Patient Q&A
Patient Q&A: If I stay in an apartment, can I register accommodation online?
In pilot regions, yes. China's National Immigration Administration says foreigners staying in domiciles other than hotels may complete accommodation registration online through official NIA channels, while offline registration remains available.
Yes, in the regions covered by the pilot. The National Immigration Administration announced on March 20 that foreigners staying in domiciles other than hotels may complete accommodation registration online, and that online registration has the same legal effect as on-site registration.
The NIA says official channels include its government website, the NIA 12367 app, the NIA 12367 WeChat mini program and the Alipay mini program. The announcement also says the pilot started in Hebei, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Hubei, Guangxi, Chongqing and Sichuan, with wider rollout planned progressively.
For medical travelers, this can make apartment or family-stay arrangements easier after arrival, but it does not replace visa, passport or hospital paperwork. If your itinerary involves a non-hotel stay in China, confirm whether your location is already covered by the pilot and keep your host, passport and appointment details consistent.