Eligible persons:

• Foreign nationals legally employed in China who have obtained employment documents such as Foreigner’s Work Permit and Foreign Resident Correspondent’s Card in accordance with the Chinese law, along with a valid residence permit.

• Foreign nationals legally employed in China who hold a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card.

• Foreign nationals dispatched to work in branches or representative offices in China after entering into an employment contract with an overseas employer.

Insurance categories:

Basic endowment insurance for employees, basic medical insurance for employees, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance, and maternity insurance. Contributions shall be made jointly by the employer and the employee in accordance with relevant regulations.

Special provisions for permanent residents:

The Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card may be used directly as a valid identity document for social insurance registration. Those employed shall participate in social insurance for employees; those unemployed who meet the requirements of the pooling area may participate in the medical and endowment insurance for urban and rural residents.

Statutory time limit:

Employers shall complete social insurance registration for foreign employees within 30 days of the date on which their employment documents are processed.

Service channels:

• Online: Shenzhen Social Insurance Online Service System for Employers ( https://sipub.sz.gov.cn/hsoms/  ), Shenzhen Foreigner Integrated Service Management Platform ( https://wgfw.ga.sz.gov.cn/user/wgrfwpt  )

• Offline: Social insurance service centers throughout Shenzhen

Relevant entitlements and benefits for foreigners after participating in social insurance:

Eligible foreign nationals are entitled to endowment, work-related injury, and unemployment insurance benefits in accordance with the law.

Foreign retirees must complete an annual verification of eligibility for pension benefits via online or offline channels. The verification is valid for one year.

For those residing overseas, it is recommended to use the “China Consular Affairs” app for remote facial recognition. Path: China Consular Affairs — Pension Eligibility; follow the prompts to complete the verification. Alternatively, individuals may visit the embassy or consulate in their place of residence to obtain a “Proof of Life” (Certificate of Subsistence). The original certificate shall be promptly submitted to the social insurance agency in the place of benefit receipt, either by mail or through a proxy, to complete the verification process.

Procedures for social insurance handling upon departure of foreign nationals from China:

If a foreign national leaves the Chinese mainland before reaching the statutory retirement age, they may submit a written application to terminate their basic endowment insurance relationship. In this case, the balance of their individual account will be refunded in a lump sum.

Alternatively, they may choose to retain their individual account. If they return to work and participate in the scheme in China at a later date, their contribution period will be calculated cumulatively. Upon reaching the statutory retirement age, they will enjoy the corresponding social insurance benefits in accordance with national regulations.

Countries with signed bilateral exemption agreements:

To date, China has entered into bilateral or multilateral social insurance exemption agreements with 13 countries. Agreements with 12 of these countries have officially entered into force, namely: Germany, South Korea, Denmark, Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Japan, Serbia, and Kyrgyzstan. The agreement with France has not yet entered into force.