China
Living, work, immigration, education & business — official links and practical guides
Key Facts
Basics
Currency
CNY
Region
East Asia
Local time
UTC+8
Asia/Shanghai
Economy
Population
1.41B
GDP (current US$)
$18.74T
GDP per capita
$13,303
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0) · 2024 · Last checked: 2026-07-06
Tax snapshot
Corporate tax
25%
VAT
13% / 9% / 6%
by supply
Top individual income tax
45%
Capital gains (no single rate)
Varies (20%)
- No single capital-gains rate: individual gains on A-shares are currently exempt, property transfers are taxed at 20%, and other gains fall under income tax depending on the case. High-tech enterprises get a 15% corporate rate.
- 13% most goods; 9% farm products/transport; 6% modern services.
Source: National tax authority · Cross-check: OECD · PwC · KPMG · Last checked: 2026-07-16
Headline statutory rates. The income-tax figure includes national surtaxes; any regional or municipal layer is shown beside it. Social contributions and reliefs are excluded. Verify the current rate with the authority before relying on it.
At a glance
A large, fast-moving market where most foreigners arrive through employment or study; long-term residence is selective and Chinese-language ability shapes daily life.
Best for
Employer-sponsored professionals, international students, and staff transferred by multinational companies.
Who this may not suit
People who expect to arrive first and find work later, or who need mainstream international apps and payment methods to work out of the box — most services assume a local number, bank account and ID.
Main routes in
Z work visa (job offer) Employer secures a work permit, then you convert to a residence permit. X1/X2 student visa Admission (JW202/201) → student visa → residence permit for longer study. Permanent Residence ID The “Chinese green card” is highly selective — usually senior talent or investment.
Key trade-offs
- Work permits are tied to a specific employer and role.
- Permanent residence is granted to relatively few applicants.
- Some sites and services need a local phone, bank account or work-arounds.
First steps
- 1 Secure a job offer or university admission before applying.
- 2 Have the employer/school obtain the work-permit notice or JW form.
- 3 Within 24h of arrival (or via your hotel), register your address with local police.
- 4 Convert your entry visa to a residence permit at the exit-entry bureau if staying long-term.
What changes often
- · City-level work-permit categories and scoring
- · Visa-free transit and entry policies by nationality
- · Local registration and residence-permit procedures
Rules differ by city and change often — confirm with the National Immigration Administration (NIA) and your local exit-entry bureau. National Immigration Administration (NIA) ↗
Major cities
All cities (100) →Living
Housing
Renting and buying property in China — typical rents, deposits, contracts, and official tenancy rules.
Healthcare
How the China healthcare system works — public vs private care, eligibility, and costs for residents and visitors.
Insurance
Insurance in China — health, travel, and digital-nomad cover, what is mandatory, and how to choose a plan.
Work
Jobs
Where to find jobs in China — major job boards, in-demand sectors, and how to apply.
Employers
Major employers hiring in China, with links to their official careers pages.
Government Jobs
Public-sector and civil-service hiring in China — the official government job portal.
Salaries
Typical salaries by role in China — pay ranges, taxes, and cost-of-living context.
Immigration & Mobility
Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Startup Visa
Entrepreneur and startup visa programs, investment thresholds, and application criteria.
Student Visa
Student visa categories, eligibility, required documents, work rights, and application steps.
Tourist Visa
Tourist and visitor visa requirements, visa-free entry, duration, and application steps.
Permanent Residency
Permanent-residence routes: eligibility, required years of residence, and the official application steps — including any investment routes where a country offers them.
Citizenship
Naturalization rules: required residence years, language and civics requirements, and each country's dual-citizenship policy.
Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Digital Nomad Visa
Remote-work visa programs, income requirements, duration, taxes, and application steps.
Education
Universities
Top universities in China, admissions, tuition, and international-student support.
Online Courses
Online learning relevant to China — accredited platforms, local MOOCs, and language courses.
Scholarships
Scholarships and financial aid for studying in China — government, university, and international programs.
Study Abroad
How to study in China as an international student — application steps, student visas, and living costs.
Business
Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
Business Banking
Opening business and personal bank accounts, remote options, required documents, and fees.
Investment
Foreign investment rules, incentives, investment promotion agencies, and restricted sectors.
Tax System
Corporate tax, VAT/GST, personal income tax, capital gains, and filing obligations.
Import & Export
Customs procedures, duties, de minimis thresholds, EORI/registration, and restricted goods.
Trademark & IP
Trademark registration, patents, copyright, official IP offices, and filing costs.
Compliance
Corporate, tax, employment, data-protection, AML/KYC, trade and AI compliance — official regulators and registries.
Corporate Compliance
Annual filings, registered-agent and beneficial-ownership obligations, and the official company registry.
Tax Compliance
Filing calendars, registration thresholds and the official tax authority.
Employment Compliance
Mandatory contracts, payroll and social-insurance registration, and the official labor authority.
Privacy & Data Protection
The country's own data-protection regime, registration duties, and its official supervisory authority.
AML & KYC
Anti-money-laundering and customer-due-diligence obligations, regulated activities, and the official financial regulator.
Import & Export Compliance
Customs registration, controlled/restricted goods, sanctions screening, and the official customs authority.
AI Regulations
The country's own AI governance approach, risk tiers, transparency duties, and its official authority.