Is it Necessary to register with police?

[Mark_in_Canada]

I thought as a foriegner we had to register with the local police, but my lady said that I don't need to.
Did you guys register when you went?
Thanks,
Mark

[Mikael_Shim]

If you want to abide to the Chinese laws and regulations, yes you MUST. This is unless you stay at a hotel, then the hotels will do all that for you. If you are not going to stay at a hotel you must by law. I know sevral foreigners who didnt, and some never had to deal with any problems. I also know those who later ran into a lot of trouble because they never registered.

I would not recommend the latter, just register. Its a painless and rather quick process just bring someone who talks Chinese , it will save a lot of time usually.

[Mark_in_Canada]

thanks Mikael for the response. Yes, I agree, I must register also.

[Pineau]

The rules are printed on your arrival card.  If you are not staying at a hotel you must register.

[Jan]

Getting a new visa later on will go with a copy of the "house stay permit" card. No need for extra attachments. And the "home stay" permit can be attached as a proof later on for marriage, foreign visa, etc. As a proof that you have met and spent time together etc.

Also some of the Chinese can be rather "suspicious" and with an ill intent. If they see a neighbor harboring a foreigner. They can call the police and then the police will come and ask for the "house stay permt" with the offical stamp on it. If you don't have one. She will get into some trouble and so will you.

I actually had two of these done, when I was at China. First for a smaller city, they took a picture of me, and the whole process went fast, and they did not really want to know anything about me either.

The second one was for Chengdu, where I spent most of my time. The local police also told me I did not have to go there for a new one. But I thought it would be safer. And the police did not know how to do it. So they had to call some older officer there, who had to get the register form from some other place. And in the end ended up making it on the computer. And the Chengdu police asked all sorts of questions, some strange some private etc. Which my girl then answered, while I sat on the bench waiting.
At the start my girl did not really want to go and get the new permit to me... But after some time, she agreed to it. Because I pestered her every day. And made her convinced that it is in her interest as well. For later on, it can be attached to mine/her visa application as well...

But like it was already said. It is rather safe and quick option, to get it done. Instead of gambling and hoping for the best.

[Robertt S]

If you are staying at a good hotel, they normally register you after you check in.

[shaun]

I  have never registered but you can bet on my next trip I will.  This is if I don't get the deer in headlights look when I first see Peggy. 

[mickw]

Hi  All
I like Shaun have never registered ,and i’m not sure if the hotels i stayed in have done so on my behalf either ,although i  hear what other members say about it being law to register.
My brother in law is in the local police in Xiapu, Fujian province ,and we generally catch the high speed train into Fuzhou from Xiapu , which is around 40 minutes as opposed to 3.5 hours by Bus or Taxi . On one particular time during my last visit , Lin Fang and myself had to go to Fuzhou ,and generally all the train seats are bookable and  number allocated at each stop accurately ,people get on and off ,so everyone has a seat all the time ,the train on particular the day we wanted was fully booked and no seats available ,and there are only 3 trains per day running morning ,noon and evening, which posed us a problem .Lin Fang made a call to her brother to see if he could help
We went for dinner with all her family that evening prior to our seemingly aborted planned trip to Fuzhou ,and  her brother presented us with 2 tickets on the train which was supposedly full the day we needed to travel....................so handy  to have a brother in law in the police in china..............brings a whole new meaning to the saying  “ it’s not what you know it’s who you know”

Cheers

Mike

[Martin]

First trip, I registered with the Police...and the second trip, I didn't bother.  It didn't seem to affect anything either way.

[Mark_in_Canada]

better to be safe than sorry.....

[Willy The Londoner]

As some of you may remember I was visited in my apartment in Zhuhai by police and was told in no uncertain terms that I had to register. Then when I moved to Zhongshan, knock knock, the same thing happened.

I re-register every time my Visa is renewed.  I will going again soon to change my address now we bought our own apartment.

It is painless easy and without cost.  The penalty for not registering can be removal from China and a ban on returning for a set period.

You are supposed to take a passport size photo - I did not on my first visit so they scanned a copy from my passport. 

These are the normal police that do this - not those from the Public Security Bureau so mostly are very helpful.  You are required to carry this permit which I do and also I have a copy of my passport which matched details on the permit.

You come away in a few minutes with your Temporary Residents Permit.

Mind you if you are only coming for a couple of weeeks then there is really no need.  But for many months do not risk it.


Willy

[shaun]

Willy, you were who I was thinking of when I decided I  had better the next time.  I'm trying to arrange a 2 month stay this time.  I don't know if I can yet.

[Willy The Londoner]

Willy, you were who I was thinking of when I decided I  had better the next time.  I'm trying to arrange a 2 month stay this time.  I don't know if I can yet.

Then there will be no excuse for spending a day in Zhongshan.  I will not be able to travel to Guangzhou now as I am likely to slip down that little gap between train and platform now.

Willy

[shaun]

I'll tell that to the boss. 

[Mark_in_Canada]

so if a person stays less than two weeks, then there is really no need to?

Thanks,
Mark