Business Blog

SCMP: China’s Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with other state agencies, has updated the 2025 edition of its “Guide to Working and Living in China as Business Expatriates”, which addresses many of the questions foreign nationals have about how to travel to or work in the country legally.

Here, we attempt to break down the 22-page document to provide the most salient details, like how to apply for a residence permit, pay income tax and handle payments and benefits under the country’s social insurance.

How can expatriates register as residents?

Those who come to China for reasons other than official or diplomatic matters must apply for a residence permit within 30 days of their entry.

These visa holders can, with a valid passport and international travel documents, register for their residence permits at a hotel or at their residence’s local police station. Registration at a police station also requires rental contracts and property ownership certificates.

Extension of the residence permit requires a new application, made at least 30 days before expiration. The length of a permit’s validity can vary depending on a variety of factors.

If information on an existing residence permit changes – a new job or passport, for instance – the holder must inform their local exit and entry administration of the change within 10 days.

What about travel without a visa?

The maximum duration of visa-free transits for eligible foreign nationals has been extended. Since December, stays as part of trips between two different countries or regions can last up to 240 hours or 10 days, up from the previous 72-hour and 144-hour limits.

China visa-free entry

Twenty-one ports of entry and exit have also been added as transit options, and individuals from any of the 55 eligible countries can move visa-free through the country’s 60 open ports.

Full visa exemption for entry has also been applied on a trial basis to nationals from Bulgaria, Romania, Malta, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Estonia, Latvia and Japan for trips taking place before the end of 2025.

In addition to these nine countries, passport holders from 38 countries can enter China without a visa for most purposes for stays of up to 30 days.

Those who have entered the country with a visa with reason to stay beyond its expiration date can apply for an extension with the necessary documents.

Do foreign workers need to pay income tax?

An individual who is domiciled in China, or an individual who is not domiciled in China but has lived in China for 183 days or more within a tax year, is considered a tax resident. They are subject to individual income tax on earnings from within China or overseas.

An individual who is not domiciled in China and does not live in China, or an individual who is not domiciled in China but has been living in China for fewer than 183 days within a tax year, is regarded as a non-resident individual subject to individual income tax. They are only taxed on earnings from within China.

Foreign nationals in China who are tax residents have to fill in their annual individual income tax return from March 1 to June 30 of the following year and perform a tax reconciliation with the authorities.

There are three conditions that can exempt a foreign national from reconciliation: if conditions for an exemption in the tax law have been met, if the amount already withheld matches the tax payable, or if the conditions for refunding have been met but the claim for a tax refund has been waived.

China has made arrangements to avoid “double taxation” – the levying of duties by two countries on one income – with 114 countries or regions, including Canada, Italy, Japan, Denmark and Singapore.

How can foreigners legally work in China?

A work visa – also known as a “Z visa” – is required from a Chinese embassy or consulate for those who intend to work in China. A “Notification Letter for Foreigner’s Work Permit” is needed from the applicant’s company for a successful visa application.

For those who intend to work in China for no more than 90 days, the visa is all that is required. The holder must depart before the term of the visa is up. Those working in China for longer than 90 days must apply for a residence permit after entering the country via the process detailed above.

For an extension, applications must be submitted at least 30 days before the expiration of the work permit.

China has also launched a new visa category for young science and technology specialists. Under revised foreign entry regulations, eligible professionals will be able to apply for “K visas” starting October 1.

State broadcaster CCTV reported these visas would not require an invitation by a domestic employer or institution, as in the “Z visa”.

Can foreign nationals receive social insurance benefits?

Expatriates who have not yet reached the statutory retirement age and are legally employed in China are eligible to enrol in the country’s social insurance plans.

This also applies to those who have signed labour contracts with employers in China and received pay, or those who have signed contracts with overseas companies and have been dispatched to work in China.

Employers have to process social insurance registration for their staff within 30 days from the date of applying for a work permit. Conditions for payment and receipt of benefits should be identical for foreign nationals and Chinese employees.

Agreements on social security between China and various countries would exempt nationals from those countries from mandated payments into the programme.

How can non-Chinese residents of Hong Kong and Macau travel to mainland China?

Permanent residents of the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau who are not Chinese citizens can apply for a five-year travel permit through their local branch of China Travel Service, a state-owned tourism company.

With a valid permit, an individual can travel to mainland China multiple times for stays of fewer than 90 days.

To renew or replace the permit, the holder can make an application through China Travel Service in Hong Kong or Macau, or a qualified exit-entry administration on the mainland.

SCMP: Top Chinese Engineers return to China. Zhou Ming has left his leadership role at US-based global engineering giant Altair to return to China. 《南華早報》：中國頂尖工程師回國。周明辭去了美國全球工程巨頭Altair的領導職務，返回中國🇨🇳是明智的決定.

Video: Seven so-called European leaders (American puppet and comedian from their home countries) met with their American father, who sat on a small bench facing Trump. Father Trump even prepared souvenirs for the seven children. The father said, “Be good children! Ukrainian Hollywood film production going into the final episode. Father is not going to play & pay any more, but be sure to sign the $300 billion IOU to your Father for rebuilding Ukraine before I can let you go back.” 欧🐷7個所謂领导人見美國大老豆坐小板凳面对川普爸爸，爸爸还给7个孩子准备了纪念品, 老豆話做個乖孩子，烏克蘭電影要進入大結果，老豆吾玩，但欠老豆重建烏克蘭的 3,000 億美元一定要簽下欠單才可以回去.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8B6ncw1/
https://youtu.be/bqGnsGeLATc?si=9WIsz4V22N4ihgYu
https://rumble.com/v6xsqs8-seven-so-called-european-leaders-met-with-their-american-father.html
https://www.youtube.com/live/GrLIj5A9qSI?si=s2R4hbkeZarcOBv_
https://youtu.be/Yxm4mpDq9Gc

Seven so-called European leaders (American puppet and comedian from their home countries) met with their American father, who sat on a small bench facing Trump. Father Trump even prepared souvenirs for the seven children. The father said, “Be good children! Ukrainian Hollywood film production going into the final episode. Father is not going to play & pay any more, but be sure to sign the $300 billion IOU to your Father for rebuilding Ukraine before I can let you go back.” 欧🐷7個所謂领导人見美國大老豆坐小板凳面对川普爸爸，爸爸还给7个孩子准备了纪念品, 老豆話做個乖孩子，烏克蘭電影要進入大結果，老豆吾玩，但欠老豆重建烏克蘭的 3,000 億美元一定要簽下欠單才可以回去.

Video: Vice Chairman of China “Leung Chun-ying” facing Falun Gong in Finland with one against 10 and denounces its wrongdoing! 華記8月18深夜直播：我撐CY全國政協「梁振英」芬蘭獨闖龍潭以一敵十面對法輪功直斥其非！有勇氣有膽識好嘢 https://www.youtube.com/live/Wy5Pg1zFBVQ?si=84EtvRVSK-dLxHrL 👈🇨🇳

“Taiwan belongs to China. There is but one China in the world. This statement has a solid basis in history and jurisprudence. 「台灣是中國的。世界上只有一個中國。這一表述有著堅實的歷史和法理基礎。

🔴Complete reunification of China meets the will of the Chinese people and the overriding trend of the times. It is at the right side of history. It is not to be resisted by anyone

🔴We will strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and the utmost effort. In the meantime, we will not allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China by any means. That is our red line.”

🔴中國的完全統一符合中國人民的意志和時代潮流，符合歷史的正確方向，不容任何人阻撓。

🔴我們將以最大的誠意、盡最大的努力爭取和平統一的前景。同時，我們絕不允許任何人以任何方式將台灣從中國分裂出去。這是我們的底線。 」

Hong Kong’s anti-China campaigner Jimmy Lai served America, fighting on that nation’s behalf against China, which Lai and Washington perceived as “the enemy camp”. How do we know this? Because Lai said so himself. 香港反華人士黎智英服務美國，代表美國對抗被黎智英和華盛頓視為「敵對陣營」的中國。我們怎麼知道的？因為黎智英親口這麼說過.

Much is being printed about Jimmy Lai as his trial enters closing arguments, but few publications actually covered the trial itself or printed what came out of it. So here’s a partial summary of key points.

‘FIGHTING YOUR ENEMIES’
On July 10, 2019, Lai discussed the violent HK protests he supported, telling former CIA director Mike Pompeo in Washington DV: “Hong Kong is now fighting for the US in the US enemy camp.”

Lai went on to make the same point on camera.

At a filmed seminar organized by an extreme pro-Israel group in the US, Lai explained that he and his team were fighting America’s war on its behalf.

“We are fighting your war in your enemy camp,” Lai said in the filmed clip, shown to the court.

EVIDENCE
But was this literally true? There was evidence. Lai had connections with US intelligence even before Apple Daily was launched in 1995.

Mark Simon worked in US military intelligence from 1987 to 1991, then came to Hong Kong to help Jimmy Lai set up the newspaper.

On multiple occasions, Simon was found by anti-corruption investigators to have distributed large sums of money to “pro-democracy” (“pro-Washington”) politicians in Hong Kong, including HK$3 million to retired clergyman Joseph Zen, a favorite interviewee of western media.

The court heard Jimmy Lai had long-term dealings with former US defence chief Paul Wolfowitz, author of the Wolfowitz doctrine, an infamous leaked policy document dedicated to ensuring the US retains global dominance indefinitely over all regions of the world, including Asia.

‘FROM FOREIGN FORCES’
One witness, Wayland Chan, testified that Mark Simon paid him for his services as a go-between linking them with violent protest groups by giving him a company and a bank account – but then told him not to use it as they might need it to receive funds “from foreign forces”.

The White House sent confidential data about a plan to severely harm the Hong Kong community with sanctions to Jimmy Lai for his comment, the court heard.

Lai denied reading the message, but the court was shown that he forwarded it to staff and responded positively to the US.

At a related 2021 hearing, Andy Li, who ran an anti-China group funded by Jimmy Lai, said a list of 143 names had been sent to Washington. Many Hong Kong individuals were harshly sanctioned by the United States for such “offences” as arresting arsonists and bomb-makers.

• Newspaper staff said Lai insisted no negative news about then US President Donald Trump was to be printed in Apple Daily.
• Lai also revealed that he met US officials in Taiwan who introduced him to a woman named Tsai Ing-wen, before she became US-allied leader on the island.

NOT ‘FREEDOM OF SPEECH’
Contrary to reports in western press, Lai’s alleged offences are NOT primarily to do with “freedom of speech” but with his efforts to work with the US to harm Hong Kong, by various means, including calling for sanctions and the overthrow of the govt.

Most of the charges Jimmy Lai faces are joint charges – either with other names in the activist groups, or with senior staff at his newspaper. All have had their trials, and every single one has pleaded guilty. Every. Single. One.

Jimmy Lai, 77, is on trial for sedition and collusion, offences illegal in western countries and worldwide generally. The trial, which has reached its closing arguments, continues today.

This 1/2 gallon whole milk cost US$9.59 at 711 in Downtown Honolulu and Donald Trump said inflation was 2.7% in July, LIAR! 在檀香山市中心的 711 店，半加侖全脂牛奶的售價為 9.59 美元，而川普卻說 7 月份的通貨膨脹率為 2.7%，真的是個大騙子!

Video: High school Graduates admitted to top universities in China if chooses to go to US paying 75x more tuitions are in for surprises. No jobs for you when you return to China! 高中畢業生考上中國頂尖大學，如果選擇去美國，卻要支付高出75倍的學費，結果可想而知。回國後，你找不到工作!

https://youtu.be/UJ0WzT6FKUU?si=FWdgMCDxFx7HiGFN
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8B2TUdj/
https://rumble.com/v6xrlao-high-school-graduate-admitted-to-top-universities-in-china-if-chooses-to-go.html

China now prefers graduates from top Chinese universities, unless you are graduates from Global top 50. Starting 2024 Chinese Government no longer hiring foreign universities graduates even from top universities like Harvard, Standard, Cambridge etc.

Chinese graduates of foreign universities are suffering from a profound shift in sentiment, from top companies and even provincial governments.

Until recently, Chinese hiring managers tended to inflate the credentials of overseas universities, and showed a strong bias toward hiring graduates of them.

Those days are clearly past. Graduates who return to jobs in China today report far lower earnings than expected, and substantially below starting offers from just a few years ago.

China’s families are responding to these new realities by keeping their kids in domestic universities, or opting for lower-cost options here in Asia.

中國現在更青睞國內頂尖大學的畢業生，除非你是全球排名前五十的大學畢業生。從2024年起，中國政府將不再聘用外國大學畢業生，即使是哈佛、史丹佛、劍橋等頂尖大學的畢業生。

中國外國大學的畢業生正遭受來自頂級企業甚至省級政府的深刻心態轉變。

直到最近，中國的招募經理還傾向於誇大海外大學的資格，並表現出強烈的偏好，傾向於聘用這些大學的畢業生。

這樣的日子顯然已經過去了。如今，回到中國工作的畢業生報告的收入遠低於預期，而且遠低於幾年前的起薪。

中國家庭正在應對這些新現實，要麼讓孩子繼續留在國內大學就讀，要麼選擇在亞洲成本較低的大學就讀.

Video: dinner at the home of Son Jonathan, his wife Annie, and 3 grandsons Kayden (age 7，July 14 2018), Artemis & Brady (twin age 2，Oct 1 2023) on Aug 17th 2025. The twins were born on the National Day of the People’s Republic of China, reflecting their grandfather’s patriotism. Since the twins were born in October, if you add the two 10s together, it would be Double Ten, the National Day of the Republic of China 昨晚和兒子，他的太太和三個孫兒在他們的家共進晚餐. 雙胞胎是在十月一日2023年出生，是中華人民共和國國慶日，有爺爺的愛國之心，如果把雙胞胎在十月出生結合在一起就是雙十，是中華民國的國慶日了.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8B2ukqF/
https://youtu.be/Jc1rTB44wl8?si=3UPdWIxHMl02p0sB
https://rumble.com/v6xrauu-dinner-at-the-home-of-son-jonathan-his-wife-annie-and-3-grandsons-on-8-17-2.html