Registering as a Foreigner

[muoji]

I'm living in an apartment and my departure card said to register with the nearest police station if you're not staying in a hotel. I did this today with my boss and boy was it a pain in the butt! Do most foreigners who live in residences register? What happens if you don't?

[abcdefg]

Do most foreigners who live in residences register?

Yes, I think so. I always do. It's just part of life here as a foreigner.

What happens if you don't?

Fines and expulsion are possible.

[roddy]

Would be useful (or at least more interesting) for others if you said where you did it, and what the process involved.

[jasoninchina]

Yes, register. This is one of those questions that I have seen on this forum a few times. The forum ought to have(assuming they don't already) a faq section for these kinds of questions. I surely would have benefitted from it.

[Pendragon]

Yes, register when you just arrive in China, and also any time you move from one address to the next you need to register the same day. Big trouble if you don't do it.

The first time was very stressful for me.. I wanted to stay at a friend's place for a couple days, but then it turned out you need to show them an official renting contract at the registration. So we had to write a temporary contract just for that short period, all of this in a hurry since registration should be done within 24 hours after arriving (and all of this ofcourse while having a huge jetlag as well, I could hardly keep my eyes open). Also registration is often in small neighborhood police stations where nobody speaks English.

The bottom-line for me: just stay in a hostel, at least in the first couple days after arriving. I'll only stay in an appartment if an employer takes care of everything, or if it's for a long period so it's worth to do all the trouble myself.

[zhouhaochen]

I had lived in my apartment (Chaoyang Park area) for years unregistered and always thought it was no problem (during the last 10 years I was probably registered for less than a third of the time). Until last week suddenly at about 8pm four police officers knocked on the door and I （stupid, stupid, stupid) opened. They came to check registrations....

However, they were quite friendly and after I promised to go the next day left without talk of fines or anything - I probably looked so scared they took pitty in me.

I went to register the next day, just took my landlords contract and there were no problems whatsoever, I was back out in 10 minutes.

So, I say, do go register....

[roddy]

Were those years post-Olympics? Would be surprised if you managed to get through 2008 unregistered.

[rezaf]

My parents are also coming to China and apart from a few days they are gonna stay at my apartment in Shanghai , we are gonna travel in China and stay at hotels. So should they register for those few days or will staying at hotels be enough for them. Also has anyone ever been fined for this?

Edit: Last time my family came here in 2009 they didn't register and there was no problem.

[rezaf]

BTW these are the documents needed for registration （EDIT） for registering at Zhangjiang police station in Shanghai.

[amandagmu]

Agree with Roddy, please tell us where this happened. I also noticed that in Shanghai my friend who lives there didn't even get a slip of paper for registering like we do in Beijing (she said "isn't it electronic everywhere now?") and that I didn't get in trouble while crashing on her couch for 5 days last month.

When I moved to an area near Andingmen/Gulou it was a pain in the rear. Nobody could tell me where the police station WAS to begin with... I had to ask around. (FYI it is usually listed on detailed Chinese maps, without pinyin, such as on the 12 kuai map I bought at Wangfujing bookstore.) Finally I just had my new landlord take me in person and there was a lot of debate about various things, although most likely involving taxes of some sort. (I don't know how the taxes work and I don't really care.) The point is I had the same experience as the above poster. It was a paichusuo located in the middle of a bunch of hutongs north of Nanluoguxiang, in between Andingmen nei and Gulou. No exact address, sorry.

Comparatively speaking: when I moved to Chaoyang district near Dongsishitiao/Sanlitun I had to go register at the Sanlitun police station located behind the Village and near the bar street. The process was much simpler -- first of all because my apartment complex gave me copies of everything I needed (lease, landlord ID, etc). I went alone. They have a young woman who is not the type that likes to waste a lot of time doing the registration... She entered me into the system using the paperwork provided and I was done and out of there in 5 minutes. When I've had visitors it's been the same process: < 5 minutes. Reminds of the way I wish everything worked here, but of course, obviously, they are more used to seeing foreigners in Sanlitun.

[zhouhaochen]

pre and post Olympic, though during 2008 I spent most of the year living in Foshan (un-registered - but things are a bit different down there).

[roddy]

BTW these are the documents needed for registration

That's going to depend very much on where you do it, there's massive variation between different police stations. Some want to see proof rental tax is being paid, some want the landlord to come along in person, some just want your passport and a lease. Unless you've been to that particular police station before, best plan is to take everything.

Case in point, Amanda's experiences at what sounds like Andingmen Police Station - that's a five minute bike ride from where I used to have to register, and they didn't care if my landlord was paying his taxes or not.

Incidentally, Rezaf, that's an awful lot of image.

[中文学生]

I have lived with in-laws and friends several times lasting from a couple of days to a week or two and have never registered with the local police--even in the time leading up to the Olympics. I suspect the police are only concerned about foreigners registering when they get orders from above to actively enforce this policy.

[Brian US]

When I was in Wudaokou my Chinese landlord/roommate took me to register at the neighborhood office and the police station. When I moved to Renmin University I went by myself to the Zhongguancun police station with my passport, lease, and landlord information.

Last month I did have plain clothed gentlemen come to my door asking for my documents for the first time ever. I was very hesitant even after seeing some of their credentials, but they said they were with the neighborhood office. They said it was common for extra checks in areas with many foreigners. They commented on how skeptical I was and asked if foreigners are treated the same in America. I said there normally aren't checks like this, but then responded I don't know what it's like to be a foreigner in America.

My parents are coming next week, so I expect to get them registered as soon as possible with the same documents I used to register.

[roddy]

Might be worth phoning and asking if you can just take their passports down - I think that should be ok, but (as bleedin' always) it depends. Will save them the trip if possible, and you can get it done while they sleep off jetlag.

Then again, they might enjoy it - bit of an authentic Chinese experience. You can make it more fun by acting really nervous and taking the lead in kowtowing.

[Brian US]

Great idea, I never thought of just trying to take their passports.

I read on another forum that a couple (foreigner with Chinese wife) were asked for a marriage license while traveling through the south. I would find it funny to bring this up at the police station as required documentation, but my parents probably wouldn't be amused after a long flight.

[Meng Lelan]

They have to fill out paper forms to register? I thought everything was electronic now.

[wentz]

this happen to me yesterday in shenzhen. I got a continuous knock on my door. looked through the peephole and blue uniform dude stood there

he ask for my passport. I said why and he gave me a pamphlet which said something to the effect of needing registration when u first arrive.

he looked over my visa make sure it was proper and asked for a picture. he had a clipboard with other names of foreigners i suppose.

my apartment is foreigner friendly. How they knew i was there i dont know. then he went away. no problem. I learned something new.

I knew i was ok cause i leave for hong kong every 30 days.

[gougou]

How they knew i was there i dont know.

That amazes me as well. I think sometimes it is routine checks (especially in foreigner-friendly apartments/neighborhoods), sometimes also it is your neighbors reporting on you.

[roddy]

It's very likely the management office / 居委会 has been told that they need to be telling the police if they spot any new foreigners turning up, then the police will chase up if they feel so inclined. It's unlikely any of your neighbours will take it upon themselves to phone the police, unless your music has been too loud.