Registering your address in Shenzhen: the 24-hour rule
Outside a hotel, you must register your Shenzhen address with the police within 24 hours — and if you arrived on a work visa, a separate 30-day residence permit clock is already running.
Hotels handle registration for you. Anywhere else in Shenzhen — a leased flat, company housing, a friend's place — registration is your responsibility, within 24 hours of moving in.
Two clocks, not one
People arriving to work in Shenzhen often miss that two separate deadlines start at the same time:
- 24 hours — register your address with the local public security organs (everyone, all visa types)
- 30 days from entry — if you hold a work visa, apply for your residence permit at the exit-entry administration
Missing address registration carries a warning and a fine of up to CNY 2,000. Missing the residence permit deadline is the more expensive mistake, and it is the one that catches new arrivals.
What to bring
- Your passport, with the current visa or entry stamp
- The rental contract or property ownership certificate
- Your landlord's ID
Address registration is done at the police station covering your address. Visa and residence permit business is separate and handled at the exit-entry halls below.
Booking an appointment
Shenzhen takes appointments through the Police Service Platform and the Shenzhen Public Security WeChat account. Book before going — walk-in capacity is limited and the halls serve the whole city.
Exit-entry service halls in Shenzhen
The national immigration service hotline is 12367.
| Office | Address | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-Exit Service Hall, Shenzhen Municipal Administration Service HallLuohu 12367 | No. 4016 Jiefang Road, Luohu District | Mon-Fri 09:00-12:00, 14:00-18:00 |
| Shenzhen Administrative Service Hall — East Hall, Windows 50-55Futian 12367 | No. 1 Fuzhong Road 3, Lianhua Subdistrict, Futian District | Mon-Fri 09:00-12:00, 14:00-17:45 |
| Integrated Hall, Building 4Luohu 12367 | 2/F, No. 2015 Yanhe Road North, Luohu District | Not published — call ahead |
No office matches that filter.
Verified 2026-09-01 · Source: official listing
This list covers the service halls published in English by Shenzhen Government Online and is not exhaustive — district sub-bureaus also handle exit-entry business. Confirm which hall serves your case before travelling.
Sources
- Shenzhen Government Online — Application for the Entry-Exit Permit
- Qianhai Authority — Residence permits for foreign employees
- National Immigration Administration — Entry-Exit and Stay (Residence) of Foreigners
Rules and office hours change. This page records what the official sources said on the verification date shown above; confirm anything time-critical directly with the office before you travel.