Can international students live off campus in China?

Yes, the national rules provide for it. Article 24 of Order No. 42 says that international students who live outside school dormitories must register at their place of residence with the public security authority. Article 24 does not say whether or when you may move out, so ask your university.

What the rules say

Order No. 42 is the Ministry of Education's administrative measure on the enrolment and education of international students. This site translates the Chinese text into English; the official text is in Chinese.

• Order No. 42, Article 24. Schools must provide meals, accommodation and other necessary living facilities for international students. Schools must also set up and publish rules on how those facilities are used. International students who live outside school dormitories must promptly register with the public security authority at their place of residence.
• Quality Standards for Higher Education of International Students (Trial), Section 13.3. A university dormitory or apartment for international students must meet the legal requirements for foreigners' accommodation. It must also be a place that the local public security authority has approved for foreigners' accommodation registration. If a university uses an outside service to provide housing, the university must supervise that service and give students accurate information about it. Section 13.3 uses the phrase "approved for foreigners' accommodation registration". Its English wording here is this site's translation.
• Exit and Entry Administration Law, Article 39. A foreigner who lives somewhere other than a hotel, or the person who hosts them, must complete registration with the public security organ at the place of residence within 24 hours of arrival. The Law speaks of foreigners in general. Article 39 does not single out students.

Online registration and the rules around it

The National Immigration Administration's policy interpretation, dated 21 September 2026, describes the nationwide online service. It says the following.

• Registration can be done through the NIA Government Service Platform, the "NIA 12367" app, the "NIA 12367" WeChat mini program, or the Alipay mini program.
• Online registration has the same legal effect as registration in person.
• The first registration should normally be completed with the help of the accommodation host, to make sure the information is correct. A foreigner may register alone if they registered before at the same residence, or if they live in a residence they own.
• A foreigner who needs help can call the NIA 12367 hotline or go to the exit-entry service windows of the local public security organ or police station.

Failing to register can bring a warning, and a fine may also be imposed, under Article 76 of the Law. The NIA interpretation cites Article 76 but does not state the amount of the fine.

Scholarship students

The Chinese Government Scholarship guide, Section III, item 2, lists a free university dormitory or an accommodation subsidy as part of the scholarship coverage. This is a condition of that scholarship, not a rule for every international student in China. Section III of the guide does not say how the accommodation subsidy is paid or whether it depends on living off campus.

Who decides, and who to ask

Order No. 42, Article 24 requires the university to set up and publish rules on how its living facilities are used, but it does not say whether or when you may move out. Order No. 42, Article 22 requires each university to name the office that manages international students. That office is the first place to ask about its housing rules.

The public security authority decides on registration at your place of residence. For help with registration, the NIA interpretation names the NIA 12367 hotline and the exit-entry service windows.

Related questions

Must I register if I live outside the dormitory?

Yes. Order No. 42, Article 24 says international students living outside school dormitories must promptly register with the public security authority at their place of residence. Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law also requires registration within 24 hours of arrival for a foreigner living somewhere other than a hotel.

Can I register online?

The NIA's policy interpretation says yes. You can use the NIA Government Service Platform, the "NIA 12367" app, the "NIA 12367" WeChat mini program, or the Alipay mini program. The NIA says online registration has the same legal effect as registration in person.

Do I need to register again after I travel?

Not in every case. The NIA interpretation says re-registration is not needed when you live at your own residence in China, or at your habitual residence with a valid residence permit, and return to the same place after travel. The interpretation defines a habitual residence as a place where a foreigner lives or plans to live in China for a long term, meaning more than 180 days.

Sources

• Administrative Measures for the Enrolment and Education of International Students by Schools (Order No. 42) — Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China
• Quality Standards for Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) — Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China
• Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China (English text) — National Immigration Administration
• Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship — China Scholarship Council (Campus China)
• Policy Interpretation of the Nationwide Implementation of the Online Accommodation Registration Service — National Immigration Administration

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not legal or immigration advice, and it is not published by or affiliated with the bodies named. If the official text differs from this page, the official text and the instructions of your university, embassy or exit-entry office prevail.