and how to handle China's 24-hour police registration — automatic at hotels, your job everywhere else.
Two things matter on day one
First, fill out China's digital arrival card online before you fly — it replaced the paper form in late 2025 and immigration expects the QR code. Second, every foreigner must be registered with the local police within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels do this for you automatically at check-in. If you're staying in an Airbnb-style rental or with friends, the registration is on you, and skipping it risks a fine of up to ¥2,000.
Before you land: the digital arrival card
- Fill it out 24–72 hours before arrival
Use the official NIA site (s.nia.gov.cn), the NIA 12367 app, or the 12367 WeChat/Alipay mini-program. You can also do it at airport kiosks after landing, but the line moves slower.
- Have your details ready
Passport info, flight number, arrival port, and a specific accommodation address — your first hotel's full address works. Copy it from your booking confirmation.
- Save the QR code offline
Submitting generates a QR code. Screenshot it — airport Wi-Fi may not load before immigration, and you'll show it offline.
- Repeat for every entry
One card per entry. If you leave for Hong Kong and come back, you fill it again.
At the airport: what actually happens
- Immigration: passport + QR code
Go to the Foreigners lane (or e-gates where available). The officer scans your passport and arrival-card QR code.
- Fingerprints and photo
First-time visitors aged 14–70 have fingerprints scanned and a photo taken. It adds a minute or two — completely routine.
- Baggage, then customs
Nothing to declare? Walk through the green channel. Health declaration questions are now bundled into the arrival card, so there's no separate form for most travelers.
The 24-hour registration rule, plainly
Chinese law requires every foreigner's address to be registered with the public security bureau within 24 hours of checking in anywhere. In practice this splits into two cases:
- Hotel: the front desk scans your passport at check-in and files the registration electronically. That's why they keep your passport for a few minutes — it's normal. You don't need to do anything.
- Anywhere else (rental apartment, friend's home, some hostels): you or your host must register at the local police station (派出所, pàichūsuǒ) within 24 hours, bringing your passport and the host's address. Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen also offer online registration.
- Keep proof. Ask the hotel for your registration slip or keep your booking record; photograph it. Police can ask for it during checks, especially in Beijing, Shanghai, and major tourist areas.
Not every hotel can take you
Some budget hotels lack the police-registration system for foreign guests and will turn you away at the desk — it's a technical limitation, not discrimination, and it still happens despite regulations pushing hotels to accept foreigners. Protect yourself:
- Book on Trip.com and use its foreigner-friendly filter; check recent reviews for mentions of foreign guests.
- International chains (Hilton, Marriott, IHG) and 4–5 star Chinese hotels always work.
- Before arriving, confirm by phone or chat: 你们接待外国人吗? (Do you accept foreign guests?)
- During Chinese holidays, keep 2–3 backup hotels saved. If you're rejected at check-in after booking through Trip.com or Booking.com, contact the platform immediately for a refund.
What to expect by hotel type
| Hotel type | Accepts foreigners? | Typical price/night |
|---|---|---|
| International chains (Hilton, Marriott, IHG) | Always | ¥600+ |
| 4–5 star Chinese hotels | Usually | ¥400–800 |
| Mid-range Chinese (3 star) | Hit or miss — call ahead | ¥200–400 |
| Budget chains (如家, 7天, 汉庭) | Often refuse | ¥100–250 |
| Hostels in tourist cities | Usually, budget option | ¥60–150 |
| Private rentals (Tujia/Xiaozhu) | Host-dependent; confirm registration | ¥100–300 |
Check-in routine
At the desk
At checkout
Common questions
Registration
I'm moving between hotels — do I re-register?
Yes, but each hotel does it automatically at check-in. The 24-hour clock restarts at every new address.
Do police actually check?
Yes, particularly in Beijing, Shanghai, and around major events. Checks are usually a quick passport-and-registration look. Carry your registration slip or hotel booking, or a photo of it.
I forgot to register for two days. What now?
Go register now. First-time, short lapses usually end in a warning rather than a fine, but a registration gap on your record can complicate future visas.
Arrival card
I couldn't fill the arrival card before flying. Am I stuck?
No — kiosks and QR posters at the arrival hall let you fill it on the spot. It just takes longer, so do it online beforehand when you can.
Does a visa-free entry skip the arrival card?
No. Visa-free and transit travelers fill it too, unless they stay inside the airport's international transit area.