China

People's Republic of China · CHN

Online accommodation registration for foreign nationals; mandatory registration for exit and entry intermediary services.

L3Reconsider travel

Country score

29.5 / 100

2 policy records · 2 in force · 0 visa categories · 0 agencies tracked

Overview

Capital: Beijing
Region: Asia · Eastern Asia
Currency: CNY
Primary language: Chinese
Calling code: +86
Time zones: Single timezone for the entire country (UTC+8)

Mobility categories

Choose a category to see the policies in force for China today.

Study & students0 policies Work & skilled workers0 policies Permanent residence0 policies Citizenship0 policies Family reunification0 policies Tourism & short stay0 policies Business & investment0 policies Humanitarian & asylum0 policies General immigration0 policies

Latest updates

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ChinaEntry RulesEffectiveEffective 21 Sept 2026

National Immigration Administration Rolls Out Nationwide Online Accommodation Registration for Foreigners Staying at Residences Outside Hotels

What changed

The National Immigration Administration (NIA) of China has implemented a nationwide online accommodation registration system for foreigners residing in non-hotel settings. Effective from 21 September 2026, this change provides multiple digital platforms for foreigners or their hosts to register their stay, complementing the existing in-person option. This measure simplifies the administrative process for foreigners living in China.

Published 21 Sept 2026Effective 21 Sept 2026National Immigration Administration (China)

ChinaBorder SecurityEffectiveEffective 15 Sept 2026

China Introduces Mandatory Registration for Exit and Entry Intermediary Services Agencies and Personnel

What changed

The National Immigration Administration (NIA) and the State Administration for Market Regulation have jointly issued the “Administrative Measures for the Registration of Agencies and Personnel Engaged in Exit and Entry Intermediary Services”. These rules, which started on 15 September 2026, make it compulsory for all agencies and their relevant staff who offer services linked to coming into or leaving China to register with the exit and entry administration authority. The goal is to standardise and improve how intermediary services for people travelling to and from China are overseen.

Published 14 Sept 2026Effective 15 Sept 2026National Immigration Administration (China)

Recent announcements

Announced or proposed measures — signalled early, not yet settled law.

No open announcements for China right now.

Visa categories

Visa category mapping for China is in progress.

Government agencies

Agency registry for China is being built out.

Travel information

Advisory

L3Reconsider travel

Tight regulatory environment; changes to administrative and enforcement procedures occur with little notice.

Visa-free access

China maintains strict visa requirements; limited visa-free transit and specific regional exemptions apply.

Passport validity

Passport validity requirements vary by visa type and nationality; generally, 6 months beyond intended stay.

Entry requirements

Valid passport
Valid visa (unless visa-exempt)
Accommodation registration within 24 hours of arrival

goborda country score

Difficult

New online accommodation registration and mandatory agency registration improve transparency and access to official channels, though the impact on processing speed is not yet apparent.

Route openness 25%: 20/100
Processing speed 20%: 45/100
Policy stability 20%: 35/100
Path to residence 20%: 20/100
Transparency 15%: 30/100

Scores are goborda's editorial assessment of monitored conditions, not a legal or eligibility determination.

Monitored sources

National Immigration Administration (China)Tier 1
https://www.nia.gov.cn