China - registering visitors staying at private residence

I thought this had been covered, but if so, I've failed to find the relevant thread, apologies.

As many of you know (sorry to bore you with all this), have family visiting imminently, and they will be staying with us. I know we have to register them with the police within 24hrs of arrival, but I'm a bit confused as to what is required. My colleague called up the police station that we initially registered at when we moved apartment (she does this for me after I return from every international trip) and they said we need to go there with visitors' passports, our passports, our tenancy agreement and our landlord's ID card. However, this strikes me as a bizarre request. Actually, our landlord is really nice, and willing to lend me the ID card, but I can't imagine some billionaire landlord doing the same, or bothering to go to the police station in person. So I called a friend of mine, whom I know has had visitors (in the east side of town), and they said we need to get a special document from the management of the complex we live in, detailing that our landlord does indeed own the apartment, but we don't need an ID card.

Anyone able to clarify what's required? Given that actually our local police station is not so local, I don't want to have to go back and forth on this, especially with the 24hr window.

thanks!

tb

I thought this had been covered, but if so, I've failed to find the relevant thread, apologies.

As many of you know (sorry to bore you with all this), have family visiting imminently, and they will be staying with us. I know we have to register them with the police within 24hrs of arrival, but I'm a bit confused as to what is required. My colleague called up the police station that we initially registered at when we moved apartment (she does this for me after I return from every international trip) and they said we need to go there with visitors' passports, our passports, our tenancy agreement and our landlord's ID card. However, this strikes me as a bizarre request. Actually, our landlord is really nice, and willing to lend me the ID card, but I can't imagine some billionaire landlord doing the same, or bothering to go to the police station in person. So I called a friend of mine, whom I know has had visitors (in the east side of town), and they said we need to get a special document from the management of the complex we live in, detailing that our landlord does indeed own the apartment, but we don't need an ID card.

Anyone able to clarify what's required? Given that actually our local police station is not so local, I don't want to have to go back and forth on this, especially with the 24hr window.

thanks!

tb

Worry not. If you really do care about this, a copy of your lease (or any lease) would be sufficient.

Worry not. If you really do care about this, a copy of your lease (or any lease) would be sufficient.

the lease, & the tax receipt of the apt. lease, & possibly an extra photo copy of the visitors passports may also be needed.

the lease, & the tax receipt of the apt. lease, & possibly an extra photo copy of the visitors passports may also be needed.

Not at my local PSB.

This is my sl. fear: there doesn't appear to be a consistent approach. And by 'tax receipt' of apartment lease: does that mean fapiao? We've never got any fapiaos for our rent...so that might be tricky...

tb

Worry not. If you really do care about this, a copy of your lease (or any lease) would be sufficient.

Agreed. BTW, wouldn't trueblu have had to go through this process himself? So whatever worked for trueblu should work for his relatives.

Most don't bother as the registration paper is only needed for things like applying for a driving licence.

Agreed. BTW, wouldn't trueblu have had to go through this process himself? So whatever worked for trueblu should work for his relatives.

Most don't bother as the registration paper is only needed for things like applying for a driving licence.

When we went through this process: our landlord took us himself to the police station, and to be honest, I'm not sure what he showed them. I'm trying to avoid having to rope him in, since it would really be hassle, and would deter us from having house guests. The police themselves saying that they want to see his ID card is somewhat puzzling, however, and is not consistent with either the advice on this board, nor experience of other friends.

tb

The problem is that you're in Haidian, and police stations there are much more hard@ss than the ones in Chaoyang. This accounts for the variation in what you're hearing--in Chaoyang, I've never had to show more than a copy of the lease with photocopy of landlord's ID attached, but that was an easy-going subdistrict. The landlord's ID is actually a very typical request, but many stations don't require either the original or the landlord him/herself, just a copy of the ID.

I would try to get by with the following:
--your passport (or whoever's name the lease is in)
--relative's passport
--photocopy of lease
--photocopy of landlord's ID (either borrow if landlord is agreeable, or have landlord make several copies, and you stash the extras for future use)
--letter from wuye (management of apartment) stating that landlord does own the apartment and you are a registered tenant. Make sure the exact address that matches the lease itself is on the letter. Most wuye's do this as a regular matter.

Hopefully that will be it, and there will be no mention of fapiaos, landlord showing up in person, etc. Go in with the attitude of confident honored professor at Beida (Tsinghua?) and not a grungy waiguoren student that the Haidian police typically see. ;)

At my local PSB just a copy of the lease and passport is fine. My management office also provides documentation for visitors to bring to the PSB, just for having something with an official red stamp.

Thanks, this is very helpful, and I'll report back after thursday when we go to PSB. The idea of a copy of the landlord's ID makes a lot more sense, since that was required for the lease (although he didn't have it handy at the time). Will make several copies this time, since he's willing to lend it to us, luckily.

I was hoping to avoid going personally (will that be OK -- if I just send my passport with my wife -- lease is in my name)...since I am super busy that day at work.

tb

How long is your family staying? If it's anything less than 2-3 weeks I'd take my chances and not even bother going to the local fuzz. In the extremely unlikely event you get popped, claim ignorance and talk your way out of it.

Also, you say you register with the police every time you return from overseas. If you are on a residence permit, which I assume you are since you are working, you don't have to do that...only register once, then you're done.

Shanghai: We have simply showed up at the police station with our passports, no other documentation and not accompanied by the actual owner. The only thing that has ever been an issue was a while back they wanted a copy of the ID page of the passport and they didn't have a copier. That's no longer an issue, though.

My wife is Shanghai-born and speaks it at native fluency, perhaps this makes it easier.

How long is your family staying? If it's anything less than 2-3 weeks I'd take my chances and not even bother going to the local fuzz. In the extremely unlikely event you get popped, claim ignorance and talk your way out of it.

Also, you say you register with the police every time you return from overseas. If you are on a residence permit, which I assume you are since you are working, you don't have to do that...only register once, then you're done.

First paragraph: Just No. Not in Beijing at this time. Maybe in some other cities you could do this, but the general atmosphere of crackdown in BJ right now does not favor this strategy. For 1-3 days, maybe one could get away with, but not more. They need to be registered.

Second paragraph: Correct, sort of. Normally, people on residence permits do not have to re-register with the PSB upon return from outside China, as long as nothing else (passport, residence, etc.) has changed. However, certain subdistricts do insist on re-registering, even for those on RP's. Again, mostly I've heard of this happening in Haidian Qu. When tried in most areas of Chaoyang, the police just look at you and your RP like you're nuts and say "go away." Only for those L's and F's are they willing to do the paperwork shuffle for each re-entry. Much of Haidian is different though.

Second paragraph: Correct, sort of. Normally, people on residence permits do not have to re-register with the PSB upon return from outside China, as long as nothing else (passport, residence, etc.) has changed. However, certain subdistricts do insist on re-registering, even for those on RP's. Again, mostly I've heard of this happening in Haidian Qu. When tried in most areas of Chaoyang, the police just look at you and your RP like you're nuts and say "go away." Only for those L's and F's are they willing to do the paperwork shuffle for each re-entry. Much of Haidian is different though.

The papers we get in Shanghai are always dated to expire on we plan to leave--we have to get new papers each time we go over there.

How long is your family staying? If it's anything less than 2-3 weeks I'd take my chances and not even bother going to the local fuzz. In the extremely unlikely event you get popped, claim ignorance and talk your way out of it.

Also, you say you register with the police every time you return from overseas. If you are on a residence permit, which I assume you are since you are working, you don't have to do that...only register once, then you're done.

First, if possible to do the legal thing, would prefer to do so. I admit it might be a personal preference, but so it is. Re: re-registering every time I'm back in the country -- when we first registered, the PSB specifically asked me to do this (despite having a residence permit). Perhaps, as jiejie says, it's function of which district one lives in. However, I don't have to physically go there. I just have a colleague call up the PSB, say that "I'm back", and they say thanks for letting us know. I have no doubt that if I didn't do this, nothing would go amiss. But since it is entirely painless, I have no problem checking the box, at least for now.

tb

First, if possible to do the legal thing, would prefer to do so. I admit it might be a personal preference, but so it is. Re: re-registering every time I'm back in the country -- when we first registered, the PSB specifically asked me to do this (despite having a residence permit). Perhaps, as jiejie says, it's function of which district one lives in. However, I don't have to physically go there. I just have a colleague call up the PSB, say that "I'm back", and they say thanks for letting us know. I have no doubt that if I didn't do this, nothing would go amiss. But since it is entirely painless, I have no problem checking the box, at least for now.

tb

A Z visa IS a residence permit... no ifs, ands, or buts.

A Z visa IS a residence permit... no ifs, ands, or buts.

Not doubting that: perhaps our PSB just wants to know where all the residents are and their movements?? It wouldn't surprise me in PRC!

tb

perhaps our PSB just wants to know where all the residents are and their movements?? It wouldn't surprise me in PRC!

tb

AND the tax revenue !.

AND the tax revenue !.

Given that I seem to pay far more tax than any other expat I know in China (the great majority of whom earn vastly more than me), I'm not too concerned on this front!

tb

We have become very friendly with the local PSB.

They know us, we know them. Each and EVERY time we come back from an overseas trip, we are required to report into them.

There is a PSB officer that is assigned to each foreigner dependent on where they live. Our "assigned" officer lives in the complex beside us. Not that he has ever checked on us but he is aware of our existence.

Our PSB office has told us, "Technically you are required to check in within 24 hours of return" but if its within a week, we won't worry about you. We know who you are. Interestingly, six months ago, an Indian man was registering beside us. He was given the "must register within 24 hours" serious lecture - then she turned and looked at me and winked.

These days, my wife doesn't even have to go with me anymore. Just bring her passport and I can register it for her or visa-versa. We do need to bring a copy of the lease each time and my landlord's telephone number.

As for the misguided comment about pleading ignorance. Really difficult to do so when your yellow entry card (which we sign to enter China) has this requirement clearly written on it.

I'm posting to retract my previous comments. I returned to BJ last night after a one month absence, and had the pleasure dealing with 4 police officers right here in Shuangjing (i.e. NOT Sanlitun). Even if I had not been within my 24-hour window, I'm pretty sure I could have fended them off with one or two "red pieces of paper", but I decided to register with my PSB this morning, simply because I don't fancy running into any sort of trouble. I have now printed out small copies of my passport, visa, and residence permit, which I shall carry in my wallet throughout the remainder of the "100 day campaign" against us.

Can report back of our experience today. My wife and visiting family went to our PSB, and they apparently were very thorough, taking about 1 hr to complete the registration process. What is incredibly surprising to me is that they insisted on having our landlord's original ID card, which strikes me as a bizarre, and unreasonable request (we did have it, thankfully). I'm wondering whether if we had insisted that we only had a copy, would that have been acceptable?

This is really quite onerous, and would encourage many people 'not to bother', rather than abiding by the law.

tb

Can report back of our experience today. My wife and visiting family went to our PSB, and they apparently were very thorough, taking about 1 hr to complete the registration process. What is incredibly surprising to me is that they insisted on having our landlord's original ID card, which strikes me as a bizarre, and unreasonable request (we did have it, thankfully). I'm wondering whether if we had insisted that we only had a copy, would that have been acceptable?

This is really quite onerous, and would encourage many people 'not to bother', rather than abiding by the law.

tb

A colleague of mine needed to register himself as well, so I simply gave him my passport so he could process us both at the same time. He brought the same lease we always use, on which neither of our names are even mentioned... that's all, very easy.

Can report back of our experience today. My wife and visiting family went to our PSB, and they apparently were very thorough, taking about 1 hr to complete the registration process. What is incredibly surprising to me is that they insisted on having our landlord's original ID card, which strikes me as a bizarre, and unreasonable request (we did have it, thankfully). I'm wondering whether if we had insisted that we only had a copy, would that have been acceptable?

This is really quite onerous, and would encourage many people 'not to bother', rather than abiding by the law.

tb

Your experience is unusual, to say the least. Normally it takes 5 minutes. Couple of things I can think of:
1) Your PSB is a tough taskmaster all the time.
2) If your relatives are long-staying (i.e. more than a couple of weeks or so), that could trigger a thorough review, as it is not normal. Particularly if (and I am remembering a past post of yours) they are older and are parking themselves with you in China for awhile. Remember there really isn't a lot of precedent for non-Chinese, older relatives to join the expat family group in China.

Good that you had original ID with you. Most PSB's that I've heard of or personally dealt with, a copy is good enough. Be thankful that you didn't have to produce the landlord himself.

Your experience is unusual, to say the least. Normally it takes 5 minutes. Couple of things I can think of:
1) Your PSB is a tough taskmaster all the time.
2) If your relatives are long-staying (i.e. more than a couple of weeks or so), that could trigger a thorough review, as it is not normal. Particularly if (and I am remembering a past post of yours) they are older and are parking themselves with you in China for awhile. Remember there really isn't a lot of precedent for non-Chinese, older relatives to join the expat family group in China.

Good that you had original ID with you. Most PSB's that I've heard of or personally dealt with, a copy is good enough. Be thankful that you didn't have to produce the landlord himself.

It does seem like what happened was out of the norm: but we don't know that many expats in Haidian to compare with. My mother is staying three weeks, so that might have been it, but it's not that long (my in-laws, who were planning on coming here v. long term have put their plans on hold for the mo for various reasons).

I think next time we'll take a copy of the ID and see what happens: my experience with chinese admin is that they like to ask for a lot, but accept if you have less -- even these things are negotiable!

tb

Trueblu, your PSB definitely sounds like a tough one. When I went to mine (Hujialou) just last week there were 3pp ahead of me and not a word was exchanged between the officer and applicants, other than the 'sign here' when the permit is issued. As far as I could see each of us just handed over our passport and 1 supporting doc, no questions were asked. I couldn't tell what the others handed over but it looked to be just 1-2 sheets of paper.