A Dutch expat records his accommodation information on a self-service machine in Xiamen, Fujian province on Dec 9. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]

The "e政务" (e government affairs) convenient service center in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province launched the province's first self-service accommodation registration function for local expats on Dec 9.

Xiamen has the largest foreign population in Fujian, receiving more than 1 million foreign visitors each year before the COVID-19 outbreak.

In the past, expats had to register their accommodation information at a local police station with their passports and rental or house purchasing contracts on working days.

The new function allows expats to register at any of the city's 400 convenient service centers. All they need to do is to input their passport number, nationality (region), and birthdate, take a photo, scan and upload the proof of residence, and input their housing information as well as that of the owner on a self-service machine.

All information will be checked by the system automatically. An accommodation registration form for expats will be printed immediately if the information is confirmed correctly.

Officials said that the new system not only makes it easier for expats to register their accommodation information, but also improves the efficiency and accuracy of expat information collection for the city's exit and entry administration.