Foreign nationals and Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan (HMT) residents are required to complete temporary residence registration at the local police station in the district where they reside within 24 hours after they arrive in Mainland China. For most hotel residents, this registration process is carried out by the relevant hotel upon check-in. If they move to a new residence or obtain new visas during their stay in Mainland China, they are required to reregister with the local police station or reregister via an online platform (which is available in certain locations, e.g., Beijing, Shanghai, etc.). In some jurisdictions, the local police station may require the foreign nationals to complete the residence registration within 24 hours every time they return to Mainland China from any international trips.

HMT residents (i.e., HMT passport holders with relevant mainland travel permits) who would like to travel to Mainland China do not need to apply for a visa. Instead, they may use their mainland travel permit for Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR residents or their mainland travel permit for Taiwan residents to enter Mainland China. Since August 2018, HMT residents have no longer needed to obtain employment permits to work in Mainland China. HMT residents who reside in Mainland China for more than six months may opt to apply for mainland residence permits, provided that they meet any of the following criteria:

• Have a stable job in Mainland China
• Hold a legitimate and stable residence in Mainland China
• Attend a school in Mainland China

Local police stations administer mainland residence permit applications, so documentation requirements may vary by location. With mainland residence permits, HMT residents can enjoy the same rights as Mainland Chinese residents in accessing 18 public services, including participating in local social insurance, accessing the housing provident fund and benefitting from other services according to the local law where they reside.