Every expat in Shanghai must register their home address at the local police station within 24 hours of moving in, whether you rent or stay with a friend.
Short answer: every expat in Shanghai must register their home address with the local police (派出所) within 24 hours of moving into a rented flat or a friend’s home. It is free, you bring your passport and a proof of address, and Shanghai lets you file online at crjzndg.gaj.sh.gov.cn/24hr or in person at the station. Skip it and you risk a warning and a fine of up to RMB 2,000.
Nobody warns you about this one. You land in Shanghai, you find a flat, you are drowning in boxes and delivery apps, and somewhere in the middle of it a friend casually asks, "You did your police registration, right?" and your stomach drops. So let me be the friend who tells you calmly, ahead of time. It is a small errand, it is free, and once you understand it you will never panic about it again.
Do I really have to register with the police within 24 hours?
Yes. Every expat in China is required to register their place of residence with the local police within 24 hours of arriving or moving in. This comes from the Exit-Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, the same national law that governs your visa and stay. It is not a Shanghai quirk and it is not optional, though in practice the city has made it far easier to do than most.
The document you are creating is called the Registration Form of Temporary Residence (临时住宿登记表), and everyone just calls it your "police registration" or "the slip." Think of it as the official record of where you sleep at night.
Who actually has to do this, and who is off the hook?
If you check into a licensed hotel, you are off the hook. The front desk scans your passport at check-in and reports your stay to the police network automatically, which is why you never think about it on holiday. That convenience is exactly why so many people arrive in China for years and only learn about registration when they finally rent their own place.
You must register yourself if you live in a rented apartment, stay in a serviced flat or short-term rental, or crash with a friend or family. In those cases either you or the person hosting you has to go through the registration formalities with the local public security organs. Everyone counts here, tourists, students, and long-term workers alike.
The police station you report to is your neighborhood 派出所 (pàichūsuǒ), the branch station responsible for your specific address. Ask your landlord, your building management, or the compound guard which one covers your building, because it is tied to your exact location, not just the district.
What documents do I need to bring?
Bring the originals, plus copies, because Chinese offices generally like a paper copy they can keep. For an in-person registration at the 派出所, you typically need:
- Your passport (护照), with your current visa or residence permit, and your most recent entry stamp.
- A photocopy of the passport photo page, the visa or residence permit page, and the entry stamp.
- Proof of your address: your lease contract (租房合同), or the landlord's property ownership certificate (房产证).
- The landlord's ID card (身份证), or a copy of it. Some stations also ask the landlord to come in person, so message yours in advance and ask.
If you are staying with a friend rather than renting, the same logic applies: you bring your passport, and your host brings the property document and their ID. Sorting the lease and landlord paperwork early is one of the quiet reasons it pays to get your rental right from day one, which I talk through in this guide to renting in Shanghai without getting burned.
What actually happens at the 派出所, step by step
It is genuinely undramatic. Here is the flow so you know what to expect.
- Go to the correct neighborhood 派出所 during working hours and find the window for household or foreign registration (户籍 or 外国人). If you are unsure, show your passport and say "临时住宿登记" and they will point you.
- Hand over your passport and the address documents. The officer enters your details into the system: name, passport number, visa validity, your Shanghai address, and your dates.
- They print the Registration Form of Temporary Residence and stamp it, or hand you a small printed slip. This is the thing you have been working toward.
- That is it. There is no fee. The whole visit is usually quick if your paperwork is complete.
A tip from experience: go with the phone number of an officemate or friend who speaks Chinese, in case the officer has a question about your lease. Most foreign-facing stations in Shanghai are used to this and are polite about it, but a quick translation can save a second trip.
What does the slip look like, and why must I keep it?
The slip is modest, usually a single A5 or A4 printout with your photo details, your address, and an official red stamp. It looks like nothing, and it is one of the more useful pieces of paper you will own in China. Photograph it, keep the paper flat in your document folder, and treat it like a mini passport.
You will be asked for it constantly. It is generally required when you apply for or renew a residence permit, and it is very often requested when you open a local bank account, as I describe in what actually happens at the bank counter. It also shows up for driver's license conversions, some mobile contracts, and various administrative errands. A current, valid slip smooths all of them.
Can I just do it online in Shanghai?
Often, yes, and this is where Shanghai is ahead of most Chinese cities. Shanghai runs an online temporary residence registration system for expats, reachable by scanning a QR code with your phone or logging on at the municipal public security site (crjzndg.gaj.sh.gov.cn/24hr). It is available in English and Chinese. If you are getting to grips with the city’s other government apps, our guide to Suishenban, Shanghai’s government super-app, covers the wider system.
To register online you generally sign up with an email address, then upload a photo of your passport ID page and enter your Shanghai address and your entry and exit dates. A deed or lease copy is usually not required for the online version, and you receive an SMS confirming that your digital form has been submitted. The system can also store your past registration records, which is genuinely handy when you later need to prove your address history for something like a police clearance certificate.
One honest caveat: neighborhood officers do verify registered addresses, and giving false information can lead to trouble, so register the address where you actually live. And if you ever hit a snag with the online flow, the in-person 派出所 route always works as a fallback.
Online or in person: which should you use?
If your setup is straightforward, file online; if your case is unusual, go in person.
- Use the online system if you rent a standard apartment, your passport and visa are current, and you just need the record filed quickly, including on evenings and weekends.
- Go to the 派出所 in person if the online form rejects your address, your landlord paperwork is complicated, you are staying with a friend and want an officer to check the documents, or you need the stamped paper slip that same day for a visa or bank errand.
When do I have to register again?
More often than people expect, and this is the part that trips up long-term residents. You generally need to re-register when:
- You move to a new address, even within the same district.
- You get a new passport or a new visa or residence permit category.
- You re-enter China after traveling abroad. For people on ordinary visas this typically means registering again each time you come back, even on the same visa. Rules for residence permit holders can vary by locality, so if you are unsure, a quick call or visit to your 派出所 settles it.
The safe habit is simple: any time your passport, your visa, or your address changes, or you fly back into the country, assume you should refresh your registration within 24 hours. It costs you nothing and it keeps your paperwork clean for the next visa renewal.
What happens if I miss the 24 hours?
Do not spiral if you are a day late, but do not ignore it either. Under the law, failing to register can result in a warning, and in more serious cases a fine of up to RMB 2,000. In everyday practice, people who show up a little late and register in good faith are usually met with a warning rather than a penalty, but repeated or willful non-registration is where the fines live. The real cost of skipping it is usually indirect: you cannot easily complete a visa renewal or other official errand without a valid slip, so it catches up with you at the worst moment.
Practical tips from someone who has done this a few times
- Do it in your first day or two. Fold it into your arrival admin alongside your SIM card and banking, so it does not become a lurking chore.
- Keep a small document kit. Passport, visa page copies, lease, and landlord ID copies live together in one folder or one phone album. You will reuse them endlessly.
- Save your landlord's cooperation. A landlord who answers a WeChat message quickly with a photo of the 房产证 and their ID is worth their weight in gold. Confirm this willingness before you sign.
- Re-register after every trip abroad. Set a reminder on your phone for the day you land back in Shanghai.
- Photograph every slip. Build a running album so you always have your address history at your fingertips.
If you are still in the arrival scramble and getting your phone sorted first, my Shanghai visa-free 240-hour guide covers the short-stay side of the same rules, which is useful if you are here briefly before a longer move.
Common questions
I am staying at a hotel. Do I still need to register?
No. Licensed hotels register your stay automatically when they scan your passport at check-in, so you have nothing to do. You only need to register yourself once you move into a private apartment or stay with a friend.
Does the 24 hours include weekends and holidays?
The rule is 24 hours regardless, but the online Shanghai system runs any time, which is exactly why it exists. If your 派出所 is closed when you arrive, the online option lets you file promptly and stay compliant.
My landlord will not come with me. What do I do?
First try the online system, which generally does not require the landlord present. If you must go in person, ask the landlord for clear photos or copies of the property ownership certificate and their ID, and call your local 派出所 first to confirm what they will accept without the owner there.
I moved apartments within the same district. Do I really need to register again?
Yes. Registration is tied to your specific address, not just the district, so a new home means a new registration, ideally within 24 hours of moving in.
I lost my slip. Is that a disaster?
Not usually. Go back to your 派出所 or use the online system to register again and get a fresh copy. If you used the Shanghai online platform, your history may still be stored in the system, which makes reprinting far less stressful.
I am a Japanese national. Do I need to register my temporary residence in Shanghai?
Yes, all expats in Shanghai must register their address at the local police station within 24 hours of moving in. The procedure is the same for Japanese nationals: bring your passport, lease or host's documents, and visit the local 派出所 or use Shanghai's online registration system.
How can I complete the registration online?
Shanghai has an online system that runs any time, which is exactly why it exists. It generally does not require your landlord to be present. You can file promptly and stay compliant even if your 派出所 is closed.
Where do I go to register in person?
Go to your neighborhood 派出所, the branch station responsible for your specific address. Ask your landlord, building management, or compound guard which one covers your building, because it is tied to your exact location, not just the district.
What is the Registration Form of Temporary Residence?
It is the document you create when you register, called 临时住宿登记表 in Chinese. Everyone calls it your "police registration" or "the slip." It is the official record of where you sleep at night.
How do I register my temporary residence in Shanghai online?
Shanghai has an online system at crjzndg.gaj.sh.gov.cn/24hr that runs any time. It generally does not require your landlord to be present, so you can file promptly even if your 派出所 is closed.
What is the fine for not registering with the police in Shanghai?
If you skip registration, you risk a warning and a fine of up to RMB 2,000 under China's Exit-Entry Administration Law.
Do I need to register if I stay at a licensed hotel in Shanghai?
No. The hotel registers your stay automatically when they scan your passport at check-in, so you have nothing to do. You only need to register yourself when you move into a private apartment or stay with a friend.
