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anonymous
Q: What actually happens if you don't register at the local police station?
When you enter China you are told to register at your local police station within 24hrs. I've been staying in hotels so I assume they do it, but when I go to Shanghai I'll be staying at a friends house. She says it is a real bother to find the police station and that I don't need to worry about it. What can happen if you don't register? Is there some big database that all the information goes to?
10 years 26 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
One comment prior to answering your question. I have no idea why foreigners are so againt this regulation, it is so easy to comply with it. And further, they ask Chinese friends who do not know any better and are told "no need to do so". Actually, even Chinese nationals are under this regulation too.
Just locate the closest Police Station to where you are staying (not PSB, please). Go there with 2 each ID type photos (some places ask for one, one ask for two). Copy the page of the passport where your photo and info is, also the page where your current visa to enter China is attached, and the page where the Chinese entry stamp is. Do this on separate pages. Then, you will need a copy of the rental contract of the apartment, and also a copy of the Chinese ID of the apartment owner, and a copy of the Certificate of Ownership. Go to Police Station, fill an application form, hand the documents, and in 5 minutes you walk out with the permit. On subsequent visits, all you will need ia the copies of your passport, and a photo, if you stay at the same address.
If you need anything from PSB, the first thing you have to show is that you have registered. Sometimes at border stations they will ask for it. If you are stopped on the street you must have it with you.
And what are the penalties. Most of the time is a small amount of yuan per day you have not registered, not to exceed 1,000 or 5,000 yuan, I do not recall the exact amount now. Then, there will be a notation on your record and could cause difficulties in getting a future visa since you have shown "disrespect" for their regulations.
I just finish doing mine a couple of days ago. I arrived at Police Station at 11:45 am, left Police Station at 11:55 am with it in my pocket. AND IT IS FREE !.
Hi
With the new laws, your aparment owner willbe fined 5000 RMB and you'll be black listed and fined 1000 RMB, this will stay on your record until you change your passport, but if your passport number doesn't change, you sh*t out of luck.
Saw all of this first hand last month, my coworker like you was too lazy to register and got caught during a building check.
But IF you're going to renew a working permit you MUST register!, Its a new requirement.
illegal F,M,L visa teachers running around will start to get caught in Jan, 2014.
expatlife26:
Dom87...just get a real job. Even if you have no skills ESL jobs are a dime a dozen. Are you that lame you have to work illegally in a 3rd world country?
Yeah, before they weren't too fussed. I never registered but now they are cracking down its best to get it done.
when I was visiting my wife's family in a small town, she went to apply for her passport. They asked me if I'd registered and I hadn't so I had to do it there and then, now I think I would have been fined as well.
if you're staying for just one or two nights you could take a chance but if you're caught it will be a big problem like ironman said.
its really easy to register, just go to the local police station for that area with some passport photos and your passport, fill out the form and wait maybe 30 minutes for them to process it. Yes it's a hassle but it's a bigger hassle if you're unlucky, caught, then blacklisted!
expatlife26:
agreed...it doesn't take very long just a few minutes why take the chance?
btw you can register on whatever kind of visa you have. L, X, F, Z etc. You'll just have to do it however often your visa or entry expires.
Better do this small nuisance. On one of my previous exits from China, the officer at the passport/visa control asked me for my copy of the registration. I still had kept it and she mentioned to me that I had done the correct thing to register as required by law. Apparently she could also see that info on her computer screen.
One comment prior to answering your question. I have no idea why foreigners are so againt this regulation, it is so easy to comply with it. And further, they ask Chinese friends who do not know any better and are told "no need to do so". Actually, even Chinese nationals are under this regulation too.
Just locate the closest Police Station to where you are staying (not PSB, please). Go there with 2 each ID type photos (some places ask for one, one ask for two). Copy the page of the passport where your photo and info is, also the page where your current visa to enter China is attached, and the page where the Chinese entry stamp is. Do this on separate pages. Then, you will need a copy of the rental contract of the apartment, and also a copy of the Chinese ID of the apartment owner, and a copy of the Certificate of Ownership. Go to Police Station, fill an application form, hand the documents, and in 5 minutes you walk out with the permit. On subsequent visits, all you will need ia the copies of your passport, and a photo, if you stay at the same address.
If you need anything from PSB, the first thing you have to show is that you have registered. Sometimes at border stations they will ask for it. If you are stopped on the street you must have it with you.
And what are the penalties. Most of the time is a small amount of yuan per day you have not registered, not to exceed 1,000 or 5,000 yuan, I do not recall the exact amount now. Then, there will be a notation on your record and could cause difficulties in getting a future visa since you have shown "disrespect" for their regulations.
I just finish doing mine a couple of days ago. I arrived at Police Station at 11:45 am, left Police Station at 11:55 am with it in my pocket. AND IT IS FREE !.
It is easy for your "friend" to say not to worry about it because she is not the one that will have to pay the fines and other penalties involved if you are caught. My advice....JUST FIND THE LOCAL POLICE STATION AND DO IT!
As Happy says. It doesn't take a lot of time. Do it as part of the experience.
Ok, so if we are going to visit parrent-in-law for new year holidays , have to register too for 1 weeks ? or ? I am confused here 
HappyExPat:
Technically, you will have to do it when you arrive at the home of your in-laws, and again when you return to your own home. That is the spirit of the regulation. In actual practice, not too many foreigners do it besides me. I do not like the inconveniences cause by this, and the implications too, but when I chose to live in China, I also chose to comply with their laws and regulations.
Nothing happens, unless you get caught. And then....I have no idea. I've never been caught 
I get the impression that this is a leftover of the past that nearly all local authorities dont really care about. I take it that if youre "caught" theyll just ask you to register.
Whatever happens dont register, they will hound you until the end of time to register every 30 days. Absolute pain in the ass. I am never going to answer the door again.
Hotwater:
You must be living here on a business visa then. There is no need to register every 30 days if you've got a residence permit.
ScotsAlan:
I have a 3 year RP, and after about a year and a half without leaving China, the local police saw my wife in the street and asked her to pop in to re-register me. Not sure why. My wife said the Police wanted to practice registering foreigners. The only time I have had the authorities visit the apartment on a regular basis was when we had the baby book. They would come once a month, but they only checked my papers the first time.
what to do if you have more than one apartment? register in both cities? im already registered in one, have ebike lic and a motorcycle in that city.
I never do it. I only register locally, in my city. IF i travel to other cities, i never register. I just let the police department here know that I'm leaving at such and such time and then let them know when I come back. Only twice have I registered when I went traveling once was in Hangzhou, and the second time was in Beijing, and both times I only registered because I was staying at a hotel/hostel that required me to do so at check in. I didn't physically have to go anywhere. The hotel staff registered for me. All other times I have traveled (including this afternoon when I arrive in Beijing), I never register because always rent a house. If I get caught, so be it, but I doubt I ever will. I'm a 'smooth criminal' haha.
First they torture you and then if you are a women you get raped then shot. If you are a man they just shoot you.
