Check in without surprises
Hotels must register foreign guests with the police (the real-name rule), and not every hotel is licensed to do it. Booking the right places and keeping your passport on you avoids an exhausting arrival.
What you need
- Your physical passport (a photo isn't enough)
- A booking on a foreigner-friendly platform
- 1
Book foreigner-friendly
Reserve through a platform like Trip.com that flags hotels accepting foreign passports.
Watch out Some budget or local-only hotels aren't licensed to register foreigners and will turn you away — it's a real rule, not staff being difficult.
- 2
Bring your passport to check-in
They scan it for the police registration; there's no way around it. Carry the physical passport, not just a photo.
- 3
Keep any registration slip
Some areas issue a registration form at check-in — hold onto it for the rest of your stay.
- 4
Staying with friends or in a rental?
If you're not in a hotel, you may need to register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival. Ask your host how it's handled.
Common problems
I got turned away — what now?
Ask reception to point you to a nearby foreigner-licensed hotel, or rebook on Trip.com filtering for places that accept international guests.
Checked June 2026. A planning aid, not official advice — rules and app flows change, so confirm anything critical before you rely on it.