For companies in Hainan employing foreign nationals, it is important to understand that a foreign employee’s participation in the housing provident fund system is separate from the company’s obligation to register its own provident fund account.

Foreign-invested enterprises are expressly included among the types of organisations covered by China’s Housing Provident Fund Management Regulations. A newly established unit must complete housing provident fund contribution registration within 30 days of establishment. This obligation applies to the company itself. Current Housing Provident Fund Management Regulations — State Council Order No. 844

Foreign employees are treated differently. A national notice defining the employees covered by the compulsory system excludes foreign personnel (外方). Official text — 建金管〔2006〕52号

Hainan’s 2020 implementation plan for the international talent service reform pilot separately states that international talents may contribute to the housing provident fund while working in the Hainan Free Trade Port. Hainan international talent service reform pilot plan

This guide explains how a company completes its unit housing provident fund registration, what the published Hainan procedure requires, and how that company-level obligation differs from a foreign employee’s decision to participate.

At a glance

Service:
Unit housing provident fund registration and account opening
住房公积金单位登记开户 / 住房公积金开户登记

Who registers:
The employer/company.

Foreign-invested enterprises:
Expressly included among covered units under the national regulations.
Current Housing Provident Fund Management Regulations

Provident fund registration deadline:
Within 30 days of establishment.

Foreign employees:
Not included in the published national definition of compulsory “in-service employees”.
Official text — 建金管〔2006〕52号

Hainan position on foreign talent:
Hainan’s 2020 international talent pilot plan states that international talents may contribute to the housing provident fund while working in the Hainan Free Trade Port.
Official Hainan pilot plan

Main online route:
Haiyiban (海易办) intelligent approval.

Result:
A unit housing provident fund account is established for the employer.

Responsible authority:
Hainan Provincial Housing Provident Fund Administration
海南省住房公积金管理局

Does a foreign-invested company need to register?

Yes. The Housing Provident Fund Management Regulations (住房公积金管理条例) include foreign-invested enterprises (外商投资企业) within the definition of the “units” (单位) covered by the housing provident fund system.

Article 2 expressly lists foreign-invested enterprises among the types of “units” (单位) within the scope of the Regulations. Article 13 requires units to complete housing provident fund contribution registration, and Article 14 requires a newly established unit to complete that registration within 30 days of establishment.

This company-level registration obligation is separate from the question of whether an individual foreign employee participates in the housing provident fund system, which is addressed separately under relevant policies and implementation arrangements.

Hainan’s 2022 housing-security guidance also calls for foreign-invested enterprises, along with other covered employers, to establish housing provident fund systems in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and to make contributions where required. Hainan Provincial Government — 2022 housing-security guidance

No current Hainan provision was identified that allows a foreign-invested enterprise to postpone its unit registration simply because all of its employees are foreign.

That does not mean that every foreign employee must contribute.

Do foreign employees have to participate?

The published national position is different for foreign employees.

The three-ministry notice 建金管〔2006〕52号 defines the “in-service employees” covered by the compulsory provident fund system. For foreign employees, the key point is that it excludes foreign-side personnel (外方) from that category. Official text — 建金管〔2006〕52号

On that published basis, a full-time foreign employee should not be treated as automatically subject to the same compulsory provident fund participation requirement as an ordinary Chinese employee.

Hainan’s 2020 implementation plan for the international talent service reform pilot nevertheless states:

国际人才在海南自由贸易港工作期间可缴纳住房公积金

In English: international talents may contribute to the housing provident fund while working in the Hainan Free Trade Port. Official Hainan pilot plan

The national material places foreign personnel outside the ordinary compulsory employee category, while the Hainan pilot plan permits international talents to participate.

What the current Hainan material located for this guide does not provide is a dedicated employer-based procedure explaining exactly how an ordinary full-time foreign employee should be enrolled. Nor was a current Hainan rule located stating that participation must be based on a particular form of employer–employee agreement.

Who is eligible to participate?

Hainan’s 2020 international-talent pilot plan states that international talents may contribute to the housing provident fund while working in the Hainan Free Trade Port. However, the published Hainan material reviewed for this guide does not set out a specific eligibility standard for an ordinary full-time foreign employee. It does not state, for example, that the employee must hold a particular class of work permit, have permanent residence, meet a salary threshold or be formally recognised as high-level talent. Hainan international talent service reform pilot plan.

Foreign nationals using Hainan’s separate flexible-employment route are subject to clearer rules: they must be flexibly employed in Hainan and hold either permanent residence or a work permit. Those criteria apply to the flexible-employment route and should not automatically be applied to a foreign employee working under a standard employment relationship.

Foreigners working under flexible arrangements

Hainan has a separate route for flexibly employed people. This is not the same as a foreign national working full-time for a company.

Under Hainan’s 2024 flexible-employment policy, people working through individual business, non-full-time employment and other flexible forms may participate voluntarily.

Foreign nationals who are flexibly employed in Hainan and hold either permanent residence or a work permit may participate by reference to these measures. Hainan Provincial Housing Provident Fund Administration — flexible-employment policy explanation

A foreign employee working full-time under a standard employment relationship should therefore not assume that the flexible-employment route is the correct procedure.

What documents does the company need?

Hainan’s published 2018 Housing Provident Fund Operating Rules list four items for opening a unit account:

1. Unit housing provident fund account-opening application form
   缴存单位开户申请表
2. A copy of the unified social credit code certificate or business licence
3. A copy of the legal representative’s identity document
4. The original identity document of the person handling the application

Hainan Provincial Housing Provident Fund Administration — operating rules

These are the requirements published in the 2018 operating rules. They should not automatically be treated as the definitive 2026 upload list.

The Hainan Provincial Housing Provident Fund Administration issued a new 2026 standardised service catalogue and implementation list on 31 December 2025 under 琼公积金法〔2025〕14号. The detailed attachment governing the current service fields was not available through the official webpage used for this guide. Hainan Provincial Housing Provident Fund Administration — normative documents

Employers should therefore follow the current online system if it requests different or fewer materials. Government data sharing may also allow some company and identity information to be retrieved electronically.

How to open the company account

There are two relevant online routes.

Option 1 — Through Hainan’s enterprise-opening system

Housing provident fund registration appears in Hainan’s integrated enterprise-opening services, including the foreign-invested enterprise registration process.

Foreign-invested companies can access the provincial electronic registration system through:

海南e登记2.0

There is an important qualification.

Important point: The foreign-invested enterprise “One Thing” service record states that company information is pushed to the housing provident fund authority after establishment. However, the accompanying FAQ describes this as an information push and states that applicants must still complete the relevant housing provident fund registration procedures. Companies should therefore confirm whether the unit provident fund account has actually been established and, if not, complete the remaining registration steps.

Hainan Government Service Network — Foreign-Invested Enterprise Registration “One Thing”

A separate 2023 guide from the Baoting County Market Supervision Bureau describes provident fund contribution registration as one of the matters that can be completed together through 海南e登记. Official Baoting County guide to 海南e登记

Because these two official descriptions are not fully aligned, employers should confirm that the unit provident fund account has actually been established rather than assuming that completion of the business licence process automatically completed the provident fund registration.

Foreign identity verification

The original foreign-invested enterprise service record lists one offline visit where a foreign natural person needs passport identity verification.

Hainan has since expanded online verification. Under the province’s Second Batch of Foreign-Invested Enterprise Registration Facilitation Measures, effective from 30 June 2026, foreign natural persons holding a UnionPay bank card can use the card together with its registered mobile number for online identity verification and electronic signing. Hainan Market Regulation Administration — 2026 facilitation measures

This means qualifying foreign natural-person investors can complete the company-registration identity check remotely. Where the required bank-card and mobile-number verification cannot be completed, the online route may not remove the need for in-person verification.

Option 2 — Use Haiyiban intelligent approval

A Hainan digital-government announcement from December 2023 introduced an intelligent-approval service specifically for:

住房公积金单位登记开户
Unit housing provident fund registration and account opening.

The published route is:

Haiyiban APP or Haiyiban WeChat/Alipay mini-program

→ 办事
→ 特色服务
→ 智能审批专区
→ 快办服务
→ 住房公积金单位登记开户

The service uses shared government data and automated verification. The 2023 announcement states that, where the application meets the system’s conditions, the result can be produced within minutes. Official Haiyiban intelligent-approval announcement

Because those menu instructions were published in 2023, employers should follow the current Haiyiban interface if the menu labels have since changed.

How long does registration take?

Two published Hainan sources describe different service arrangements.

The 2018 operating rules state that provident fund contribution-related business should take no more than three working days where the required materials are complete. Hainan operating rules

The 2023 Haiyiban intelligent-approval announcement says qualifying unit-registration applications can be processed automatically and completed within a few minutes. Haiyiban intelligent approval

What does the company receive?

Successful registration establishes the employer’s unit housing provident fund account.

The Haiyiban announcement states that the system produces an electronic approval result. Official Haiyiban intelligent-approval announcement

What if the company has already missed the 30-day deadline?

Missing the 30-day deadline does not prevent the company from registering later.

Under Article 39 of the current Housing Provident Fund Management Regulations, a unit that has not completed the required contribution registration can first be ordered to do so within a specified period. If it still fails to comply, the regulations provide for a fine of RMB 50,000 to RMB 300,000. Current Housing Provident Fund Management Regulations

The higher penalty took effect on 20 September 2026 under State Council Order No. 844.

For a foreign-invested company, this concerns the company’s unit registration obligation. It should not be confused with whether a particular foreign employee is a compulsory participant.

Need help?

For housing provident fund policy and business enquiries:

Hainan Provincial Housing Provident Fund Administration
海南省住房公积金管理局

Telephone:
0898-12345

Official Hainan Provincial Housing Provident Fund Administration website

Hainan Government Service Network

For questions specifically about the foreign-invested enterprise registration “One Thing” process:

Consultation:
400-796-5656

Service window:
Hainan Provincial Government Service Hall — Hainan Provincial Market Supervision Administration Registration Window

Address:
No. 3 Wuzhishan South Road, Meilan District, Haikou

Opening hours:
Statutory working days
08:00–12:00
14:30–17:30

Foreign-Invested Enterprise Registration “One Thing” service

Legal basis

The principal national legislation is the Housing Provident Fund Management Regulations (住房公积金管理条例), as amended by State Council Order No. 844, in force from 20 September 2026.

Relevant provisions include:

• Article 2: includes foreign-invested enterprises among covered units;
• Article 13: requires units to complete housing provident fund contribution registration and addresses the establishment of employee accounts;
• Article 14: unit registration within 30 days of establishment;
• Article 15: employee account registration following employment;
• Article 39: enforcement where a unit does not complete required registration.

Current Housing Provident Fund Management Regulations

For the scope of compulsory employee participation, 建金管〔2006〕52号 excludes foreign-side personnel from the definition of “in-service employees” used by the regulations. MOHURD — 建金管〔2006〕52号

For foreign talent in Hainan, the 2020 international talent service reform pilot plan states that international talents may contribute while working in the Hainan Free Trade Port. Official Hainan pilot plan

For flexibly employed foreign nationals, Hainan’s 2024 policy provides a separate voluntary participation route. Hainan flexible-employment provident fund policy explanation

Official source

Primary procedure:
Hainan Government Service Network — Foreign-Invested Enterprise Registration “One Thing”

Official service page

Provident fund authority:
Hainan Provincial Housing Provident Fund Administration
海南省住房公积金管理局

Service item:
Housing Provident Fund Account Registration
住房公积金开户登记

Source checked:
20 September 2026

If you're based in Haikou, you’re actually in a pretty good position for sourcing visuals. There are plenty of interesting scenes around the city that work well for articles, Qilou Old Street, the harbour, the coastline, markets, new developments, everyday life, etc.

A phone camera is often more than enough for website images (sometimes it's the only camera I bring with me), especially when the photo is capturing something real and local. Sometimes a simple, authentic image taken on the street tells a better story than a perfectly polished illustration.

If you're looking for photographers for more specialised shoots, there are quite a few talented foreign photographers in Hainan, but for regular article headers I'd start by exploring with a phone and building your own library of local images.

Also, what kind of content are you creating? It would be interesting to see what angle you are taking on Hainan.

Best 

Patrick

I'm Martyn, a content creator who has been following Hainan's FTP developments for a while - the 2030 logistics and tourism targets in particular. I write travel and business explainers, mostly for small overseas brands that are curious about what is actually happening on the island.

One practical thing I have been refining lately is how I source visuals for these posts. Text-to-image clearly doesn't replace a real photo of Haikou, but for header images, layout mockups and diagrams it saves a lot of time when I have to publish several posts a week. I have been using Muse Image for that - multi-reference composition means I can keep a consistent look across a series of articles instead of starting from scratch each time.

Curious what everyone else here uses for illustration work, and whether anyone has found reliable local photographers for the Sanya / Haikou areas.

Glad to be here.

Foreign professionals recognised as high-level talents in Haikou may be eligible for commercial group health insurance support provided through the city’s overseas talent recognition service.

This service is not a separate insurance application made by the individual. Instead, an employer applies for overseas high-level talent recognition through Haikou’s government service platform.

The government service process does not require a separate insurance application. Instead, eligible talents are identified through the overseas talent recognition process, and the commercial group health insurance service is connected to that recognition.

This guide explains who can use the service, how employers apply, what documents are required, the processing timeline and where to obtain assistance.

At a glance

Service:
Commercial Group Health Insurance for High-Level Talents
(高层次人才商业健康团体保险办理)

Location covered by this procedure:
Haikou City, Hainan Province

Who it is for:
Employers applying for overseas high-level talent recognition and related services

Application method:

• Online application
• Express application

On-site visit required:
No

Processing time:
20 working days for the full overseas talent recognition “One Thing” service

Fee:
No charge

Lead authority:
Haikou Municipal Human Resources Development Bureau
(海口市人力资源开发局)

Related department:
Hainan Provincial Social Insurance Service Center
(海南省社会保险服务中心)

Result issued:
The talent recognition process may issue a High-Level Talent Certificate (高层次人才证书). The commercial group health insurance item does not list a separate certificate or approval document.

What is this service?

Haikou’s overseas talent recognition service allows employers to apply to recognise eligible international professionals as high-level talents.

For eligible recognised talents, the process includes commercial group health insurance support as one of the related services connected to the recognition application.

Foreign professionals do not apply for this insurance separately. The employer submits the talent recognition application, and the insurance support is handled through the same government service process.

Who can use this service?

This service is used by employers applying to recognise a foreign professional as a high-level talent in Haikou.

The available recognition routes include:

Full-time high-level talent recognition for international/overseas talents;

Flexible high-level talent recognition for international/overseas talents;

Re-recognition of full-time high-level talents in Categories A, B and C;

Re-recognition of full-time high-level talents in Categories D and E.

Employers that hold their own talent recognition authority should apply through the Talent Service Zone (人才服务专区) instead.

The list of employers with recognition authority is published at:

Eligibility points to understand

Commercial group health insurance support is connected to the high-level talent recognition process.

Hainan’s 2024 talent policy measures, “Several Policy Measures for Comprehensively Introducing, Cultivating and Making Good Use of Talent in Hainan Free Trade Port”
(海南自由贸易港全方位引进培养用好人才的若干政策措施), state that government-purchased commercial group health insurance applies to full-time high-level talents recognised at Category D or above.

Employers should confirm the applicable talent category before applying.

Recognition validity and re-recognition

A high-level talent recognition certificate is valid according to the employment or service arrangement, but cannot exceed five years.

• the end date of the employment or service contract; and
• five years.

Re-recognition applies when:

• the talent certificate has expired; or
• fewer than three months remain before expiry;

provided that the recognised category remains unchanged.

Recognition route for flexible high-level talents

Hainan also provides a recognition route for high-level professionals who provide services to Hainan through a flexible arrangement rather than a full-time employment relationship.

Flexible talent recognition generally requires:

a service agreement of at least two years; and

at least three months of service already completed in Hainan.

Age limits apply:

Category A: 75 years old or below;

Categories B and C: 70 years old or below;

Categories D and E: 65 years old or below.

The procedure states that these age limits may be relaxed in certain recommended cases.

Required documents

The required materials depend on the type of talent recognition application being submitted.

Employers should first select the relevant recognition category in the government service system. The platform then displays the materials required for that specific application.

The required materials can be checked under the “办理材料” (Required Materials) section of the official service page:

Hainan Government Service Network — Overseas Talent Recognition “One Thing” Service

How to apply

Step 1 — Select the talent recognition service

The employer accesses the Overseas Talent Recognition “One Thing” service through the Hainan Government Service Network.

Step 2 — Select the appropriate application route

The employer selects the relevant recognition category based on the applicant’s circumstances.

For Category D and E re-recognition, the employer must also select a handling unit.

The available options include:

• Haikou Jiangdong New Area Administration
  (海口江东新区管理局)
• Haikou Talent and Labour Exchange Service Centre
  (海口市人才劳动力交流服务中心)
• Haikou Comprehensive Bonded Zone Management Committee
  (海口综合保税区管委会)
• Haikou National High-tech Zone Management Committee
  (海口国家高新技术产业开发区管理委员会)
• Hainan Fuxingcheng Industrial Park Investment Management Co., Ltd.
  (海南复兴城产业园投资管理有限公司)

Step 3 — Submit the application

The employer submits the application through a registered legal-person account.

The system provides the required materials according to the selected application category.

Step 4 — Complete the recognition process

The commercial group health insurance service is included within the same government service process.

Processing time

The published service information lists:

Committed processing time: 20 working days

This timeframe applies to the complete overseas talent recognition “One Thing” service. The information does not provide a separate processing time only for the commercial group health insurance item.

Fees

The service is provided free of charge.

Fee: No charge

Result issued

The result issued for the talent recognition application is:

High-Level Talent Certificate
(高层次人才证书)

The commercial group health insurance service does not list a separate insurance certificate, insurance card or approval document in the published service information.

The procedure does not specify the insurance provider, policy details or enrolment arrangements.

Where and how to apply

Online application

Applications are submitted through:

Hainan Government Service Network
海南政务服务网

Official service page:
Hainan Government Service Network, Overseas Talent Recognition “One Thing” Service

This page provides the application requirements, processing information, required materials and access to the online service.

Application service window

1. Haikou Citizen and Visitor Centre Government Service Hall — Talent and Engineering Construction Comprehensive Service Window

海口市民游客中心政务服务大厅人才和工程建设综合服务窗口

Address:
1/F, Area B, Windows 01–15, Haikou Citizen and Visitor Centre Government Service Hall, No. 1 Binhai Park Road, Longhua District, Haikou City

Chinese address:
海口市龙华区滨海公园路1号海口市民游客中心政务服务大厅1楼B区01–15号

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday
08:30–12:00
14:00–17:30

Contact information

Consultation:

• 0898-66728609
• 0898-68512859
• 0898-66750650
• 0898-68513067
• 0898-68515790
• 0898-68593752

Complaints and supervision:

• 0898-66728609
• 0898-68512859
• 0898-66720783

Important points to confirm

Confirm the correct application route before submitting

The application route determines the required materials and handling process.

Confirm whether the employer should use this service

Employers with their own talent recognition authority should use the Talent Service Zone (人才服务专区) rather than this “One Thing” service.

Confirm insurance details separately

Confirm insurance arrangements separately

The published service information does not specify:

insurance provider;

coverage amount;

policy duration;

medical coverage details;

enrolment arrangements.

Employers should confirm these details through the relevant service channel.

Legal basis

The procedure does not list a separate legal basis.

It refers applicants to the:

Hainan Free Trade Port High-Level Talent Classification Standard
(《海南自由贸易港高层次人才分类标准》)

Applicants should confirm the current classification requirements before applying.

Official source

Authority:
Haikou Municipal Human Resources Development Bureau
(海口市人力资源开发局)

Related department:
Hainan Provincial Social Insurance Service Center
(海南省社会保险服务中心)

Service item:
Commercial Group Health Insurance for High-Level Talents
(高层次人才商业健康团体保险办理)

Official source:
Hainan Government Service Network, Overseas Talent Recognition “One Thing” Service

Source checked: 20 September 2026.

Employers in Hainan must complete employee social insurance registration when registering employees after recruitment, transfer or other qualifying circumstances. This government service procedure explains who can apply, the registration process, processing time, fees and application channels.

The procedure is a general employee social insurance registration service. The application process includes different employee categories, including a category for foreign-registered persons. Employers should confirm the applicable requirements and materials for their specific situation before submission.

At a glance

Service: Employee Social Insurance Registration (职工参保登记)

Who it is for: Employers and eligible organisations registering employees for social insurance

Processing time:

• Statutory completion time: 1 working day
• Committed service time: Immediate processing (即办)

Fee: No charge

Application methods: Online application and in-person application

Coverage: Hainan Province

Responsible authority: Hainan Provincial Social Insurance Service Center (海南省社会保险服务中心)

Result issued: No separate approval result, certificate or document is listed in the application procedure.

Who can apply

The official procedure information lists the following applicants:

• Enterprise legal persons;
• Public institution legal persons;
• Social organisation legal persons;
• Non-corporate enterprises;
• Administrative bureaus;
• Other organisations.

The procedure applies when an employer needs to register employees for social insurance due to circumstances including recruitment, transfer-in, merger or other listed situations.

The application procedure includes different employee categories in the application process, including:

• Mainland Chinese residents;
• Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents;
• Foreign-registered persons.

The required materials depend on the employee category selected during the application process.

Registration deadline

The legal basis cited in the application procedure states that employers should complete employee social insurance registration within 30 days from the start of employment.

Required documents

The official procedure information does not provide one single document list for all applicants.

Instead, the materials required depend on the employee category selected during the application process, including whether the employee is a mainland Chinese resident, Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan resident or foreign-registered person.

Employers should confirm the required materials through the official application platform before submission.

How to apply

Employers can apply through:

1. Online application

The service supports online handling, including:

• consultation;
• application submission;
• acceptance;
• processing;
• result information feedback.

2. In-person application

Applications can be submitted at the designated social insurance service windows.

The service process consists of:

Step 1: Acceptance

The authority checks whether the application materials are complete and meet the requirements.

If corrections are needed, applicants are informed of all required supplementary materials.

Step 2: Review

The application is reviewed after acceptance.

Step 3: Decision

The application is processed after review.

Processing time

The official procedure lists:

Statutory completion time: 1 working day

Committed service time: Immediate processing (即办)

The internal processing stages listed in the application procedure are:

• Acceptance;
• Review;
• Decision.

Fees

The application procedure states: No charge.

Result issued

After successful registration, the employee’s social insurance information is recorded in the system. The employee receives a Chinese Social Security Card (中华人民共和国社会保障卡), which is used for social insurance-related services.

Where and how to apply

Application locations

1. Hainan Provincial Social Insurance and Medical Insurance Service Hall — Comprehensive Service Window
海南省社会保险医疗服务大厅综合服务窗口

Address:
No. 20 Bailong South Road, Meilan District, Haikou City
海口市美兰区白龙南路20号

2. Hainan Provincial Government Service Centre — Social Insurance Service Comprehensive Window
海南省政务服务中心社会保险服务综合窗口

Address:
Wuzhishan South Road, Haikou City
海口市五指山南路

Opening hours

Monday to Friday:

• 08:15–12:15
• 14:30–17:30

The application procedure states that weekends and statutory holidays are excluded.

Contact information

Consultation: 0898-12333; 0898-12345

Supervision and complaints: 0898-12345

Important points to confirm

Employers registering foreign employees should confirm the applicable materials and requirements before submission.

The application procedure also states:

• Employee social insurance registration is generally handled from the 1st to the 25th of each month.
• Employers should complete registration and payment before the 25th to help ensure employees can receive social insurance benefits.
• If an employee remains actively insured through another employer, a new employer cannot complete registration until the previous insurance relationship has been resolved.
• If an identification number change cannot be proven with supporting materials, the application may be returned for reprocessing.

Legal basis

The application procedure cites the following legal basis:

• Social Insurance Law of the People’s Republic of China, Article 58;
• Decision of the State Council on Reforming the Pension Insurance System for Staff of Government Institutions and Public Institutions (国发〔2015〕2号);
• Provisions on the Administration of Social Insurance Premium Declaration and Payment (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Order No. 20);
• Notice on Implementing the Decision on Reforming the Pension Insurance System for Staff of Government Institutions and Public Institutions (人社部发〔2015〕28号);
• Notice Issuing the Handling Procedures for Basic Pension Insurance for Staff of Government Institutions and Public Institutions (人社部发〔2015〕32号).

Some cited documents relate specifically to government institutions and public institution establishment staff. Employers should confirm which provisions apply to their organisation and employees.

Official source

Authority: Hainan Provincial Social Insurance Service Center (海南省社会保险服务中心)

Service item: Employee Social Insurance Registration (职工参保登记)

Official source: Hainan Government Service Network application procedure.

This short video looks at how Haikou is building an aviation business ecosystem around international airlines, existing maintenance capabilities and planned expansion of the airport’s comprehensive bonded zone.

Read the full analysis HERE:

The Future of Aviation Business in Hainan Is Taking Shape in Haikou - TropicalHainan.com

When a foreign employee leaves a company or their employment relationship ends, the employer may need to apply for cancellation of the Foreigner’s Work Permit. This guide explains the cancellation procedure handled through the Hainan government service system, including required materials, processing stages and the result issued.

The procedure is mainly relevant to employers handling the departure of foreign employees. The service record also specifies limited circumstances where the foreign employee may submit the application personally.

At a glance

Service: Cancellation of a Foreigner’s Work Permit in China
Who it is for: Employers and other legal entities responsible for handling work permit cancellation
Processing time: 7 working days (statutory completion time and committed completion time listed in the service record)
Fee: No charge
Application methods: Online processing, window processing, express application
Application location: Approval Office of the Hainan Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Hainan Provincial Government Service Centre
Result issued: Certificate of Cancellation of Work Permit for Foreigners in China (English service record wording: “Certificate of Revocation of Work Permit for Foreigners in China”)
Responsible authority: Hainan Provincial Department of Science and Technology

Who can apply

The official procedure lists the service targets as:

• Corporate legal persons;
• Social organisation legal persons.

The procedure is generally handled by the employer. The requirements state that when the employment relationship ends in relevant circumstances, the employer should submit the cancellation application within 10 working days.

Where the employing organisation has ceased to exist, the foreign national may submit the cancellation application personally.

The requirements also state that:

• If a work permit expires and is not renewed, it is cancelled automatically.
• If a permit is revoked or withdrawn, cancellation is handled by the relevant deciding authority.

When cancellation is required

According to the official procedure, cancellation applies in situations including:

• The foreign employee dies;
• The foreign employee loses the ability to work;
• The employment relationship or contract is ended before its agreed expiry;
• Other relevant circumstances.

Required documents

The official procedure lists two required materials.

1. Application form for cancellation of a Foreigner’s Work Permit in China

Format: Electronic
Type: Original
Requirement: Necessary

The requirements state that the applicant should complete the form through the foreigner work management service system, print it, sign it and affix the employer’s official seal before uploading it.

The requirements also state that uploaded materials should be colour scans in PDF format, with handwritten signatures and dates where required, and that the information should be clear and complete.

2. Proof of termination of employment relationship, contract termination or other cancellation-related materials

Format: Electronic
Type: Original
Requirement: Necessary

The requirements state that applicants should provide proof related to the reason for cancellation, including employment termination documents or other relevant supporting materials.

Where the foreign employee leaves voluntarily and the employer cannot contact them, the employer should submit a supplementary explanation regarding the cancellation situation.

For termination documents, the notes state that both parties’ signatures are required.

How to apply

The official procedure lists the following application methods:

1. Prepare the required electronic documents.
2. Complete the cancellation application form through the foreigner work management service system.
3. Upload the required materials.
4. The application is accepted, reviewed and processed by the relevant department.
5. After approval, the cancellation certificate is issued.

The available processing methods listed in the requirements are:

• Window processing;
• Online processing;
• Express application.

Processing time

The service record states:

Statutory completion time: 7 working days
Committed completion time: 7 working days

The detailed workflow lists the following stages:

Applicants with time-sensitive cases should confirm the expected timeline with the processing authority.

Fees

The official procedure states that there are no fees for this service.

Result issued

The official procedure lists the result as:

Certificate of Cancellation of Work Permit for Foreigners in China

The English-language government official procedure displays the result name as “Certificate of Revocation of Work Permit for Foreigners in China”.

The procedure states that logistics and express delivery services are supported.

Where and how to apply

Processing location

Approval Office of the Hainan Provincial Department of Science and Technology
Window 24, 2nd Floor
Hainan Provincial Government Service Centre
No. 3 Wuzhishan South Road
Meilan District
Haikou City, Hainan Province

Opening hours

Monday to Friday:

• 08:00–12:00
• 14:30–17:30

Chinese address:
海南省海口市美兰区五指山南路3号海南省政务服务中心2层24号窗口（省科技厅审批办）

The service record states that these hours exclude weekends and statutory holidays and that Hainan does not use separate seasonal opening hours.

Consultation telephone: 0898-65326830
Complaint supervision telephone: 0898-12345

The official procedure states that appointment processing is not supported.

Important points to confirm

The official procedure contains two points that applicants should confirm before submission:

Processing time difference

The summary section states 7 working days, while the detailed workflow lists stages totalling 9 working days. The procedure does not explain the difference.

Online submission and original document verification

The procedure states that the application is processed online and that the number of required service visits is zero. However, the material notes also state that uploaded documents should be scans of originals and that originals will be verified and copies collected. The document does not explain how this verification is handled in practice. Applicants should confirm the current requirement with the service authority.

Legal basis

The official procedure cites the following documents as the basis for the procedure:

• Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China (2012), Article 41;
• Decision of the State Council on Establishing Administrative Licensing for Administrative Examination and Approval Items that Require Administrative Approval;
• Related provisions on foreigner work permits and foreign expert work permits;
• Letter of the State Council Administrative Examination and Approval Reform Office on integrating the two administrative licensing items for foreign experts and foreigners working in China (审改办函〔2015〕78号).

Official source

Authority: Hainan Provincial Department of Science and Technology
Service item: Apply for cancellation of foreigners’ work permits in China
Source: Hainan Government Service Network service record supplied for this guide.

If you have questions about this procedure or practical experience completing it in Hainan, you are welcome to post below.

Permanent Residence in Hainan: Who Can Apply and How the Haikou Process Works

For foreigners who have spent years building a career, business or family life in Hainan, permanent residence marks a clear break with the cycle of work permits and residence-permit renewals. Chinese regulations define it as the right of a foreign national to reside in China without a fixed limit on the period of residence. Successful applicants receive a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card.

Hainan has also added routes linked to the Free Trade Port’s talent and investment policies. These sit alongside the national pathways for employment, investment, family reunion and people considered to have made major contributions to China. In Haikou, the process begins with the municipal public-security authorities and, where the case passes the local stages, moves through provincial review to central approval.

This guide sets out the principal routes available in Hainan, how the Haikou process works, what applicants should expect to prepare and where the published rules still require confirmation before filing.

Permanent residence versus a residence permit

Permanent residence is not the next stage of a work permit or residence permit. It is a separate immigration status with its own eligibility tests and approval process.

It becomes relevant once a foreign national qualifies through employment, investment, family circumstances, high-level talent status or another recognised route and intends to make China a long-term base. The national system also provides routes for qualifying spouses, children and dependent relatives.

Who can apply?

National rules set out seven main grounds for permanent residence. On the Hainan Government Services portal, Haikou publishes six category-specific initial-review services covering investment, employment or appointed-position applicants, special applicants, spouse reunion, parent-child reunion and dependent relatives, plus a separate service for the spouses and children of investment, employment and special-category applicants.

The main national routes are:

• Investment: foreigners who have invested directly in China, maintained stable investment for three consecutive years and have a good tax record. The national route also carries a prescribed paid-in capital requirement, which varies according to the circumstances of the investment. Applicants should confirm the threshold currently being applied before relying on this route.
• Employment or appointed position: foreigners serving at deputy general manager, deputy factory director or an equivalent senior level, or holding an associate-senior professional title such as associate professor or associate researcher or above, at a qualifying organisation or enterprise. They must have held the relevant position continuously for four years, lived in China for at least three cumulative years during that period and have a good tax record.
• Special applicants: foreigners who have made major or outstanding contributions to China or are particularly needed by the state.
• Spouses and children of investment, employment and special-category applicants: the foreign spouse and unmarried children under 18 of a person qualifying through one of those three routes.
• Spouse reunion: the foreign spouse of a Chinese citizen or foreign permanent resident where the marriage has lasted at least five years, the applicant has lived continuously in China for five years, has spent at least nine months in China in each of those years, and has stable means of support and accommodation.
• Parent-child reunion: an unmarried foreign child under 18 joining a parent in China who is a Chinese citizen or a foreign permanent resident.
• Dependent relatives: applicants aged 60 or above with no direct relatives overseas who are joining a direct relative in China who is a Chinese citizen or a foreign permanent resident, subject to the prescribed five-year residence, nine-month annual presence, financial-support and accommodation requirements.

Additional Hainan routes

Hainan’s Free Trade Port policies widen the picture for some international talent and investors.

Foreign high-level technical and management personnel introduced into Hainan’s priority sectors, urgently needed specialists and members of science and technology innovation teams may apply for permanent residence following recommendation by the Hainan provincial talent authority. Their foreign spouses and minor children may also apply.

Foreign nationals of Chinese origin have a separate Hainan route. Those working in Hainan who hold a doctoral degree, or who have worked continuously in Hainan for four years and actually resided for a cumulative total of at least six months in each of those years, may apply. Their foreign spouses and minor children may also apply.

Another route covers foreigners investing in innovative enterprises in Hainan. The investment must have remained stable for three consecutive years, the applicant must have a good tax record, and the application requires a recommendation from the Hainan Provincial People’s Government. Public guidance does not currently define “innovative enterprise” specifically for this permanent-residence route or set out a standalone recommendation procedure, so eligibility should be confirmed before a full application is prepared.

Hainan also provides a route for foreigners who have worked continuously in the province for four years and meet Hainan’s wage-income and individual-income-tax standards. The Hainan measure itself does not publish the figures. Separate policy guidance describes a four-year route for foreigners working in China generally, using annual wage income of at least six times the previous year’s average wage of urban employees on post in the applicant’s locality, together with annual individual income tax of at least 20 per cent of that wage-income threshold.

The public guidance does not give a current RMB figure or make clear whether the benchmark applied to a Hainan case is provincial or municipal. Anyone considering this route should confirm the current standard with Haikou exit-entry before filing.

The same caution applies to filing categories. Haikou’s service records do not state how the Hainan-specific routes map onto the investment, employment or special categories shown on the portal. The correct category should therefore be confirmed with exit-entry rather than inferred from its title.

Who submits the application?

A permanent-residence application does not necessarily have to be lodged personally by the foreign applicant. National rules allow submission by the applicant, by the parent of an unmarried applicant under 18, or by an authorised representative. Where a representative files the application, the national service guide requires a power of attorney signed by the applicant and notarised.

Documents required

The exact checklist depends on the route being used. Establishing eligibility first is therefore more important than simply assembling a generic set of documents.

The national service guide lists a valid foreign passport, health certificate and overseas criminal-record certificate among the basic materials. Employment cases also require evidence of position or professional status, employment and tax history; investment cases require evidence of the investment, enterprise and tax record; and special-category applications rely on recommendation and supporting evidence of the applicant’s contribution or qualifications.

Family applications require the corresponding relationship documents. Depending on the route, these may include marriage or birth certificates, evidence of the parent-child relationship, the Chinese relative’s identity documents or the foreign relative’s permanent-resident card, accommodation evidence and proof of financial support.

Foreign-issued public documents may also need authentication before they can be used in China. Since China joined the Apostille Convention in November 2023, eligible public documents issued by other Convention states generally use an apostille instead of Chinese consular legalisation. Applicants should check the requirement for the country that issued each document before arranging authentication.

Haikou’s separate service for the foreign spouses and unmarried children under 18 of investment, employment and special-category applicants is important because these family members apply on the basis of the principal applicant’s qualification under one of those routes. The five-year marriage and residence tests used for an independent spouse-reunion application do not apply to this derivative route. Families intending to apply together should confirm the filing sequence and supporting documents with Haikou exit-entry.

Applicants using Hainan’s high-level-talent or innovative-enterprise routes should also settle the recommendation requirement before preparing the rest of the file. The policies establish the need for recommendation by the relevant Hainan authority, but the public service guidance does not set out a detailed procedure for obtaining it.

How to apply

1. Identify the eligibility route. Start with the national and Hainan-specific rules, not the title of a portal category.
2. Confirm the Haikou filing category and receiving location. This is particularly important for high-level talent, salary/tax, foreign nationals of Chinese origin and innovative-enterprise investors.
3. Prepare the documents. Check names, passport details, employment dates, residence history, tax records and relationship documents carefully before filing.
4. Submit the application through Haikou’s public-security exit-entry system. An authorised representative may submit the file with a notarised power of attorney, although the Haikou service records also require on-site handling during the process.
5. Complete the Haikou investigation and initial review. The receiving authority examines the application and may ask for original documents, supplementary evidence or further verification.
6. Move through higher-level review. Applications that pass the municipal stage are sent for provincial review and, if they pass that stage, onward for central approval.
7. Receive the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card if approved. The card is issued through the receiving authority to the applicant, guardian or authorised representative. When it is handed over, the applicant’s existing valid Chinese visa or residence permit is cancelled.

Identify your eligibility route → Confirm the Haikou filing category → Prepare documents → Submit for initial review → Provincial review → Central approval → Receive the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card

Is an in-person visit required?

Applicants should plan to attend in person during the process.

Haikou’s service records are slightly awkward on this point. Their summary data shows zero required visits, while the same records say on-site handling is required and instruct applicants to have their application photograph taken at the Haikou government service centre. The practical reading is that this should not be treated as a wholly online procedure.

National rules still allow an authorised representative to submit an application. The receiving authority may also require original-document checks, supplementary information or further investigation. Haikou’s published records do not state that every applicant must attend a formal interview or provide fingerprints.

Processing time

Haikou’s permanent-residence records publish a 90-working-day statutory limit for the local initial-review service. The headline field gives a 29-working-day committed processing time, while the FAQ on the same records refers to 30 working days from acceptance. In practical terms, the local commitment is about 30 working days.

That is not the timetable for the entire permanent-residence application. The National Immigration Administration service guide states that the overall decision should be made within six months from acceptance, covering investigation, provincial review and final approval.

Applicants should therefore plan around the national approval timetable rather than assume the Haikou commitment is the time needed to receive the card.

Application fee

The National Immigration Administration lists an RMB 1,500 application fee and a further RMB 300 for the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card. Haikou’s local initial-review records show no separate local fee item; this does not remove the national charges. Different fees apply where a card is lost or damaged.

Responsible authority

For a Haikou case, the Haikou Municipal Public Security Bureau is the receiving authority. The application is reviewed at provincial level by the Hainan Provincial Public Security Department, while the Ministry of Public Security is the statutory approving authority for foreign permanent residence.

Haikou service centre

Haikou’s permanent-residence service records list two locations where the service can be handled.

Haikou Citizens and Visitors Centre
Talent and Engineering Construction Comprehensive Service Window
Windows 01–15, Zone B, 1st Floor, Government Service Hall
No. 1 Binhai Park Road, Longhua District, Haikou
海口市龙华区滨海公园路1号海口市民游客中心政务服务大厅1楼B区01–15号人才和工程建设综合服务窗口

Haikou Municipal Public Security Bureau Exit-Entry Reception Hall
Windows 11 and 12, 1st Floor, West Annex Building
No. 2 Changbin East 3rd Street, Xiuying District, Haikou
海口市秀英区长滨路东三街2号海口市公安局西辅楼一楼出入境接待大厅11、12号窗口

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:30–12:00 and 14:00–17:30, excluding public holidays
Enquiries: 0898-68590746
National immigration service hotline: 12367
Government-service complaints: 12345

Handling arrangements can change, so it is worth calling before travelling to confirm which location is best for the application.

What the applicant receives

Successful applicants receive a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card.

The card is valid for 10 years for people aged 18 or above and five years for those under 18. Permanent residents may enter and leave China using a valid passport together with the card.

Permanent residence also comes with continuing residence requirements. Holders must normally spend a cumulative total of at least three months in China each year. Where there is a genuine need to spend less time in the country, the provincial public-security authority for the place of long-term residence may approve a shorter stay, but the holder must still spend at least one cumulative year in China during any five-year period. Falling below those requirements without approval is one of the grounds on which permanent-residence status may be cancelled.

Important points before applying

Permanent residence is not a longer work-type residence permit. It is a separate immigration status, with different eligibility rules and a separate approval process.

Hainan’s additional eligibility routes do not map neatly onto the labels shown in Haikou’s filing system. Anyone applying through the high-level-talent, salary/tax, foreign-national-of-Chinese-origin or innovative-enterprise routes should confirm the correct category before filing.

Do not calculate the salary/tax threshold from a general Hainan or Haikou wage statistic. Official guidance publishes a formula, but the current RMB figure, geographic benchmark and statistical series used for immigration purposes are not clearly stated. Confirm the standard with Haikou exit-entry.

High-level talent recognition is not, by itself, the permanent-residence recommendation. The Hainan route requires recommendation by the provincial talent authority, so applicants should confirm how that recommendation is currently obtained and what supporting material is required.

Investors should confirm the meaning of “innovative enterprise” before relying on Hainan’s special investment route. The policy establishes the route, but the public guidance does not define the term for permanent-residence purposes or publish a standalone recommendation procedure.

Official service record

The Hainan Government Services portal publishes Haikou’s permanent-residence procedures as separate initial-review records for the different application categories, together with a separate service for the spouses and children of investment, employment and special-category applicants.

Employment-category initial-review service:
https://wssp.hainan.gov.cn/hnwt/handlingGuideline?id=2187333

National Immigration Administration permanent-residence service guide:
https://s.nia.gov.cn/mps/bszy/wgrcrj/yjjl/201903/t20190313_1008.html

Updated 17 September 2026.

Requirements and local handling arrangements may change. Applicants should check the linked service record and confirm current requirements with the responsible authority before applying.

If you have questions about this procedure or practical experience completing it in Hainan, you are welcome to post below.

About the company

China Commercial Law Firm was established in 1993 and was among the first partnership law firms approved to be established in China. It is one of the largest comprehensive law firms in the country. Its headquarters are located on Floors 21–26 of the Hong Kong China Travel Service Tower in Futian District, Shenzhen, with office space covering 10,000 square metres. For many consecutive years, the firm has ranked first in the legal sector in Shenzhen and Guangdong in terms of scale, revenue and tax contribution. It has also ranked 10th for several consecutive years in ALB China’s list of the 30 largest law firms in China.

As of August 2026, China Commercial Law Firm had 79 branch offices, including 57 domestic branches, including Chinese-foreign joint-operation law offices, and 22 overseas branches. It also had five cooperative offices. The firm has more than 4,000 professionals, including more than 3,000 practising lawyers. A number of its lawyers have studied overseas, including in Commonwealth countries, and are able to work proficiently in English, Japanese, Korean and other foreign languages. At present, the firm has 25 professional committees, five business centres, 10 research institutes and more than 120 registered professional teams, covering the full range of legal-service fields.

China Commercial Law Firm’s core competitive strengths lie in providing clients with legal services that combine local advantages, industry expertise and an international perspective. Having been rooted in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area for more than 30 years, the firm has provided extensive services to local government departments, various types of market entities and institutional clients. Through many years of compliant legal practice, it has built strong professional capabilities and an industry reputation. It is familiar with capital-market regulatory rules and policy directions and has mature experience in efficient communication and cooperation with various regulatory bodies and securities service institutions. Its legal services cover dozens of large and medium-sized cities across China and extend to major jurisdictions worldwide, serving a diverse range of clients through a comprehensive service system.

Looking to the future, China Commercial Law Firm will take “lawyers safeguard justice, law creates value” as its mission, uphold the core values of “upholding political principles, valuing professionalism and emphasising dedication,” maintain a strong spirit of selfless commitment and social responsibility, continuously innovate its legal-service products, and devote itself to providing clients with professional, meticulous and efficient legal services. It aims to build a world-class international law firm and establish China Commercial Law Firm as a century-old institution.

International Cooperation

Overseas expansion by Chinese enterprises, cross-border legal services, and related areas. At present, China Commercial Law Firm brings together more than 500 lawyers and professionals specialising in foreign-related legal services, including a large number of legal professionals with overseas practising qualifications and qualifications to practise in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area.

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It continues to engage with legal-service markets in countries along the Belt and Road, providing Chinese and foreign enterprises with one-stop legal services covering cross-border investment, commercial transactions, dispute resolution and related matters. It continues to expand its network of exchanges and cooperation with law firms around the world, supporting Chinese enterprises expanding overseas and foreign enterprises investing and developing their businesses in China.

You can speak directly with China Commercial Law Firm in the discussion below, or view our full business profile here.

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