14 September 2026 · Written by the Redream team
The answer in 30 seconds
- Confirm housing and arrival arrangements and save the campus address in Chinese.
- Accommodation registration and the residence-permit application are separate procedures.
- Organise enrolment, communication and payments before exploring the city.
Before leaving Morocco
Your first week in China as a Moroccan student starts before the flight. Request your intake’s arrival guide, registration date, exact campus and accommodation check-in hours. Do not assume housing opens before the stated date or every university building is on the same campus.
Prepare passport, admission and visa documents, plus the records requested by the university, with copies available offline. Save the accommodation address in Chinese, a confirmed university contact and a backup transport plan for delays. Keep essential documents in your cabin bag and agree with your family how you will contact them after landing.
A practical first-week timetable
| When | Priority |
|---|---|
| Arrival day | Reach confirmed accommodation, contact family and immediately check accommodation registration. |
| First working day | Contact the international office and follow the enrolment schedule. |
| Days 2 and 3 | Organise phone service and payments, plus insurance or medical appointments requested. |
| Days 4 to 7 | Follow up the residence application if required, attend orientation and confirm your timetable. |
Accommodation registration: check it immediately
The immigration authority’s explanation of Article 39 states that hotels register foreign guests. Outside hotels, the student or host must register with local public security within 24 hours of arrival at the accommodation. Ask your residence who handles this and how you receive the record.
An online-registration pilot was announced in March 2026 for specified regions. Check the locally available channel with your university or authority; another city’s instructions may not apply. Keep your address and registration record together.
X1 visa: start the residence application early
On an X1 visa, contact the international office promptly to arrange a study residence permit. Article 30 of the law requires an application within 30 days of entry when the visa requires a permit. This is a filing deadline: start paperwork before the end of the month.
Ask for the checklist, submission location and appointments. Confirm insurance and medical-examination or report-verification arrangements with the university and local authority. With an X2 visa or a different status, follow your document’s conditions and official instructions instead of automatically following the X1 process.
Phone service and payments: keep a backup
Ask for an official mobile-service outlet and the documents needed for a line in your own name. Check the plan and SMS reception. Preserve access to verification methods for your Moroccan accounts, and never share codes with someone offering to configure them.
The official guide to payment services in China describes cards, mobile payments and cash. Prepare a primary method and a backup, then test a small transaction. Check acceptance, fees and limits with the bank or app; different services may accept different methods.
What to confirm with the campus and residence
- Enrolment: complete records, receipts, student card and the channel for official announcements.
- Housing: keys, room inventory, any deposit, access rules and maintenance reporting.
- Study: any placement test, orientation and the first teaching day.
- Daily life: dining, health services, transport and food options meeting your needs.
- Support: international office, residence and support-provider contacts, including outside office hours.
This timetable is an organisational suggestion. It does not replace legal deadlines or your university’s guide. If your flight is delayed, inform the university before the registration deadline and ask what action is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Will the university register my accommodation for me?
The residence may assist, but verify completion and obtain the record. Academic enrolment does not establish address registration.
Is accommodation registration the same as a residence permit?
No. They are separate procedures. Check both with the international office for your circumstances.
Must I receive the residence permit during the first week?
Start the paperwork early and meet the filing deadline. Scheduling appointments, submitting an application and receiving the permit are different steps.
Do I need to open a bank account immediately?
Ask if the university requires a local account for a scholarship or particular services. Arrange usable payment methods, then check the bank’s document requirements.
Related guides
- China student visa guide for Moroccan students
- Housing, food and daily life in China
- Study and living budget
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Illustrative cover image.