Foreign nationals or their hosts can register for temporary accommodation through the "NIA Service Platform 12367" app or its WeChat and Alipay mini-programs, China Daily reported, citing the administration's announcement on Monday.

The service covers temporary stays at short-term rental properties, urban and rural homestays, and daily rental apartments that are not licensed as hotels.

A foreign tourist poses next to a Chinese couple dressed in imperial costumes near the Forbidden City, in Beijing, China, on April 12, 2026. Photo by AP

Article 39 of China's Exit and Entry Administration Law requires foreigners staying outside hotels to register with local public security authorities within 24 hours of arrival, either by themselves or through their hosts, the South China Morning Post reported.

Hotels are responsible for registering foreign guests and reporting their accommodation information to local authorities.

The government said the expansion aims to address concerns from some foreign nationals about the inconvenience of registering non-hotel stays.

An immigration official said recent measures have made it easier for foreign nationals to visit China, significantly cutting clearance times for travelers at ports of entry, Xinhua News Agency reported.