Foreign Nationals Face Stricter Residence Registration Enforcement

As China increases its efforts to enforce the residence registration requirement, foreign nationals may be subject to random police checks of their registration documents and could face tougher penalties for noncompliance. 

What is Required? 

Under a law that went into effect last year, foreign nationals are obligated to register their residence with their local police station within 24 hours of arrival in China. Foreign nationals are also required to update their registration documents if they have moved or obtained a new passport, and may be required to do so if they obtained a new visa or residence permit, renewed their visa or residence permit, or returned from an international trip since their initial registration. The law requires that these updates be reported within ten days from the event, but some local police stations require notification within 24 hours. 

Landlords may be able to register on behalf of their foreign national tenants. If the foreign national resides in a hotel, registration is typically completed upon check-in. However, in some areas of China, foreign nationals may be obligated to appear in person at a local police station after registration at hotel check-in. 

Foreign nationals who fail to complete the registration requirement within 24 hours of their arrival may face penalties ranging from verbal warnings to fines or investigations. Employers of foreign nationals who fail to register may also face penalties determined by local police stations. 

What This Means for Foreign Nationals 

Foreign nationals must make sure to register timely and should have their registration documents accessible in the event of a police check. Foreign nationals should check with their local police station to find out when changes in visas, residence permits, or other circumstances must be reported. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email [email protected].


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