How long does it take to move to China?

There's no fixed number of days - it depends on appointment availability and how much paperwork you're bringing. The guide breaks the move into 4 stages (Before you leave, First 24-72 hours, First 30 days, Ongoing life in China) covering 16 individual steps, so you know what's next instead of guessing.

What catches people out when moving to China?

If you are not staying in a licensed hotel, you (or your landlord) must register your address with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of moving in - this is separate from your visa/residence permit and is one of the most commonly skipped steps by newcomers who assume 'checking in with the embassy' or 'getting the residence permit later' covers it. Hotels handle this for you automatically at check-in, but a private apartment, a friend's place, or a short-term rental does not. Skipping it can bring a warning and a fine of up to RMB 2,000, and an unregistered address can also cause problems later when you apply for your residence permit.

How much of the China guide can I see for free?

The first three steps of your route are free to preview, no account needed. The full route - every step, what to bring, the cost and the official source - unlocks with one payment once you've picked where you're moving from.

Settle Steps / Moving to China

Moving to China, step by step

16 steps for your move to China - which office, what to bring, what it costs and how long it takes - checked against official sources where an official answer exists, and marked clearly where it depends on your situation instead.

See the free preview for China

How the move breaks down

1
Before you leave
Pick the right visa category and get your sponsor's paperwork in order - almost nothing in China can be done on a tourist visa.
4 steps
2
First 24-72 hours
Police registration is immediate and strict; don't leave it until 'settling in' week.
1 step
3
First 30 days
Converting your visa into a residence permit, work permit, health check, SIM, bank account.
7 steps
4
Ongoing life in China
Tax residency, permit renewals, property rules, and what changes after year one.
4 steps

12 of the 16 steps are checked against an official source, with the date it was checked. The rest depend on your own circumstances, or are practical guidance no authority publishes - each step says which.

If you get stuck in China

110 Police emergency
12308 Consular Service Hotline (China)
12345 City government service hotline

Things people don't expect about moving to China

Missing the police residence registration window
If you are not staying in a licensed hotel, you (or your landlord) must register your address with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of moving in - this is separate from your visa/residence permit and is one of the most commonly skipped steps by newcomers who assume 'checking in with the embassy' or 'getting the residence permit later' covers it. Hotels handle this for you automatically at check-in, but a private apartment, a friend's place, or a short-term rental does not. Skipping it can bring a warning and a fine of up to RMB 2,000, and an unregistered address can also cause problems later when you apply for your residence permit.
There is no digital-nomad or 'retire on savings' visa
China does not have a general remote-work, digital-nomad, or retire-on-your-own-income visa route of any kind. Every long-term legal stay is tied to a sponsor and a purpose: a licensed employer (Z, work), a school (X1, study), or a family relationship to a Chinese citizen/permanent resident or to a foreign worker/student (Q1/Q2, S1/S2). Working remotely for a foreign company, freelancing, or living off savings/investments while physically in China on a tourist (L) or business (M) visa is not authorized - doing so risks fines of up to RMB 50,000, detention, and deportation/future entry bans. If your only income is remote or passive, China is not currently a legally straightforward relocation target the way some EU or Southeast Asian countries are.
Assuming you can buy property freely once you're settled
All land in China is owned by the state (urban) or rural collectives - you can never own land outright, only a 'land use right' attached to a building (70 years for residential). On top of that, foreign individuals generally must have worked or studied in China continuously for at least one year on a qualifying residence permit before they can buy even one residential unit for their own use, and most cities cap foreign ownership at one property, nationwide, ever. Commercial/investment property as an individual is not possible at all - you'd need to set up a Chinese company. Don't plan your China relocation budget around buying a home in year one.

Questions people ask about moving to China

How long does it take to move to China?
There's no fixed number of days - it depends on appointment availability and how much paperwork you're bringing. The guide breaks the move into 4 stages (Before you leave, First 24-72 hours, First 30 days, Ongoing life in China) covering 16 individual steps, so you know what's next instead of guessing.
What catches people out when moving to China?
If you are not staying in a licensed hotel, you (or your landlord) must register your address with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of moving in - this is separate from your visa/residence permit and is one of the most commonly skipped steps by newcomers who assume 'checking in with the embassy' or 'getting the residence permit later' covers it. Hotels handle this for you automatically at check-in, but a private apartment, a friend's place, or a short-term rental does not. Skipping it can bring a warning and a fine of up to RMB 2,000, and an unregistered address can also cause problems later when you apply for your residence permit.
How much of the China guide can I see for free?
The first three steps of your route are free to preview, no account needed. The full route - every step, what to bring, the cost and the official source - unlocks with one payment once you've picked where you're moving from.

Moving to China from an EU country, or from outside the EU

The steps differ depending on where you're moving from. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens generally register locally with no visa required; moving from outside the EU usually means a visa or residence permit arranged before you travel. Pick your own country on the guide and you'll only see the steps that actually apply to you - not a generic list for everyone.

Get the full guide

Pick where you're leaving from on the main guide, and the first three steps are free. The full route for China - every step, what to bring, the cost, the timing and the source - unlocks with one payment, on the page itself.

Choose your route to China

Moving to China, step by step

How the move breaks down

Before you leave

First 24-72 hours

First 30 days

Ongoing life in China

If you get stuck in China

Things people don't expect about moving to China

Missing the police residence registration window

There is no digital-nomad or 'retire on savings' visa

Assuming you can buy property freely once you're settled