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Topic: How many days to register a residence permit — and does a new address or a new job have to be reported?

What does China require?

Everyday topic

Mainland China issues foreigners a "foreigner's residence permit" in five types — work, study, journalist, family reunion, and private affairs — issued by public security exit-entry authorities at the prefecture level or above, under the National Immigration Administration. Article 38 of the Exit-Entry Administration Law requires foreigners aged 16 and over to carry their passport or residence permit while staying in China. If the visa indicates that a residence permit must be obtained after entry, the application must be filed within 30 days of the date of entry (Article 16, Regulations on the Administration of Employment of Foreigners in China). Any change to a registered item on the residence permit, including address, must be reported within 10 days of the change to the public security exit-entry authority at the place of residence (Article 33); staying somewhere other than a hotel requires registration within 24 hours of moving in (Article 39). The work permit and the residence permit are two documents from two different systems: the work permit is issued by the human resources and social security authorities (or local labor departments), while the residence permit comes from public security; changing employer or work location must be reported to public security within 10 days, and the employer must likewise report contract termination and return the related documents (Articles 19 and 20).

What is this topic?

Taiwan's Alien Resident Certificate, issued by the National Immigration Agency, must be applied for within 30 days of entry, and an address change reported within the same 30-day window — miss it and the Immigration Act sets a fine of NT$2,000–10,000.

Japan's Residence Card runs on a tighter clock: 14 days, whether it's the first address registration or notifying a change of employer, both fixed by the Immigration Control Act.

Mainland China gives registered residence-permit changes 10 days (Exit-Entry Administration Law, Article 33), and staying somewhere other than a hotel only 24 hours (Article 39).

The United States has no national residence-registration office at all, but a registered alien's change of address is still bound by federal law — 8 U.S.C. § 1305 — to the same 10-day window, in writing.

India runs on visa category rather than a single residence card: an Employment or Student visa valid over 180 days must be registered with the FRRO within 14 days of arrival.

Indonesia caps an address change at 14 days, with the sponsor jointly responsible for reporting it.

Brazil is the most generous: a temporary-visa holder has 90 days to register with the Federal Police.

On whether the work permit and the residence permit are the same document, the seven countries split two ways: Taiwan, China, and Indonesia issue two documents from two agencies; Japan builds work eligibility directly into the residence status itself; and in the United States, the Green Card is itself the proof of work authorization.

Sources and dates

Dates follow local time zones, calendars, and official notices. Check the source when a date is estimated or locally variable.