Foreigners in ChinaArrested or detained in ChinaWhite-Collar CrimeFraud, bribery & business riskCross-Border CrimeExtradition, assets & fugitivesChina LawStatutes & latest developments
Do Foreigners Working in China Have to Pay Social Insurance?
Yes. If you are a foreigner employed by a company in China, social insurance is not optional. Article 97 of the Social Insurance Law provides that foreigners wo
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How Do You Get a Divorce in China?
There are two ways to divorce in China: a mutual-consent divorce at the marriage registration office, which carries a mandatory 30-day cooling-off period, or a
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How Much Cash Can You Bring Into China?
You can bring up to the equivalent of US$5,000 in foreign currency and up to RMB 20,000 in renminbi into or out of China without declaring it. Anything above th
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Is Operating a Business Without a License a Crime in China?
Not automatically. Running a business without the licence or approval it needs is first an administrative violation in China: the market supervision authority c
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Can a Foreigner Become a Chinese Citizen?
Yes — a foreigner can become a Chinese citizen, but only by naturalisation under the Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China, and only if the Mi
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Do You Pay Inheritance Tax in China?
No. China has not enacted an inheritance tax, so there is no tax on the estate or on the heirs when someone dies. What actually decides the outcome is who inher
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Does China’s Counter-Espionage Law Apply to Foreign Businesses?
Yes. China’s Counter-Espionage Law, revised on 26 April 2023 and in force since 1 July 2023, applies to foreign companies, organisations and individuals w
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Can an Employer Go to Jail for Not Paying Wages in China?
Yes — but China’s Criminal Law does not criminalise every unpaid wage. Article 276-1 of the Criminal Law, added by Amendment VIII, makes it a crime to eva
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What Are the Requirements for a China Work Visa (Z Visa)?
To work legally in China you need two things, not one: a work permit approved in your employer’s name, and a work-type residence permit. A Z visa is only
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Does China Accept an Apostille on Foreign Documents?
Yes. Since 7 November 2023, when the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents took effect for China, public docu
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