Social Insurance and Housing Provident Fund
Source: Foreign Investment Guide of the People's Republic of China (2024 Edition) issued by the Ministry of Commerce
Guidance
Foreigners who work in China shall access social security in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Social Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China and the Interim Measures for Social Insurance System Coverage of Foreigners Working within the Territory of China.
Eligible individuals
(I) Individuals who are legally employed in China and have legally obtained the Foreigner's Work Permit, residence permits for foreigners, and Foreign Permanent Resident ID Cards.
(II) Individuals who have signed labor contracts with the employers within the territory of China and are paid by the employers, or those who have signed contracts with foreign companies and are dispatched to work in China.
(III) Individuals who have not yet reached the statutory retirement age.
Insurance contributions
(I) If individuals who work within the territory of China just access social security, the employer shall process social insurance registration for him/her within 30 days from the date of applying for work permit;
(II) The insurance base pay and the share borne by employers for foreign employees shall be the same as that of Chinese employees according to local standards.
(III) Mutual exemption provisions.
Individuals who are nationals of countries that have signed bilateral or multilateral social security agreements with China and work in China may be exempted from the obligation to pay for their corresponding types of insurance within the prescribed time limit according to the provisions of the agreement. Up to now, China has signed social security agreements with Germany, the Republic of Korea, Denmark, Canada, Finland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Serbia, Luxembourg, France (not yet in force) and Kyrgyzstan (not yet in force). Processing location: Government Affairs Service Hall or Human Resources and Social Security Bureau Service Hall of the place where you work; Online Service Hall for Social Insurance.
Website of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security:
Source: A Guide to Working and Living in China as Business Expatriates (2025 Edition) issued by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China
