I recently came across Top China Freight, a logistics service provider offering international shipping solutions from China to worldwide destinations. Their services include sea freight, air freight, rail freight, door-to-door shipping, customs clearance, and Amazon FBA logistics.

They also provide different transportation options based on cargo type, destination, required transit time, and budget, which can be useful for importers, exporters, e-commerce businesses, and companies regularly shipping goods from China.

For more information about their international freight services and shipping solutions, you can visit:
Top China Freight.com

Setting up a company in Hainan requires completing company establishment registration with the market regulation authority and obtaining a Chinese business licence.

This guide uses the Haikou company establishment registration procedure as a practical reference. Other cities in Hainan follow the same general registration framework but may have different service windows and local contact arrangements.

For foreign investors, company registration follows China’s standard market entity registration process. The same registration application form is used for both domestic and foreign-invested companies, with additional sections for foreign investment information where applicable.

This guide explains the main steps, documents and practical requirements for overseas companies and individuals planning to establish a business in Hainan.

When is this procedure required?

Company establishment registration is required when you want to create a new legal business entity in Hainan.

After successful registration, the company receives a Chinese business licence.

The registration process records key company information, including:

• Company name
• Company type
• Registered address
• Registered capital
• Legal representative
• Shareholders or investors
• Business scope

The registration application is handled through the market regulation registration system.

Who can register a company in Hainan?

Foreign investors may establish companies in Hainan where permitted under China’s foreign investment rules.

Common structures include:

• Foreign-invested limited liability companies
• Foreign-invested joint-stock companies
• Joint ventures involving foreign and Chinese investors

The company registration application form includes options for:

• Limited liability company
• Joint-stock company
• Foreign-invested limited liability company
• Foreign-invested joint-stock company

Some business activities require additional approval before they can be registered or operated. Examples include businesses involving areas such as financial services, healthcare, food production, education, pharmaceuticals, hazardous materials or other regulated industries.

If your planned business activity requires approval, check the relevant requirements before submitting your company registration application.

Do foreign investors use a different registration process?

Foreign investors use the same company establishment registration process as other companies.

The official application form states that it applies to both domestic and foreign-invested companies applying for:

• Establishment registration
• Changes
• Filing
• Information disclosure

However, foreign-invested companies must provide additional investment-related information, including:

• Foreign investor details
• Investment contribution information
• Foreign-invested enterprise legal document delivery arrangements

The registration form includes dedicated sections for shareholders, foreign investors and investment contributions, as well as a Foreign-Invested Enterprise Legal Document Delivery Authorisation Form.

Who submits the application?

The application may be submitted by:

• The company applicant
• A designated representative
• An authorised representative
• A registration agency

The registration application includes a section for a designated representative or authorised agent.

The authorised agent may be permitted to:

• Check copies of registration materials
• Correct errors in company-prepared documents
• Correct errors in application forms
• Collect the business licence and related documents

Where documents are signed by an authorised person on behalf of another party, an original power of attorney with the authoriser’s handwritten signature is required.

Documents required

The company establishment application is built around two core documents:

1. Company Registration (Filing) Application Form

(公司登记（备案）申请书)

2. Articles of Association

(公司章程)

However, additional supporting information and identity documents must also be provided depending on the company structure and investor circumstances.

The application form contains the main information required to register the company, including:

• Company name
• Registered address
• Company type
• Legal representative
• Registered capital
• Investment amount for foreign-invested companies
• Operating period
• Business scope

The application form also contains supporting sections covering:

• Legal representative information
• Directors, supervisors and senior management
• Shareholders and foreign investor contribution information
• Registration liaison officer
• Foreign-invested enterprise legal document delivery recipient
• Registered address declaration
• Market entity registration undertaking (市场主体登记承诺书)

Documents required from foreign investors

Foreign investors must prepare documents proving their identity or corporate qualification.

Requirements depend on the type of investor.

Foreign companies

Overseas corporate investors need to provide documents proving their company qualification according to the applicable requirements.

Foreign individuals

Foreign individual investors may provide accepted identity documents, including:

• Passport
• PRC Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (中华人民共和国外国人永久居留身份证), where applicable

The permanent residence document referred to in the registration guidance is the Chinese Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, not a permanent residence document issued by another country.

Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan investors

Special identification rules apply for investors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

Accepted documents may include:

• Relevant resident identity documents
• Permits issued by mainland authorities

Identity documents for company officers and representatives

Applicants should also prepare identity documents for relevant personnel, including:

• Legal representative
• Directors
• Supervisors
• Senior management
• Registration liaison officer
• Designated representative or authorised agent

For foreign nationals, acceptable documents include:

• Foreign passport
• PRC Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card

Notarisation, authentication and document verification

Foreign investor documents may require notarisation and authentication depending on the investor type and circumstances.

The standard process requires foreign investor qualification documents or identity documents to be:

1. Notarised by a notary authority in the investor’s home country.
2. Authenticated by the Chinese embassy or consulate in that country.

Exceptions apply in certain situations.

Examples include:

• Investors from countries covered by the Apostille Convention may use an apostille issued by the competent authority instead of Chinese consular authentication.
• Foreign individuals submitting a valid PRC Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (中华人民共和国外国人永久居留身份证) may not need notarisation or authentication. The guidance refers specifically to new or current versions of this card.
• Foreign individuals submitting passports with Chinese visas and confirmed entry procedures may not need notarisation after original document verification.
• Certain Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan identity documents may be accepted without notarisation or authentication.

Hainan has introduced simplified foreign-investment registration measures that may allow eligible foreign investors to submit certain qualification or identity documents without traditional notarisation and authentication requirements. Before preparing overseas documents, investors should check whether they qualify for these simplified procedures.

Translation requirements for foreign documents

Foreign-language documents must be submitted together with accurate Chinese translations.

The requirements include:

• The Chinese translation and original foreign-language document must both be provided.
• The translation should include the wording “translation accurate” (翻译准确).
• Translation companies should provide company identification, such as an official seal or supporting qualification documents.
• Translator information and contact details should be included.
• Individual translators should provide their name, contact details and relevant qualification or identity information.

Registered address requirements

Every company must declare a registered address.

The registration form requires applicants to provide:

• Registered address details
• Source of use:
  • Owned property
  • Leased property
  • Free-use premises
  • Other permitted arrangements

Applicants generally do not submit separate address-use documents during registration. Instead, they declare the address information and must retain supporting documents for inspection if required.

The applicant must confirm that:

• They have lawful use rights for the premises.
• The information provided is accurate.
• The premises comply with safety and legal requirements.

Certain premises cannot be used as registered business locations, including:

• Illegal or unsafe buildings
• Certain residential premises used without required approval
• Locations restricted for specific activities

How to apply

Applications are submitted through:

Hainan Market Entity Registration Platform
(海南市场主体登记平台 / 海南e登记2.0)

Applications submitted through the electronic registration platform are handled electronically, and paper registration applications are no longer accepted for those applications.

Step 1: Prepare company information

Decide:

• Company structure
• Company name
• Registered address
• Registered capital
• Business scope
• Shareholder structure

Step 2: Prepare registration materials

The company registration application uses official registration forms provided through the Hainan Government Services Portal.

Applicants can download the latest forms and guidance from the Haikou Company Establishment Registration service record and submit applications through 海南e登记2.0.

Prepare the following:

1. Company Registration (Filing) Application Form

(公司登记（备案）申请书)

This is the main registration form.

Applicants complete the official template provided by the registration authority. It includes information such as:

Company name

Company type

Registered address

Legal representative

Shareholders

Registered capital

Business scope

Directors, supervisors and senior management

The form can be downloaded from the company establishment registration service page (link above) or completed through the electronic registration system.

2. Articles of Association

(公司章程)

This is the company’s internal governance document.

The applicant prepares the Articles of Association based on the company structure and shareholder arrangements.

It normally includes:

Company name and address

Business scope

Registered capital

Shareholder information

Shareholding arrangements

Management structure

Decision-making procedures

3. Investor information

Investors provide supporting documents showing their identity or legal qualification.

Examples:

Foreign corporate investor:

Company registration documents or qualification documents from the investor’s home country

Required notarisation, authentication or apostille documents where applicable

Foreign individual investor:

Passport or PRC Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card where applicable

4. Foreign investor documents where applicable

Foreign-invested companies may also need:

Foreign investor contribution information

Foreign-Invested Enterprise Legal Document Delivery Authorisation Form
(外商投资企业法律文件送达授权委托书)

This form authorises a China-based recipient to receive official legal documents on behalf of the foreign investor.

5. Chinese translations

Foreign-language documents must be submitted together with accurate Chinese translations.

The translation should:

Match the original document

Include the wording “translation accurate” (翻译准确)

Include translator or translation company information

Include required seals or supporting qualification documents where applicable

Step 3: Submit the application online

Upload the required information and documents through Hainan e-Registration.

Formatted information is automatically checked by the registration platform. Non-standard electronic documents are reviewed by randomly assigned registration specialists.

Step 4: Complete identity verification and signatures

Applicants must complete real-name verification procedures.

Verification may include facial recognition.

If identity verification cannot be completed electronically, applicants may:

• Submit a notarised identity document, or
• Attend in person with their identity document

Step 5: Registration review

The published process consists of:

Acceptance → Decision

(受理 → 决定)

The service record divides the process into two stages:

• Acceptance: 0.1 working day
• Decision: 1 working day

Applications may be delayed if information is incomplete, documents require correction or additional verification is needed.

Step 6: Receive the business licence

After approval, the company receives its business licence.

Prepare company information → Complete application → Upload documents → Identity verification → Registration review → Receive business licence

Is an in-person visit required?

The Haikou service record states:

Number of visits required: 0

The procedure can be completed through electronic channels.

However, if electronic identity verification cannot be completed, an in-person visit may still be required in specific cases.

The service record also indicates that logistics and express delivery services are supported.

Processing time

The Haikou service record lists:

• Statutory processing time: 20 working days
• Government committed processing time: Immediate handling / within 1 working day

The statutory processing time is the maximum period published for completing the procedure.

The 1-working-day commitment applies to applications that meet all registration requirements, contain complete and accurate information, and do not require corrections or additional review.

In practice, straightforward applications submitted through Hainan e-Registration may be completed faster than the statutory limit. However, the actual processing time depends on factors such as document accuracy, identity verification, foreign investor document review and whether additional approvals are required.

Applicants should therefore prepare complete and accurate materials before submission to avoid delays.

Application fee

The Haikou service record states:

• No government fee
• No fee items

Applicants should still consider possible private costs, including:

• Translation
• Professional advice
• Registration agency services
• Address-related services

Responsible authority

The registration authority is:

Haikou Municipal Administration for Market Regulation
(海口市市场监督管理局)

The authority handles company establishment registration and the issuing of business licences.

Haikou service centre

Commercial Registration Comprehensive Service Window, Area A
Haikou Government Service Hall

Address:
No. 1 Binhai Park Road, Longhua District, Haikou City, Hainan Province

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

Consultation hotline:
0898-66712375

Complaints hotline:
0898-12345

What the applicant receives

After approval, the company receives a business licence.

The licence includes key registered information, including:

• Unified Social Credit Code (统一社会信用代码)
• Company name
• Company type
• Legal representative
• Registered capital
• Date of establishment
• Operating period
• Registered address
• Business scope

Example of a Chinese business licence format (sample).

Applicants should note that the licence format is standardised. The information displayed depends on the registered company type and circumstances.

The electronic business licence is generated automatically. Applicants may choose whether to request paper copies and select the number of paper copies required.

The Haikou service FAQ states that applicants do not need to visit a service window specifically to print the business licence. A self-service terminal can be used to print the licence.

After registration: important follow-up requirements

After establishment, companies should complete necessary operational steps, including:

• Opening company bank accounts
• Completing tax-related procedures
• Preparing company seals where required
• Registering employees if hiring staff

Companies must also complete required information disclosure through the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (Hainan).

This includes:

• Directors, supervisors and senior management
• Registration liaison officer
• General business scope information

Foreign-invested companies must additionally disclose the foreign-invested enterprise legal document delivery recipient.

The information should be disclosed within 20 working days after establishment or relevant changes.

Important points before applying

Prepare foreign documents early

Foreign investor documents can require additional preparation.

Check:

• Whether notarisation or authentication applies
• Whether apostille procedures apply
• Whether translations meet requirements

Choose your business scope carefully

Some activities require approval before registration or separate operating licences afterwards.

Check requirements before submitting your application.

Check your registered address

Before applying, confirm:

• The address can legally be used for registration.
• Supporting documents are available if required for inspection.
• The premises are suitable for the intended business activity.

Check all signatures and documents

Before submission:

• Complete all required fields.
• Check dates.
• Ensure signatures and company seals are clear.
• Make sure documents are valid.
• Ensure names and identity information match across documents.
• Upload clear scans.

Official service record

Hainan Government Services Portal
Company Establishment Registration (公司设立登记)

Responsible authority:
Haikou Municipal Administration for Market Regulation
(海口市市场监督管理局)

Basic code: 000131003000
Implementation code: 11460100MB1580086M000131003000

Direct service record:

Accessed: 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 registering a company in Hainan or practical experience completing the procedure, you are welcome to post below.

Overseas professionals employed in the Hainan Free Trade Port may be able to use recognised international qualifications when providing professional services in the province.

Recognition is not automatic. The qualification must appear in Hainan’s applicable recognition list. The published 2020 list is formally titled the Catalogue of Overseas Professional Qualifications Recognised in the Hainan Free Trade Port (2020) (《海南自由贸易港认可境外职业资格目录清单（2020）》), and the applicant must satisfy the conditions established for that profession. Depending on the qualification, the assessment may involve document review, an interview or oral defence, an examination, or another form of professional evaluation.

This guide explains who is eligible, what documents the employer must submit and how the recognition process works.

Who is eligible?

An overseas professional must meet all of the following conditions:

• Comply with the Constitution and laws of the People’s Republic of China
• Have full civil capacity and demonstrate good professional ethics
• Already hold a valid work permit issued by the relevant Hainan authorities
• Hold an overseas professional qualification included in the applicable recognition list

The applicant must also already be employed by an organisation in the Hainan Free Trade Port.

When is recognition required?

Recognition is required when an overseas professional intends to provide relevant professional services directly to enterprises or residents within the Hainan Free Trade Port under the name of an overseas qualification included in the applicable list.

The qualification must correspond to the particular profession and scope of services the applicant intends to provide. Recognition of one qualification does not provide general permission to work in unrelated professions.

Before preparing an application, the employer should check the applicable recognition list to determine:

• Whether the qualification is included
• Which provincial industry authority handles it
• The permitted professional scope
• The assessment method
• Any profession-specific requirements

Who submits the application?

The application is submitted by the overseas professional’s employing organisation.

Guidance states that the employer applies to the provincial industry authority responsible for the relevant qualification.

The responsible authority for each qualification is identified in the applicable recognition list. Different qualifications may therefore be assessed by different provincial departments.

Documents required

Three document categories are required.

For each document, prepare:

• Two A4 photocopies
• A paper version
• An electronic version

1. Employment agreement or labour contract

Provide the employment agreement or labour contract between the overseas professional and the Hainan employer.

The document must carry the employer’s official company seal.

2. Overseas professional qualification certificate

Provide the overseas professional qualification certificate for which recognition is being requested.

The certificate must be accompanied by a Chinese translation issued by a translation company. The applicant’s name and other identifying information should be consistent across the qualification certificate, translation, passport, work permit and employment documents.

The employer’s official seal is not listed as a requirement for the qualification certificate itself.

3. Employer’s letter of commitment

The employer must provide a letter confirming the authenticity and validity of the overseas professional qualification.

The letter must carry the employer’s official company seal.

How to apply

Step 1: Check the recognition list

Confirm that the qualification appears in Hainan’s applicable recognition list. The list identifies the relevant overseas qualification, its awarding or registering organisation, and the Hainan provincial authority responsible for recognition.

The linked PDF contains two separate lists. The first covers Chinese professional examinations that overseas applicants may take; the recognition list for qualifications already obtained overseas begins later in the document.

Step 2: Check the profession-specific procedure

Consult the recognition procedure published by the responsible provincial industry authority. The assessment method and any additional requirements may vary between professions.

Step 3: Prepare the documents

Prepare the employment agreement or labour contract, overseas qualification certificate and Chinese translation, and the employer’s authenticity and validity commitment letter.

Prepare two A4 photocopies of each document and the corresponding electronic versions.

Step 4: Submit the application

The employer submits the application to the provincial industry authority responsible for the qualification.

Applications can be submitted online through the Hainan Government Services platform, at the designated service office or by courier.

Step 5: Attend the document-verification visit

One visit to the designated office is required. The purpose of the visit is to verify the authenticity and validity of the professional qualification, employment documents and other submitted materials.

Appointment booking is not supported, so applicants should attend during the published opening hours and confirm any profession-specific instructions beforehand.

Step 6: Complete the professional assessment

The responsible provincial industry authority evaluates the applicant and qualification.

Depending on the profession, this may involve:

• Document review
• An interview or oral defence
• An examination
• A professional evaluation
• Another assessment method established by the responsible authority

Passing the assessment is necessary before recognition can be granted.

Step 7: Receive the result

Once the application and assessment have been approved, the applicant receives the recognition result. Courier delivery of the result is supported.

Check the recognition list → Identify the industry authority → Prepare the documents → Employer submits → Attend verification → Complete the assessment → Receive the result

Processing time

The statutory processing limit is 20 working days.

Hainan publishes a shorter committed processing time of three working days from acceptance. The service record separately allocates one working day to acceptance before the application enters the decision stage.

An assessment, request for additional documents or correction of an incomplete application may affect the applicant’s overall completion time.

Application fee

No government application fee is listed for this procedure.

Applicants may still incur private costs for translation, document preparation, copying or courier delivery.

Where is the service available?

The service is available province-wide.

Because individual qualifications are handled by their corresponding provincial industry authorities, applicants should check whether their assessment or document verification must take place at another designated location.

Service administration and professional assessment

The government service entry is administered by the Talent Development Bureau of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee (中共海南省委人才发展局).

The professional assessment is conducted by the provincial industry authority assigned to the qualification in the applicable recognition list. The Talent Development Bureau should therefore not be understood as personally assessing every type of overseas qualification.

Haikou service office

Room 459-1, Building 9
No. 69 Guoxing Avenue
Meilan District, Haikou, Hainan
海南省海口市美兰区国兴大道69号9号楼459-1办公室

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday
08:00–12:00 and 14:30–17:30
Closed on statutory public holidays

Enquiries: 0898-65910971
Supervision and complaints: 0898-12345

Applicants should confirm whether this is the correct verification or assessment location for their particular qualification before travelling.

What does recognition provide?

The governing measures and the service record’s guidance state that successful applicants receive a Hainan Free Trade Port Overseas Personnel Skills Assessment Certificate of Conformity (海南自由贸易港境外人员技能认定合格证). 

Within the approved professional scope and recognition period, certificate holders are entitled to the same professional rights as comparable professionals in Hainan.

They may also receive the facilitation and support available to eligible overseas professional talent under the Notice on Providing Facilitation and Support Services for Overseas Professional Talent (《关于做好为境外专业人才提供便利保障服务有关工作的通知》).

The certificate only applies to the recognised profession, approved service scope and applicable period. It does not provide unrestricted permission to practise in other fields.

How long does recognition remain valid?

The service guidance confirms that recognition applies for a defined period, but the general service record does not state its length.

The applicant should confirm the applicable recognition period with the provincial industry authority responsible for the qualification. This is particularly important where the underlying overseas certificate has its own expiry date or renewal requirements.

Important points before applying

A valid Hainan-issued work permit is a prerequisite for this procedure. Professional-qualification recognition does not replace the work permit or the foreign national’s residence documentation.

Being employed in Hainan and holding an overseas qualification does not guarantee recognition. The qualification must appear in the applicable list, and the applicant must pass the assessment established by the responsible provincial industry authority.

Applicants should also check the permitted scope and recognition period carefully. Providing services beyond that scope or after the recognition period has expired may require further approval or renewal.

The recognition lists may be adjusted over time. Before applying, confirm with the Talent Development Bureau or the relevant provincial industry authority that the published 2020 list remains applicable and that no newer list affects your qualification.

Governing measure

The procedure is based on Article 4 of the Measures for the Administration of Practice by Overseas Personnel in the Hainan Free Trade Port (Trial) (《海南自由贸易港境外人员执业管理办法（试行）》), issued under 琼府〔2020〕44号.

The measure requires eligible overseas professionals to satisfy the applicable conditions and pass a skills assessment before providing relevant professional services directly to enterprises and residents in the Hainan Free Trade Port under the name of an overseas qualification included in the applicable recognition list.

The administrative details in this guide were checked against the Hainan Government Services record accessed on 3 September 2026. Qualification lists, assessment procedures and local arrangements may change. Applicants should confirm the current requirements with the provincial industry authority responsible for their profession before applying.

If you hold an overseas professional qualification or have completed the recognition procedure in Hainan, you are welcome to post your questions or share your experience below.

International residents in Haikou are invited to a free afternoon combining a hands-on introduction to Hainan’s traditional Li brocade with practical advice on avoiding scams and protecting personal finances.

Participants can learn about Li brocade and make their own brocade-inspired bookmark to take home. There will also be a short financial-safety session covering common scams, consumer traps, personal credit records and what to do if you encounter suspected fraud.

Date: 13 September 2026
Time: 14:45–17:10
Languages: English and Chinese
Cost: Free
Location: 5th Floor, Building 2, Chuangyi Port, intersection of Moli Road and Hongmian West Road, Longhua District, Haikou

Places are limited. Scan the QR code on the poster below to register.

Foreign nationals working in Haikou may need to update their Foreigner’s Work Permit when important personal or employment information changes. The employer must apply within 10 working days of the date the change occurs.

The application is normally submitted by the employer through China’s online service system for foreigners working in China. The Haikou authority reviews the application and, when it is approved, issues a formal administrative decision confirming the change.

This guide explains when a change application may be needed, what documents must be prepared and how the Haikou procedure works.

When should a work permit be changed?

A change application may be required when information recorded in connection with the foreign national’s work permit changes.

Examples given in the Haikou service record include:

• A change to the foreign national’s name or passport number
• A change of position while remaining with the same employer
• A change to the foreign national’s work-permit category

The supporting documents will depend on what is being changed.

Who submits the application?

The application is handled through the foreign national’s employing organisation.

The Haikou service record lists eligible organisations as:

• Companies and other enterprise legal persons
• Public institutions
• Social organisations

An authorised member of the employer’s staff normally completes the online submission and communicates with the reviewing authority.

Documents required

The Haikou procedure identifies two main document categories.

1. Application form

The employer must complete the Application Form for Change of Foreigner’s Work Permit in China (外国人来华工作许可变更申请表).

The form is completed through the Service System for Foreigners Working in China.

The submitted information should correspond with the foreign national’s passport, existing work permit and employment records.

2. Evidence supporting the requested change

Documents must be provided to demonstrate the information being changed. The precise evidence depends on the circumstances.

• For a new passport or passport-number change, provide the new passport’s information page and visa page.

• For a change of duties or title within the same employer, provide a change-request letter and the relevant supporting evidence.

• For a change to the work-permit category, provide documents supporting the requested category change.

Applicants should ensure that names, passport numbers and other personal information are written consistently across every document.

How to apply

Step 1: Prepare the supporting documents

The employer should first identify exactly which information needs to be changed and obtain the corresponding evidence.

The foreign national should also check that the passport, existing work permit and employment information are current and consistent.

Step 2: Complete, sign and seal the application form

The employer signs in to the national online system, selects the work-permit change service and completes the application form.

The completed form must then be printed and signed by the foreign applicant. A photocopied or faxed signature is accepted. The employer must affix its official company seal before scanning the form and uploading it to the system with the supporting documents.

The application is submitted to the responsible Haikou authority.

The reviewing officer checks whether the application is complete and whether the requested change meets the applicable requirements. If information is missing or unclear, the employer may be asked to correct or supplement the submission.

Step 4: Administrative review

An accepted application proceeds through initial examination, internal review and a final decision.

The employer should monitor the online account during this period in case the authority requests additional information.

Step 5: Receive the decision

When the application is approved, the authority issues a Decision Granting Administrative Licensing (准予行政许可决定书).

The employer should retain the decision and follow any instructions provided through the online system concerning the update or replacement of the physical work-permit card.

Prepare evidence → Complete, sign and seal the form → Upload and submit → Authority reviews the application → Decision issued

Do applicants need to visit the service centre?

The service record states that the procedure can be completed without a compulsory visit to the government service centre.

Applications may be handled online, at the service window or by courier. Delivery of the result by courier is also supported.

Nevertheless, the employer should follow any instructions issued through the application system. A visit may still become necessary if original documents need to be examined or a particular issue cannot be resolved online.

Processing time

The statutory processing limit is seven working days.

Haikou publishes a shorter committed processing time of three working days. The three-day period is the service target for an accepted application; the seven-day figure is the statutory maximum stated for the procedure.

Time spent correcting incomplete information or supplying additional documents may fall outside the normal processing period.

Application fee

No government application fee is listed for changing a Foreigner’s Work Permit through this procedure.

Applicants may still incur private costs for services such as document translation, certification or courier delivery.

Responsible authority

The application is handled by the Haikou Municipal Bureau of Science, Technology and Industrial Information (海口市科学技术和工业信息化局).

Haikou service centre

Applications requiring counter service can be handled at:

Talent and Engineering Construction Comprehensive Service Window
Windows 01–15, Area B, first floor
Haikou Citizens and Visitors Centre 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

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday
08:30–12:00 and 14:00–17:30
Closed on weekends and statutory public holidays

Enquiries: 0898-68720177

Important points before applying

Do not wait until another immigration or employment application is due before correcting inaccurate work-permit information. Differences between a passport, work permit, residence permit and employment records can cause difficulties in later applications.

Employers and foreign employees should also remember that changing a work permit is not the same as extending it. An extension concerns the permit’s validity period, while a change application updates information connected with the existing authorisation.

Where the foreign national’s employer or principal job changes, seek guidance before using the change procedure. Cancellation and a new application may be required instead.

Official service record

The information in this guide is based on the Haikou Government Services record for Application for Change of Foreigner’s Work Permit in China, accessed 2 September 2026.

Requirements and local handling arrangements may change. Employers should check the service record and confirm current requirements with the responsible authority before submitting an application.

If you have questions about changing a Foreigner’s Work Permit or practical experience completing the procedure in Hainan, you are welcome to post below.

Employing a foreign national in Hainan can involve several government procedures. Depending on the circumstances, the employer and employee may need to deal separately with the work-permit authority, public security authorities, the social insurance system and professional-qualification regulators.

Hainan’s integrated one-stop service brings these procedures together through a coordinated application route. It covers nine related services, from the initial work-permit application through to residence-permit handling, social insurance registration and certain professional-qualification procedures.

The service is available in Haikou, Sanya and Danzhou, including the Yangpu Economic Development Zone. This guide explains the Haikou process.

What the integrated service covers

The nine services included in the Haikou process are:

1. Changing a Foreigner’s Work Permit
2. Cancelling a Foreigner’s Work Permit
3. Applying from within China for a Foreigner’s Work Permit for work exceeding 90 days
4. Applying from overseas for a Work Permit Notice for work exceeding 90 days
5. Extending a Foreigner’s Work Permit
6. Registering a foreign employee for social insurance
7. Applying for a work-type residence permit
8. Professional-title evaluation for foreign nationals
9. Recognition of an overseas professional qualification

Not every applicant needs to complete all nine. The services included in an individual application depend on whether the foreign employee is applying for the first time, extending or changing an existing permit, ending their employment, or adding related services.

How the application works

The employer or applicant begins by signing in to the Hainan Government Services portal and opening the integrated service for foreign nationals working in Hainan.

The portal then asks which work-permit procedure is required. The available routes include:

• A first application submitted from within China
• An overseas application for a Work Permit Notice
• Extension of an existing work permit
• Change to an existing work permit
• Cancellation of an existing work permit

After the appropriate work-permit procedure has been selected, the application moves to the corresponding work-type residence-permit procedure.

The applicant can then add any other services that are required, including social insurance registration, recognition of an overseas professional qualification and professional-title evaluation.

Each participating department processes its own part of the application and issues the relevant permit, registration, certificate or administrative decision.

Hainan’s integrated application process: applicants first select the relevant work-permit procedure, complete the corresponding residence-permit formalities and then add any other services required.

Who can use the service?

The integrated service is intended for foreign nationals coming to work in Hainan and the organisations employing them.

Participating employers and organisations may include:

• Companies and other enterprise legal persons
• Public institutions
• Social organisations
• Unincorporated enterprises
• Government and administrative bodies

Most employment-related applications are submitted by the employer. The foreign employee must participate personally where identity verification, original-document inspection or biometric collection is required.

Basic eligibility requirements

The employer must be legally established and must not have a serious record of unlawful conduct or dishonesty.

The position offered to the foreign national must meet a genuine employment need, comply with national regulations and pay no less than the applicable local minimum wage. Where approval from an industry regulator is required, that approval must be obtained.

The foreign applicant must normally:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be in good health
• Have no criminal record
• Have a confirmed employer in China
• Possess the professional skills or knowledge required for the position
• Meet the applicable requirements for foreign nationals working in China

Additional requirements may apply according to the applicant’s profession, work-permit category and personal circumstances.

Documents required

The portal does not use one universal document list for every applicant. It asks questions about the employer, foreign employee and application type before displaying the materials required for that case.

Depending on the application, the required documents may include:

• The employer’s business licence or registration documents
• An employment contract or employment agreement
• The foreign employee’s passport
• Work-permit application forms
• Academic and professional qualifications
• Evidence of relevant work experience
• A certificate of no criminal record
• Health-examination documents
• Existing visa or residence-permit information
• Social insurance registration materials

An applicant applying from overseas will not necessarily submit the same documents as someone already living in China. Requirements also differ between first applications, extensions, changes and cancellations.

Employers should therefore complete the portal questionnaire before finalising their application documents.

Processing time

The Haikou integrated service has a committed processing time of 16 working days.

This is the processing commitment for the coordinated service as a whole. Some of the individual procedures included in the application have shorter published processing times.

The stated period may not include time required for supplementary documents, certificate production, delivery or any special review procedure.

Is personal attendance required?

The integrated process requires one visit to the service centre.

Personal attendance is necessary for the work-type residence-permit procedure, which requires facial biometric collection and verification of original documents.

Some parts of the application can be handled online, but applicants should not assume that the entire process can be completed without attending the service centre.

Application location in Haikou

Applications can be handled at:

Talent Comprehensive Service Window
Windows 01–15, Area B, first floor
Haikou Citizens and Visitors Centre Government Service Hall
No. 1 Binhai Park Road, Longhua District, Haikou

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号人才和工程建设综合服务窗口

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday: 08:30–12:00 and 14:00–17:30
Closed on weekends and public holidays.

Enquiries:

• 0898-66750650
• 0898-12367

Government-service supervision and complaints:

• 0898-12345

Which departments are involved?

The Haikou Municipal Bureau of Science, Technology and Industrial Information leads the integrated service.

Other participating departments are:

• Haikou Municipal Social Insurance Service Centre
• Haikou Municipal Public Security Bureau
• Haikou Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau
• Talent Development Bureau of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee

Although applicants enter through one coordinated service, each department remains responsible for the procedure within its own area of authority.

Fees

Most of the employment and registration procedures included in the integrated service are listed as free. The charge arises from the foreigner’s residence permit.

The portal displays the following residence-permit fee schedule:

• Residence permit valid for up to one year: RMB 400
• Residence permit valid from one year to three years: RMB 800
• Residence permit valid from three years to five years: RMB 1,000

The period granted is determined by the responsible authority. Paying a particular fee does not guarantee that the corresponding maximum period of residence will be approved.

Online payment is not supported for the integrated service. Advance appointments and courier delivery are also not listed as available for the process as a whole.

What applicants receive

The integrated service is a coordinated application channel rather than a separate type of permit.

Depending on the services selected, the employer and foreign employee may receive:

• A Foreigner’s Work Permit Notice
• A Foreigner’s Work Permit or an administrative decision concerning it
• A work-permit change, extension or cancellation decision
• A work-type residence permit
• Confirmation of social insurance registration
• A professional-title evaluation decision
• A professional-qualification recognition or skills-assessment result

This structure allows the connected procedures to be handled together while preserving the legal responsibility of each government department.

Before starting an application

Employers should first determine whether the foreign employee will apply from overseas or from within China and whether the application concerns a new permit, extension, change or cancellation.

They should also establish whether the employee needs social insurance registration, professional-title evaluation or recognition of an overseas professional qualification.

The portal’s questions should then be completed carefully so that the correct application route and document requirements are displayed.

Employers applying outside Haikou should check the corresponding Sanya or Danzhou/Yangpu service record because local application locations and handling arrangements may differ.

Official source:

Hainan Government Services, Haikou integrated-service record
Accessed 1 September 2026.

Requirements and handling arrangements may change. Employers and foreign employees should confirm the current requirements with the responsible authority before applying.

If you have used Hainan’s integrated one-stop service or have questions about employing a foreign national in Hainan, you are welcome to post below.

Preparations have begun in Haikou for a new research institute focused on medical nutrition, foods for special medical purposes and special dietary foods. The proposed Hainan Huokoushan Institute of Food Science for Special Medical and Dietary Purposes was announced at an academic symposium held in Haikou on August 8. The English name used here is a working translation; no official English name has been identified.

The institute remains under preparation. Tianzhuang Nutrition says it is intended to operate as a non-profit research-service organisation connecting clinical needs, academic research and product development.

People's Daily Online's Hainan channel confirmed the involvement of Haikou National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone and Hainan Tianzhuang Nutrition Engineering Co., Ltd. It said discussions covered special medical and dietary food technologies, AI and digital nutrition, clinical applications and the commercialisation of research.

According to Tianzhuang's event announcement, the meeting was hosted by the management committee of Haikou National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, with support from the Haikou Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The Hainan Food Science and Technology Society and the proposed institute were listed as co-organisers, with Tianzhuang responsible for running the event.

Participants included Huang Xiaojun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and director of Peking University's Institute of Hematology, and Zhang Jun, vice-president of Hainan Medical University and president of Hainan Provincial People's Hospital. Experts from Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Hainan University and West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University also delivered presentations.

What the institute plans to work on

Foods for special medical purposes, commonly known as FSMPs, are specially formulated foods for people whose nutritional needs cannot be met normally because of restricted food intake, digestive or absorption problems, metabolic disorders or particular medical conditions.

In China, FSMPs are regulated as food rather than medicine and are subject to a specific registration regime. Products must be registered with the State Administration for Market Regulation, and official guidance states that they should be used under the direction of a doctor or clinical dietitian.

"Special dietary foods" is a broader category. Chinese national guidance includes infant formula, complementary foods for infants and young children, FSMPs and other foods designed for particular physiological or dietary requirements within this category.

Tianzhuang says the proposed institute will concentrate on six areas: medical and precision nutrition, technology and applications for FSMPs and special dietary foods, clinical collaboration and evidence-based evaluation, digital nutrition, policy and standards work, and academic exchange and professional training.

The research presented at the August symposium gives some indication of the areas it may pursue.

Zhang Jiachao, dean of Hainan University's School of Food Science and Engineering, presented work on interactions between probiotics and medicines. Cheng Guo of West China Second University Hospital discussed the development of clinical nutrition, while Lu Yong, vice-president of Ruijin Hospital, addressed cartilage imaging, early identification of degeneration and potential nutritional intervention.

The organisers say the institute is intended to bring clinical requirements and real-world data more directly into research and product development.

They have also set out a proposed governance model. According to Tianzhuang's announcement, academic direction would be led by an academic committee, research topics would be determined by expert teams, and Tianzhuang would act as a service and support party rather than directing academic work.

Those remain plans for an organisation that is still under preparation. The announcement describes the institute as being in preparation and does not provide a registration document or detailed operating structure.

What Tianzhuang already operates

The institute would build on research and production activity that Tianzhuang has already developed separately from the proposed organisation.

Tianzhuang has established research and clinical cooperation with more than 20 research institutes and major tertiary hospitals. Named partners include West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Children's Hospital of Soochow University and hospitals affiliated with Nanjing Medical University. TropicalHainan's editor has separately confirmed the company's wider cooperation network.

On January 13, 2026, Hainan University published notice of a proposed transfer to Tianzhuang of three technical secrets arising from tropical probiotic research. The proposed transaction was valued at RMB 4 million.

The university described the three research areas as the use of different tropical probiotics to alleviate liver injury, hyperuricemia and chronic colitis.

Tianzhuang has also taken a product through China's FSMP registration and production-licensing process.

The Hainan Provincial Market Supervision Administration reported that Tianzhuang Xiaoershan (天壮小尔膳), a complete-nutrition FSMP developed for children aged one to 10 with restricted food intake, digestive or absorption problems or metabolic disorders, received registration approval from the State Administration for Market Regulation on August 2, 2025.

The provincial regulator conducted a production-conditions inspection on September 3 and issued a production licence after confirming that requirements had been met. The product formally entered production on September 27. The regulator described it as Hainan's first complete-nutrition FSMP.

Tianzhuang's activity is also visible in provincial food-standard records. Hainan Health Commission data for the second half of 2024 lists several enterprise standards filed by the company for special dietary food products. These are company product standards lodged with the health authority, not regulatory product approvals.

The company has also participated in formal standards work.

The National Public Service Platform for Standards lists Tianzhuang among the drafting organisations for GB/T 15091.2-2026, Fundamental Vocabulary and Classification of Processed Food, Part 2: Classification of Processed Food, a recommended national standard that took effect on August 1, 2026.

The National Digital Standards Library also lists Tianzhuang among the drafting organisations for T/CEAC 053-2024, Technical Specification for the Use Evaluation of Foods for Special Medical Purposes. This is a group standard issued through the China Business Economics Association, rather than a national standard.

In May 2026, Tianzhuang announced that its engineering technology centre would provide FSMP research and testing services to outside companies. People's Daily Online's Hainan channel reported that the centre offers services including formulation design, quality research, process development, registration support and commercial production support, working alongside a CNAS-accredited laboratory identified as L25438.

The company also states that it holds production qualifications covering the full range of special dietary food categories and has participated in additional national, industry and group standards. TropicalHainan's editor has separately confirmed these company capabilities, although the complete qualification and standards lists have not been independently audited for this article.

Taken together, the documented activity shows that the company initiating the institute already operates across research collaboration, testing, regulatory registration, standards work and manufacturing.

Those capabilities belong to Tianzhuang. The proposed institute remains a separate organisation under preparation, and the extent to which it ultimately draws on the company's facilities, personnel and partnerships will depend on the structure established during the next stage.

What happens next

The August meeting marks the beginning of the institute's establishment process, not the opening of a fully operating research organisation.

The broader policy direction is clear. Hainan's provincial market regulator says current policy measures support the development of FSMPs as an emerging industry, alongside biomanufacturing, medical aesthetics and digital therapeutics.

For Tianzhuang, the proposed institute would extend a model the company has already been developing through clinical cooperation, university research, specialist manufacturing, standards work and external research services.

A new medical nutrition research institute is being prepared in Haikou at a time when Hainan is supporting foods for special medical purposes (FSMPs) as an emerging industry.

Tianzhuang Nutrition already provides external companies with formulation development, testing, registration support and commercial production services through its engineering technology centre, working alongside a CNAS-accredited laboratory.

Companies in medical nutrition, FSMPs, special dietary foods, food technology and related sectors interested in connecting with Tianzhuang Nutrition or exploring cooperation with the new Medical Nutrition Research Institute can contact TropicalHainan at Business@tropicalhainan.com.

Haikou Updates Talent Housing Rules from September 1: What Foreign Professionals Need to Know

Haikou has revised its talent housing support rules, with the new 《海口市引进人才住房保障实施细则》 (Implementation Rules for Housing Security for Introduced Talent in Haikou City) taking effect on September 1, 2026.

The revised rules continue to cover eligible foreign professionals, but they do not provide a general housing subsidy for all foreign employees. Applicants must fall within specific talent categories and meet other conditions, including the rules on when they first started working or doing business in Haikou and where they actually work.

The rules were issued by the Haikou Municipal People’s Government as 海府规〔2026〕5号 on July 25, 2026.

What changed under the revised rules?

The 2026 rules replace the previous implementation rules and update the scheme to match the current Hainan Free Trade Port A to E high-level talent classification system.

The main practical changes include the use of the current talent classification system, changes to how applications are handled, changes to how the government-funded portion of subsidies is shared, and an explicit requirement that an applicant’s actual place of work must be in Haikou.

Under the revised system, district administrative approval departments handle the acceptance and review of monetary housing subsidy applications, while district human resources departments handle payments. In Jiangdong New Area, the Haikou Jiangdong Administration Bureau handles acceptance, review and payment.

The workplace requirement is important. Having an employer registered in Haikou, living in Haikou or holding a contract with a Haikou company should not by itself be read as satisfying the rule if the person’s actual workplace is elsewhere.

The subsidy amounts have not increased. The previous rules already provided the same monthly and annual subsidy levels.

Foreign nationals were already included under the earlier rules. The 2026 revision therefore updates the system under which eligible foreign professionals can apply and, in some areas, tightens the conditions.

The new rules take effect on September 1, 2026 and are valid for five years. They also state that talent housing work between February 13, 2024 and August 31, 2026 continues to be handled under the previous 海府〔2019〕20号 rules.

Which foreign professionals can qualify?

For high-level talent, A, B and C category Hainan Free Trade Port talent are included in the housing support system.

D and E category talent are included in the cash subsidy system. The rules explicitly state that eligible D and E talent include foreign nationals and talent from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

The scheme also covers:

full-time master’s graduates under 40, including graduates of overseas universities;

full-time bachelor’s graduates under 35, including graduates of overseas universities;

people under 35 with specified intermediate professional titles, technician qualifications or equivalent professional qualifications;

senior management talent introduced by headquarters economy enterprises;

other talent granted housing support through provincial or municipal government recognition.

Being a foreign employee in Haikou does not automatically qualify someone.

Applicants must generally have first started employment or first started a business in Haikou after May 13, 2018, and their actual place of work must be in Haikou.

There is a narrow exception for people who left Hainan before March 31, 2018 and returned to Haikou for employment or entrepreneurship after May 13, 2018, provided they otherwise meet the requirements.

The rules also exclude people who had individual income tax or social insurance payment records in Hainan between April 1 and May 13, 2018.

A, B and C talent receive different housing support

A, B and C high-level talent are treated separately from the monthly cash subsidy tiers.

Eligible A, B and C talent may receive talent apartments with rent waived for a specified period, together with a corresponding share of the property rights under the applicable rules.

The detailed arrangements for this form of support are governed by separate provincial and municipal provisions.

The rules also provide a third form of housing support for eligible introduced talent generally: the allocation for rent or sale of government-supported housing.

How much are the subsidies?

The revised rules retain the following rental and purchase subsidy standards.

D-class talent

Rental subsidy: RMB 5,000 per month

Purchase subsidy: RMB 60,000 per year

Applicants must generally be under 50. The age limit may be extended to 55 for urgently needed talent.

E-class talent

Rental subsidy: RMB 3,000 per month

Purchase subsidy: RMB 36,000 per year

The same under-50 age limit applies, with an extension to 55 for urgently needed talent.

Master’s graduates and specified professional and management categories

Rental subsidy: RMB 2,000 per month

Purchase subsidy: RMB 24,000 per year

This tier covers full-time master’s graduates under 40, eligible people under 35 with specified intermediate professional titles or technician qualifications, and senior management talent introduced by headquarters economy enterprises.

Bachelor’s graduates

Rental subsidy: RMB 1,500 per month

Purchase subsidy: RMB 18,000 per year

Eligible applicants must be full-time graduates under 35.

Rental subsidies can be paid for a maximum of 36 months. Purchase subsidies can be paid for a maximum of three years.

Claims must also be completed within five years of the talent-introduction date.

The rental and purchase subsidies cannot be combined. Anyone who has received a purchase subsidy cannot subsequently apply for a rental subsidy. If an applicant receives rental subsidies first and later switches to a purchase subsidy, the rental subsidy already received is deducted.

Applicants seeking a purchase subsidy must also meet rules concerning the property. It must have been newly purchased after May 13, 2018, with the filing date of the purchase contract used to determine the purchase date.

Foreign applicants without social insurance records

One provision is particularly relevant for foreign professionals.

Article 17 states that foreign talent who have not paid social insurance may provide individual income tax payment records instead.

The same provision applies to qualifying self-employed talent.

This does not remove any of the other eligibility requirements. It simply provides an alternative form of supporting evidence where an eligible foreign applicant does not have a social insurance payment record.

How does the application process work?

For employees, the process is employer-led.

The applicant first submits materials to the employer, including a personal undertaking, relevant high-level talent recognition documents, academic qualifications or professional certificates, and the required housing documents.

For a rental subsidy, this includes a registered rental contract. For a purchase subsidy, it includes a purchase contract filed with the municipal housing authorities.

The employer checks the application and submits it through the Hainan Government Services Network.

Self-employed talent operating as an individual business can submit directly to the relevant approval department rather than going through an employer.

The approval department has 15 working days to complete acceptance and review. The result must then be publicly posted for at least five working days.

Once the public notice period has ended without a valid objection, the subsidy is transferred to the employer or individual business account.

An employer receiving the subsidy must transfer the full amount to the employee within 15 days of receiving the funds.

What employers need to know

For enterprises, other organisations and individual businesses, the subsidy is not funded entirely by government.

The government and employer share the cost on a 1:1 basis.

For this category, the government-funded portion is divided between the municipal and district governments at a ratio of 45:55.

Different funding arrangements apply to public institutions. Public-welfare category institutions are funded entirely by the relevant level of government, while production and operating public institutions share the cost with government on a 1:1 basis.

This means that for most company employees, the employer must participate not only in the application but also in funding the subsidy.

Special arrangements for people working in key parks

The revised rules contain a specific provision for talent employed by organisations or individual businesses in designated key parks.

Where such an employer applies for a rental subsidy but the employee’s rented accommodation is outside Haikou’s administrative area, the municipal human resources department can refer the case to the municipal government for case-by-case resolution.

This provision applies specifically to rental subsidy applications involving key-park employers. It is not a general exemption allowing anyone working in Haikou to claim a subsidy for housing outside the city.

Other conditions to check

Applicants may not claim rental or purchase subsidies if they or their spouse have already benefited from specified forms of housing support in Haikou, including purchased publicly-owned housing, government-built affordable housing, price-limited housing, employer-funded housing, public rental housing or public rental housing subsidies, unless provincial rules provide otherwise.

Couples who both work or operate businesses in Haikou generally apply as one household, with the higher eligible level of support used.

Anyone already receiving housing support must report major changes, including leaving an employer, closing or changing a business, ending a rental agreement, cancelling a property purchase or losing the qualification on which the application was based.

Both the employer and the individual are required to report relevant changes to the original approval department within 30 days.

For foreign professionals considering an application, the main question is not simply whether foreigners are included. They are.

The key questions are whether the applicant falls within an eligible talent category, meets the May 2018 and actual-workplace requirements, remains within the relevant age and claim periods, and has an employer willing and able to participate in the application and funding process.

Official policy interpretation:

If you have any questions about the new rules or how they may apply to you, post them below and we’ll do our best to clarify.

This short video looks at four areas shaping Hainan’s next technology push, commercial aerospace, international data services, semiconductor development and deep-sea technology. 

Read the full analysis HERE:
Hainan’s Next Economic Bet: Aerospace, Data and Specialised Technology Industries - TropicalHainan.com