Under Chinese law, foreign nationals employed by employers registered or established in China, or those assigned to work at their foreign employers' branches or representative offices in China, are required to participate in the social insurance program. This program covers basic endowment insurance, basic medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance, and maternity insurance.

The employer, or the China-based branch or representative office, as applicable, must pay social insurance premiums together with the employee.

Employers, China-based branches, or representative offices, as applicable, must complete social insurance registration for the foreign workers concerned within 30 days of the issuance of their work permits or other employment documents.

If an expat leaves China before reaching the statutory pension age, their personal social insurance account may be retained. If they return to work in China in the future, their contribution years will be counted cumulatively. 

Alternatively, an expat may submit a written request to terminate their social insurance relationship and receive the balance in their personal social insurance account in a lump sum. 

In the event that an expat passes away, the balance in their personal social insurance account can be inherited in accordance with the law.

China's bilateral social security agreements 

China has signed bilateral social security agreements with 13 countries: Japan, Luxembourg, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Korea, Germany, Finland, Canada, Kyrgyzstan, France, Denmark, and Serbia. Agreements with 12 of these countries, excluding France, are currently in force. Eligible expats covered by the agreements in force may be exempt from paying certain social insurance premiums for the period specified in the relevant agreement.

Updated May 26, 2026

Sources: Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security