If you plan to live in Shanghai for a long time, you may begin to consider buying a house. But it will take you some time to know how to become a homeowner, and become familiar with the requirements and procedures involved. Below is some basic information and advice for you to prepare for your home purchase plan.

Who can buy an apartment or house in Shanghai

• Expats holding Chinese permanent residency;
• Expats who have been working in Shanghai for at least one year.

Other conditions for expats to buy property 

• You must have a labor contract (holding a work visa);
• Without other real estate in China;
• You will need to provide continuous social security or your personal income tax payment records for one year or more; 
• The property is used for living only — you are not permitted to rent it out or use it for commercial purposes; 
• Expats are allowed to purchase only one residential property.

When and where to check eligibility

It's recommended that you apply for a preliminary qualification review after finding your favored house. Submit the application documents to the real estate developer or the agent you have hired and they will help you with the review at the property administration authority. 

You can also call Shanghai's real estate transaction service hotline at 021-962269 for policy inquiries.

How to apply for a mortgage 

You can apply for a mortgage if necessary and you need to provide the notarized contract and other materials required by the bank. Generally, loans in renminbi or foreign currency are both acceptable. Remember to consider the foreign exchange rate if you choose a foreign currency.

Before property registration, you should pay for tax, including deed tax and other types, depending on the property you purchase, local real estate regulations and the specific situation. Detailed taxation rules and procedures can be obtained from your agent and the property administration authority.

How to register for property ownership

In most cases, expats should apply for official approval from the property project office for security examination proving that the property is permitted for foreign ownership. Ask the real estate developer to handle the procedure if you purchase a newly-built property. For a second-hand house, the identity documents of the seller and the purchaser and property ownership certificate should be provided.

You can go to the registration office after all these things are completed. Required paperwork includes your passport or residence permit, the property purchase contract, tax payment certificate, signed application form and letter of commitment for a house purchase and other materials on request. One important thing to keep in mind: all the documents in any foreign language should be translated into Chinese and notarized. If an agent is entrusted, submit the letter of authorization and the identity certificates of the applicant and the agent.

Housing provident fund

Foreign nationals who are employed by Shanghai-based employers and hold documents such as the Shanghai Overseas Talent Residence Permit, the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, or a Foreigner's Work Permit may, by mutual agreement between the individual and the employer, have both the employer and the individual contribute to the housing provident fund and the supplementary housing provident fund in accordance with regulations.

Flexibly employed persons may, in their individual capacity, contribute to the housing provident fund. "Flexibly employed persons" refers to those who are at least 16 years old, have not yet reached the statutory retirement age, and are flexibly employed in Shanghai through individual business operations, part-time employment, and new forms of employment.

Here is some basic information about housing provident fund contributions and withdrawals. 

How are housing provident fund contributions calculated

Employers shall calculate the employee's average monthly wage in accordance with the standards used by the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Statistics for calculating employees' average monthly wages, and shall use the employee's average monthly wage as the contribution base for that employee's housing provident fund. Each employer shall, within one month after determining the employee's monthly housing provident fund contribution amount, notify the employee of the determination, so as to safeguard the employee's lawful rights and interests.

Effective July 1, 2026, the contribution base for employees' housing provident fund was adjusted from the 2024 average monthly wage to the 2025 average monthly wage. 

After the adjustment, the maximum contribution base for the housing provident fund is 37,731 yuan ($5,637), and the minimum is 2,740 yuan ($409).

Contribution rates

• Regular housing provident fund contribution rate: 5 to 7 percent each for the employer and employee, in whole percentage points.
• Supplementary housing provident fund (voluntary for employers): 1 to 5 percent each for the employer and employee, in whole percentage points.

Note: The contribution base and contribution rates are subject to annual adjustments. Please refer to the latest official notice released by the Shanghai Provident Fund Management Center for up-to-date information. 

Under what conditions can you withdraw from your housing provident fund

You may withdraw funds under the following scenarios:

(1) Purchasing self-occupied housing to which the employee holds ownership;

(2) Constructing, rebuilding, or undertaking major repairs to owner-occupied housing in Shanghai;

(3) Repaying the principal and interest on a loan for self-occupied housing in Shanghai to which the employee holds ownership;

(4) Renting a home in Shanghai for self-occupation in accordance with law, where the employee and, if married, their spouse own no housing in Shanghai;

(5) Paying construction costs for installing elevators in existing multi-story residential buildings in Shanghai;

(6) Paying property management fees for self-occupied housing in Shanghai (for low-income employees from economically disadvantaged households);

(7) Paying housing-related expenses such as rent, property management fees, and property repair costs for post-sale public housing, where the employee's family is experiencing financial hardship;

(8) Retiring;

(9) Losing most or all of one's ability to work, and terminating the employment relationship with the employer;

(10) Settling abroad, or, for foreign nationals, terminating employment with a Shanghai employer and leaving China;

(11) Death or declaration of death (application to be filed by the employee's legal heirs or legatee);

(12) For employees with household registration in another Chinese province or municipality who have terminated employment with a Shanghai employer, are not contributing to a housing provident fund elsewhere, and have had their Shanghai housing provident fund account sealed and social insurance contributions suspended for at least six consecutive months;

(13) Other circumstances stipulated by the State and Shanghai.

Notice: Additional eligibility requirements, withdrawal limits, and documentation requirements may apply. For details, please consult the Shanghai Provident Fund Management Center via its hotline 12329. 

Updated Oct 14, 2026

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Housing Management, Shanghai Provident Fund Management Center