1. Admission and residency
Chinese visas are each characterized as diplomatic, courtly, official or ordinary. Ordinary visas, on the other hand, have 12 subcategories and 16 types, and are issued to foreign nationals who come to China for non-diplomatic and non-official purposes: for work, study, visiting relatives/acquaintances, tourism, business, or as talent invited to China for performances are. Foreign citizens apply for the visa that corresponds to their respective purpose of entry/stay. You can also enter China without a visa if you meet certain criteria.
Foreign nationals whose visas indicate that they need to apply for a residence permit within 30 days of entering the country should apply to the Entry/Exit Administration of the public security organ under the local people’s government at or above the county level.
According to the relevant regulations, foreign nationals who want to work in China must obtain a work permit and a residence permit for the purpose of employment.
2. Accommodation
Branches and representative offices set up in China by foreign entities (except for those companies authorized to engage in real estate trading) and foreign individuals working and/or studying in China may purchase commercial objects for personal use according to their own needs. Foreign individuals in cities with policy restrictions on housing purchases must abide by local policies and regulations when purchasing a home. In the PRC, foreign individuals are permitted to purchase a maximum of 1 house per person for personal use. Overseas entities with branches and/or representative offices within Chinese territory can only acquire commercial properties within the cities of their registration for their offices.
Foreign nationals are not prohibited from renting and/or selling houses in China.
3. Schools
According to the relevant guidelines of the local provincial administrative departments for education, foreign citizens can enroll their children either in specially established schools or in ordinary primary/secondary schools including day-care centers.
4. Medical care
China’s medical care system consists of general hospitals, special clinics, community health care centers and stations, outpatient clinics, polyclinics and emergency centers – of different types, sizes and functions. There are government-run non-profit public medical institutions as well as social medical institutions run by civil organizations (including those medical institutions that are Sino-foreign joint ventures/cooperatives). Foreign nationals can seek therapeutic treatment at the facilities of their choice at the same cost as Chinese nationals.
5. Tourism Travel
Most cities and counties are open to foreign citizens who are not required to apply for travel permits to visit tourist attractions. A valid passport with a Chinese visa or residence permit is sufficient here. Foreign nationals who wish to visit the tourist attractions that are not open to them should apply for a travel permit from the local municipal or county public security bureau.