There is no dedicated digital-nomad visa
China does not currently offer a visa category that automatically authorizes a foreign remote worker to live in Beijing while working online. Use the visa or visa-free route that truthfully matches the purpose of entry and respect its permitted activities and duration.
Calling an activity “remote work” does not by itself settle whether Chinese work-permit, immigration, tax or business rules apply. The relevant facts include who engages you, what services you perform, where the activity occurs, how long you stay and whether you serve clients or operate a business in China.
Choose the path by real purpose
A short visit, business meeting, formal employment, study, family stay and genuine startup activity are different purposes. Do not choose a label because it appears easier.
- Visitor: short tourism or personal travel, without treating visitor status as work permission.
- Business visitor: meetings, negotiation and other permitted business activity—not automatic authorization to take up employment.
- Employee: work permit plus the appropriate work-related entry and residence process.
- Foreign entrepreneur: a real project, a qualifying applicant entity or incubator, and the applicable work-permit route.
- Student or family member: follow the relevant study, family or personal-affairs conditions; these do not automatically authorize employment.
Four checks, four authorities
Entry permission answers whether and for what purpose you may enter. Accommodation registration records where you stay. A work permit concerns authorization for foreign employment or qualifying work activity. A residence permit concerns longer lawful residence after entry when required.
Owning a company does not merge these systems. Neither does renting a courtyard.
Beijing also has an entrepreneur residence route
Beijing's official immigration guide lists a private-affairs residence permit endorsed with “Entrepreneur”. Eligible groups include overseas graduates of Chinese universities who want to start a business in Beijing, foreigners planning for investment or starting innovative enterprises in Beijing, qualifying innovation-team members and foreign nationals of Chinese origin operating in key development fields.
This route can support the transition from a genuine project toward an operating company. It is not the same document as a Foreigner's Work Permit, and the applicant must use the category that matches the actual stage and activity. The important point is that ‘foreign founder’ is now an explicit administrative pathway, not merely an informal label.
Register where you actually stay
Hotels normally handle accommodation registration. From 21 September 2026, foreigners staying in private homes, rented apartments, guesthouses or rural courtyards can use the nationwide online accommodation-registration system. Registration is still required within 24 hours, and the online record has the same legal effect as registration at a public-security office.
The National Immigration Administration's official policy interpretation states that, for a first registration at an address, the host is expected to assist. After that address has previously been registered through the national platform, the foreign resident can complete a subsequent registration themselves. Foreigners living in a home they own can also register themselves.
The same official interpretation states that a resident with a valid residence permit or permanent residence permit who returns after travel to the same habitual residence during the validity of the same document can use the new repeat-registration exemption. The property, tenancy and intended use must still be lawful, and address-specific restrictions should be checked before committing.
- Use the National Immigration Administration government service website, NIA 12367 app, WeChat mini program or Alipay mini program; the offline public-security channel remains available.
- Keep your passport and entry information, documented address, host details and lease or booking record available.
- Complete a new registration after moving to a different address and use 12367 for address-specific guidance.
Beijing first, village second
For most newcomers, an initial urban or well-connected suburban base reduces friction while registration, work permission, banking, healthcare, tax and company matters are resolved.
A rural base becomes easier once those systems work. Test it through lawful guest accommodation before treating it as your long-term residence.