Whether foreigners return to China to visit their relatives in 2024 need to report depends on the specific circumstances:
1. Accommodation registration and reporting:
If a foreigner stays in a hotel during a family visit in China, the hotel will generally handle accommodation registration for him/her according to the regulations, without additional reporting.
If staying at a relative’s house or other non hotel accommodation, one should register with the local public security organ within 24 hours (72 hours in remote areas) by oneself or the overnight resident. If accommodation registration is not processed according to regulations, a warning may be given and a fine of up to 2000 yuan may be imposed. In order to facilitate the accommodation registration of foreigners visiting China from the diaspora, in addition to going to the police station of the public security organ, foreigners can also go to the local community police office and foreigner service station to declare.
2. Special note on visa free situation: For individuals from countries that comply with visa free policies, they are also required to comply with relevant regulations such as accommodation registration during their stay in China within the prescribed visa free period (such as those holding ordinary passports from six countries including Switzerland and Ireland who can enter China without a visa for no more than 15 days from March 14, 2024 to November 30, 2024).
