All foreigners are required to register with the local police upon arrival in Shanghai. Simply go to the nearest police station in your neighbourhood, present your passport, and report where you are staying and for how long. Once registered, you receive a pink form, which is your temporary residence permit and is needed when applying for a longer-term residence permit. For F or L visa holders, the temporary resident permit is your sole proof of residence. For short stays, your hotel or service apartment will register you without notifying you. You can also ask your landlord about registering – some housing compounds are willing to do it for foreign tenants.

Regulations state that foreigners are required to re-register every time they leave and re-enter the country. Foreigners in Shanghai rarely do this though and it’s not usually enforced. However, if you’re caught with an out-dated temporary residence permit and an over-zealous official, go to a cheap hotel and ask them to re-register you. Always re-register if you move house in Shanghai.­­­­