1. Scenarios Where Emergency Contact Registration is Needed

(1) Applying for a Residence Permit or Long-Term Visa

• Applicable to: International students, workers, and long-term foreign residents.
• Process:
  • When applying for a residence permit at the public security bureau's immigration department, you are usually required to fill out the "Foreigner Visa and Document Application Form," which includes a section for "Emergency Contact."
  • The contact can be a Chinese friend, colleague, landlord, or a designated person from your school/company.
• Requirements: Provide the contact’s name, phone number, and address.

(2) Staying in Hotels or Renting Accommodations

• Some hotels or landlords may require you to provide emergency contact information to handle unexpected situations (e.g., fire, medical emergencies).
• It is advisable to provide a trustworthy contact in China, such as a friend or colleague, or the contact information of your hosting organization in China.

(3) School or Company Requirements

• International students or foreign employees are often required to submit emergency contact information to their school or company for urgent notifications (e.g., accidents, pandemic control measures).
• For example, international student offices at universities may require the registration of a local contact.

2. Benefits of Registering an Emergency Contact

3. How to Register an Emergency Contact?

(1) Official Channels

• Public Security Bureau Immigration Department: Fill out the form when renewing visas or applying for residence permits.
• Chinese Consular Services Website: Register via the "Voluntary Overseas Citizen Registration" system (https://ocnr.mfa.gov.cn). This is useful for consular protection (requires a Chinese passport; not applicable to foreigners).

(2) Non-Official but Recommended Methods

• Mobile Service Providers: When obtaining a Chinese SIM card, request to bind an emergency contact (e.g., China Mobile's "Family Number" feature).
• Hotel/Rental Contracts: Proactively provide contact information to hotel receptionists or landlords.
• Travel Insurance: When purchasing international travel insurance, include emergency contact details so the insurer can assist with urgent communications.

4. Precautions

1. Choosing a Contact:
2. Prioritize someone who resides long-term in China and communicates fluently in Chinese (e.g., Chinese colleagues or friends).

3. Avoid listing foreign friends on short visits (they may not be able to assist due to language barriers or departure).

4. Updating Information:

5. If there are changes to the contact’s information (e.g., phone number, address), promptly update the relevant registration authority.

6. Privacy Protection:

7. According to China's Personal Information Protection Law, institutions are required to properly safeguard your information. Nevertheless, it is still recommended to only provide your information to legitimate organizations.

5. Emergency Handling Procedures

1. Call China's Emergency Numbers:
2. General Police: 110
3. Medical Emergency: 120
4. Fire Rescue: 119

5. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Global Consular Protection Hotline: +86-10-12308 (add China country code when calling from abroad)

6. Contact Your Country’s Embassy/Consulate in China:

7. Register your itinerary and emergency contact information on the embassy/consulate website in advance for consular assistance.

Summary Recommendations

• Short-Term Visitors: Not mandatory to register, but it is suggested to save emergency contacts in your phone notes and inform your family/friends about your itinerary.
• Long-Term Residents: Actively register reliable contacts with immigration departments, schools, or companies to ensure timely assistance in emergencies.
• High-Risk Activities (e.g., mountain climbing, expeditions): Report your itinerary and emergency contacts to travel agencies or local police in advance.