The following are some of the government departments' responses to questions on the Feedback page:
1. The temporary residence registration for foreigners within 24 hours should be streamlined and completed entirely online without the need to visit the local public security bureau. All functions from residency registration to visa application need to be further digitized and should be accessible on the National Immigration Administration website.
National Immigration Administration:
Currently, the government service platform of the National Immigration Administration provides services such as appointment for visa and residence permit application and progress inquiry through the website, app, and mini-programs on WeChat and Alipay. The platform supports both Chinese and English, and visitors can click on "ENGLISH" or "Simplified Chinese" in the upper right corner of the homepage to switch between the two languages. We have also added a redirect link to the NIA government service platform on the right side of the English homepage of the NIA's official website to facilitate user access.
According to Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, if a foreigner stays in a hotel, the hotel shall register their accommodation according to the regulations on the public security administration of the hotel industry, and submit the foreigner’s accommodation registration information to the public security organs where the hotel is located. For foreigners residing or staying in domiciles other than hotels, they or the people accommodating them shall, within 24 hours after the foreigners' arrival, go through the registration formalities with the public security organs in the places of residence.
To better facilitate foreigners' travel, work, study and life in China, the NIA has instructed local exit and entry administration authorities to further streamline accommodation registration items, expand information submission channels, and provide facilitation services like language translation, further simplifying the accommodation registration application process for foreigners. At present, apart from registering accommodation at local police stations, foreigners who stay at places other than hotels can also go to local community policing offices or foreigners’ service stations for registration at communities.
Some regions, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hainan and Chongqing, have successively launched online self-service accommodation registration systems, enabling foreigners to complete the registration process online. The NIA is developing a nationwide online platform for foreign nationals' accommodation registration, optimizing registration and declaration methods and facilitating foreigners' lives in China.
Thank you for your attention and support for our work. If you have further questions regarding the immigration and entry-exit management services, you are welcome to call the NIA’s 12367 service hotline or email us at 12367@nia.gov.cn.
(Updated on August 26, 2025)
2. The arrival card declaration process should be digitized, allowing foreign visitors to fill it out online and submit it directly to China Immigration Administration. This will not only reduce paper waste but also save declaration costs and improve customs clearance efficiency.
National Immigration Administration:
In recent years, the National Immigration Administration has been committed to promoting exchanges and interactions between Chinese and foreign personnel, and has introduced a series of facilitation measures, such as the 240-hour visa-free transit policy and the 24-hour direct transit without inspection procedures at major international hub airports including Beijing, continuously optimizing and enhancing the experience for foreigners coming to and residing in China. In the next step, the NIA will conduct research and evaluation on the policy of online processing of foreigners' arrival cards and enhance the application of science and technology to further improve the efficiency of port clearance and management and service levels.
(Updated on August 26, 2025)
3. At present, bank cards of foreigners are still not widely accepted in China and there’s a certain spending limit. It is recommended that the spending limit of foreign bank cards in China be significantly relaxed or even canceled to diversify their use scenarios rapidly.
State Administration of Foreign Exchange:
The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) does not set spending limits for foreign bank cards used within China.
Regarding the places where foreign bank cards can be used in China, the SAFE has worked with the People's Bank of China to continuously optimize the payment environment for foreigners in China since the beginning of 2024. Under the principle of large payments by cards, small payments by QR codes, and cash as a backup, foreigners can now make payments via POS machines with their foreign bank cards at airports, hotels, and large commercial areas, and POS machines are also available at scenic spots and major subway stations.
Meanwhile, foreigners can register WeChat and Alipay accounts with their foreign mobile phone numbers and bind their foreign bank cards for payments, or directly use their foreign electronic wallets for QR code payments. These efforts further facilitate foreigners' short-term trips to China and long-term working and living here.
In the next step, the SAFE will continue to strive to improve the payment convenience and currency exchanges for foreigners to visit China.
(Updated on Dec 25, 2024)
