China hotel check-in.
Match the booking.
A foreign-passport hotel check-in sequence that keeps the reservation, identity document, local registration and payment handoff aligned.
- 01PROPERTYName + address
- 02GUESTOriginal passport
- 03STAYRegistration handled
Illustration only — use the live booking and the property’s current desk procedure.
Bring the original valid passport, the booking confirmation and an independent payment backup. At a hotel, the property handles foreign-guest accommodation registration with the local public security system.
The front desk must connect one person, one valid document, one property and one stay. Most avoidable failures begin before arrival: a wrong branch, a booking under another name, no late-arrival note or one payment method.
A 2024 circular from the Ministry of Commerce and six other departments says authorities and booking platforms should not restrict operators from receiving foreign guests based on qualification requirements, and operators may not illegally advertise that they do not accept foreign guests.
Make the reservation recoverable
Exact property
Save the Chinese and English hotel name, full address, telephone number and map pin. Chains can have similar branches.
Passport guest name
Enter the guest name from the travel document as the booking flow instructs. Do not use a nickname when the platform offers a passport-name field.
Arrival window
Tell the property or platform when arrival will be late. Do not assume a prepaid room is held indefinitely without a current confirmation.
Terms and payment backup
Save room type, dates, guest count, cancellation terms, taxes shown, payment status and any deposit or pre-authorization information.
Present one clean check-in file
- 01酒店
Confirm the property and dates
Match the desk name and address with the live confirmation before presenting sensitive documents.
- 02护照
Show the original valid passport
The official visitor guide says a passport or other valid international travel document can be presented for hotel residence registration.
- 03订单
Show the booking confirmation
Keep the platform, confirmation number, lead guest, room type, dates and payment status visible. Hide unrelated bookings and payment details.
- 04登记
Let the hotel complete registration
The hotel records and submits the required accommodation information. Answer necessary desk questions, but never share bank PINs or verification codes.
- 05押金
Confirm money before authorizing it
Ask whether a charge is room payment, deposit or card pre-authorization, which method is accepted and what receipt or release evidence is provided.
- 06房卡
Save the room and return path
Keep the hotel address, desk number and room details available offline. Store the passport securely after check-in.
Hotel and non-hotel stays use different routes
The hotel handles it
NIA guidance says the hotel registers the foreign guest and submits the accommodation information to the local public security organ. Present the valid document at reception.
You or the host handles it
NIA says a foreigner staying outside a hotel, or the person accommodating them, must complete the local public-security registration within 24 hours after check-in.
Do not assume a booking platform automatically completes non-hotel registration. Ask the host for the current local route before arrival.
Separate four different money states
Paid to the booking platform
Show the paid status and receipt. The property may still have a separate deposit or local charge under the booking terms.
Room charge remains due
Confirm the RMB amount and accepted method before approving. The government guide says international-card acceptance should be checked in advance.
Refundable security amount
Ask whether it is a charge, cash deposit or card authorization, and request written evidence of the amount and release condition.
Not the same as checkout
Hotel action, payment-app status and issuing-bank posting are separate stages. Keep the folio and transaction record.
Open refund follow-up →If check-in fails, identify the owner
Check branch, platform and lead guest
Compare the exact property address, confirmation number, dates and booking name. Ask the desk to search the platform reference without changing passport data.
Keep the passport identity unchanged
Show which guest is staying and the original confirmation. Contact the booking platform or property through its official channel for an authorized correction.
Ask a manager to recheck the current rule
Calmly show the 2024 central-government accommodation notice linked below. Contact the booking platform’s official support. A policy dispute does not guarantee an immediate room, so secure a safe lawful fallback if it is late.
Use an independent method
Confirm whether the failure concerns the room charge or deposit. Do not keep retrying blindly; use another supported card, mobile payment or RMB cash when the property accepts it.
Open payment recovery →Use the document-recovery route first
A photo is not a guaranteed substitute for the original document. Contact police and your embassy or consulate through the official recovery sequence.
Open lost-passport help →Ask the authority that owns the rule
China’s official visitor guide lists the immigration-service hotline 12367 for stay and residence enquiries. It is not a booking-refund service.
Five useful hotel phrases
I have a reservation. This is the confirmation number.
This is my original passport.
Please check the hotel address and check-in dates.
Is this the room charge, a deposit or a pre-authorization?
Please ask the manager to check the latest rule.
Show only the booking details needed for the current problem. Hide unrelated passport scans, card numbers and verification codes.
China hotel check-in FAQ
Can hotels in China accept foreign guests?
A 2024 central-government circular says local authorities and booking platforms should not restrict accommodation operators from receiving foreign guests based on qualification requirements, and platforms and operators are prohibited from illegally advertising that they do not accept foreign guests. This does not guarantee a room when a property is sold out, closed or unable to honor a specific booking.
What document does a foreign visitor need at hotel check-in?
China’s official 2025 visitor guide says foreigners can complete hotel residence registration by presenting a valid passport or other valid international travel document at reception. Carry the original valid document, not only a photo or photocopy.
Does the hotel register my stay with the police?
Yes. The National Immigration Administration says hotels must process foreign-guest accommodation registration and submit the information to the local public security organ. For a hotel stay, the property handles this registration process.
What if I stay in an apartment or with a friend?
That is a different registration route. The National Immigration Administration says a foreigner staying somewhere other than a hotel, or the person accommodating them, must complete accommodation registration with the local public security organ within 24 hours after check-in.
Can I pay a China hotel with an international card?
The government visitor guide lists RMB cash, bank card, Alipay and Weixin Pay as hotel payment routes, but says visitors should ask in advance whether a particular international card is accepted. Deposits, pre-authorizations, refunds and wallet support are property- and issuer-specific.
Official pages checked for this guide
Reviewed 23 August 2026. The live reservation and property terms control room availability, cancellation, deposits and refunds. Immigration and public-security sources control accommodation registration. We do not promise universal room acceptance, card acceptance or deposit timing.
- State Council — China to facilitate accommodation for foreign travelers2024 seven-department circular on qualification restrictions, illegal “no foreign guests” advertising and simplified registration.
- National Immigration Administration — accommodation registration for foreignersHotel responsibility and the 24-hour non-hotel registration route.
- State Council / Ministry of Commerce — 2025 visitor guideValid travel documents at reception, hotel registration and conditional payment options.