How does one register where he or she lives with the local PSB (Public Security Bureau) in Qingdao?

It's Chinese Law that a foreigner registers his or her place of residence with  in 24 hours of arriving to Qingdao!  Non-Chinese residents have to register and get a new registration card every time his or her place of residence and/or visa changes.

Registration is simple; just go to your local residence registration center (PSB) found in your district.  For example, people who live in the eastern part of ShiNan District in the Hong Kong Garden area should go to the ZhuHai Lu police substation.   Each neighborhood has its own police station (PSB) at which you should fill out your registration card.

If you don’t register with in 24 hours of arriving to Qingdao, you still have to go to the District Substation where they will file a report on why you didn’t register, require your signature & finger print, as well as pay a fine from 200 to 1000 RMB.  You also have to get a stamped document from them stating what law you broke and how you were punished before you can go to the Resident Registration Service Station near you and register.  Recently, we have been informed that local PSB stations can handle all matters that pertain to registration issues.

Keep in mind, if you are working, residence registration is the first step to acquire a Foreign Expert Certification which is needed to acquire a Z Visa (working visa) so that you can work in the People Republic of China legally. This pink slip also known as the lodging report or registration card is a necessary document to prove your residency if you want a credit card, a telephone landline, internet, and so on.  If you don’t have it you might need to rely on locals to register these services for you.  A registration card is an essential document needed for living in Qingdao.

No matter what visa you are on, if you are a student, a teacher or a business man everyone is obliged to register their residency!  Take notice that every time you stay at a hotel or a dormitory they make a copy of your passport and they are obliged to register you for the length of your stay.

Don’t take a chance.  If you are working for a school and they are providing a place of residence, ask for your lodging report (Residence Registration Document) which is a small six by four inch pink form pictured above.  You can also go to the Hotel where you stayed and ask them for a registration slip since they are required to have them as well.

You need to provide your passport with a current visa and a copy of your apartment lease to register.  Remember that every time you change your visa or have a change of address you need to get a new lodging report.

Zhu Hai Police Substation
6 Zhuhai Yi Lu
ShiNan District > Fushan Bay Area (Central Qingdao)
Qingdao, Shandong Province  China
珠海一路6号, 中国山东省青岛市
Bus #225

Shinan Substation
37 Guangxi Lu (on the corner of  Zhejiang and Guangxi Lu next to the old chemist shop)
ShiNan District >  Qingdao Bay Area
Qingdao, Shandong Province  China
广西陆37号, 中国山东省青岛市
Zhan Qiao: #25, #223, #225, #304, #311, # 312, #316, #321, #501, #801