Foreigners Take Note: New Changes to Accommodation Registration and Residence Permits in Yiwu from 2026, Explained in One Go
📅 2026-10-09
Foreign friends doing business in Yiwu, as well as bosses and foreign affairs/administrative specialists who assist foreign merchants, may have recently encountered these two issues: if a friend stays in a rental house in Yiwu, do they need to register at the police station? If the residence permit is about to expire, can it be processed or renewed online in advance? In 2026, there will be two new changes in national exit and entry management that directly affect the daily compliance of foreigners in Yiwu, and this article will explain them all at once.
I. Two New Changes in 2026, Remember These First
1. Online Registration for Accommodation Outside Hotels, Nationwide (Starting September 2026)
On September 21, 2026, the National Immigration Administration released the 'Interpretation of the Policy on Online Registration for Foreigners' Accommodation Outside Hotels': to enhance the convenience of life for foreigners in China, the service for online registration of foreigners' accommodation outside hotels will be promoted nationwide. This means that foreigners staying or residing in places other than hotels can complete their accommodation registration online, without the need to make a special trip to the public security authorities; online registration has the same legal effect as on-site registration.
However, the basic requirement remains unchanged: Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that foreigners staying or residing in places other than hotels must register with the local public security authorities within 24 hours of check-in, either by themselves or by the host; failure to comply with this regulation will result in a warning and may also incur a fine, according to Article 76 of the law.
2. The State Council's Provisions on Exit and Entry Administration (Issued in July 2026)
In July 2026, the State Council issued the Provisions on Exit and Entry Administration (administrative regulations), and the National Immigration Administration website simultaneously published expert interpretations and answers to journalists' questions. The two points most directly related to foreign merchants are:
- Purposes Must Be Genuine and Legal: The Provisions clearly state that the purposes for which exit and entry, stay, and residence are applied for must be genuine and legal. Using false materials or fake invitation letters to obtain visas or residence permits now carries clearer risk definitions.
- Countermeasures More Clearly Defined: If a foreigner is listed on a countermeasure list, an unreliable entity list, a malicious entity list, or is subject to countermeasures and restrictions, the immigration management agency or visa-issuing authority may, according to their responsibilities, refuse to issue exit and entry documents or deny entry.
II. How to Handle Accommodation Registration in Yiwu?
| Situation | Who Registers | Time Limit / Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Staying in a Hotel or Guesthouse | The Hotel | The hotel registers according to the regulations on public security management for the hotel industry and reports to the public security authorities |
| Staying in a Rental House, Friend's Home, or Own Property | The Individual or Host | Within 24 hours of check-in; can be done online or in person at the public security authorities |
| Holding a Residence Permit, Returning After Traveling Abroad from the Same Regular Residence (Long-term Stay Exceeding 180 Days) | — | No Need to Register Again During the Validity Period of the Same Document |
Online registration channels: National Immigration Administration Government Service Platform (government service website, 'Immigration Bureau 12367' app, 'Immigration Bureau 12367' WeChat mini-program, or Alipay mini-program). Enter the 'Foreigner Services' accommodation registration module, register and verify, then follow the prompts to complete the process step-by-step. You can view the accommodation registration record in the 'Registration Record Inquiry' section.
A small reminder: Considering that the host is more familiar with the residence information, the first registration should, in principle, be assisted by the host; under the following circumstances, the guest can also handle it themselves: one, if they have previously processed accommodation registration through the National Immigration Administration's government service platform and need to re-register at the same residence; two, if they are staying at their own residence. If you encounter any questions during the process, you can call the National Immigration Administration's 12367 service hotline or visit the local public security exit-entry administration office or the local police station for assistance.
III. Residence Permit: Application, Extension, and Change
1. Who Needs to Apply
Foreigners holding a visa marked 'need to apply for a residence permit after entry' (such as work Z, study X, private affairs S, etc.) should, within 30 days of entry, apply for a foreigner's residence permit from the exit-entry administration institution of the public security organ at or above the county level where they intend to reside.
2. Work Residence Permit: Obtain Work Permit First, Then Residence Permit
In accordance with the Exit and Entry Administration Law (中华人民共和国出境入境管理法), foreigners working in China must obtain a work permit and a work residence permit as required; no entity or individual may employ foreigners who have not obtained a work permit and a work residence permit. The actual application sequence is generally: first, the hiring unit applies to the science and technology (foreign expert) department for a 'Notice of Foreigner's Work Permit' / work permit, then, with the work permit certificate, an official letter from the unit, a health examination report, employment contract, passport, and other materials, applies to the exit-entry administration institution of the public security organ for a work residence permit.
3. Extension and Change
- Extension: An application should be made before the expiration of the residence permit. It is recommended to prepare the documents 30 days in advance, rather than waiting until the expiration—overstaying is considered illegal residence and has more severe consequences.
- Change: Changing the employer, changes in the reason for residence, passport renewal, or change of regular residence all involve changing or reapplying for the residence permit. It is suggested to complete the procedures before starting a new job or moving.
- Long-term Convenience: As early as 2019, Yiwu issued the first batch of 5-year valid work residence permits for foreigners in Yiwu. Long-term operators who meet the conditions can apply for longer durations, subject to the review of the accepting authority.
IV. Inviting Foreign Businesspeople to Yiwu: Using a 'Verification Form' is More Reliable
When foreign businesspeople apply for a Chinese visa, the overseas embassies or consulates sometimes require a 'Verification Form for Foreigners Applying for a Visa to China.' In Yiwu, units registered in Yiwu directly apply to the Yiwu Municipal People's Government Foreign Affairs Office, and intermediary agencies are not allowed to act on their behalf; this matter is now available online through the Zhejiang Government Service Network. Typically, the following are needed: the 'Application Form for Verification of Foreigners Applying for a Visa to China,' the first page of the passport, previous visa pages and entry-exit stamp pages, trade vouchers (customs declaration forms, bills of lading, bank remittance slips), residence permits, and a situation statement. Scanned copies must be clear and legible.
