For many foreign teachers and professionals, arriving in China is carefully planned.
Visas.
Work permits.
Contracts.
Housing.
Everything is arranged in advance.
Leaving, by contrast, is often treated as quite the opposite.
Finish your contract.
Pack your bags.
Book a flight.
Move on.
In reality, leaving China is an administrative process. When it is handled casually, problems often surface later, when they are much harder to fix.
This article explains what needs to be done before you leave, why it matters, and how to avoid the most common exit mistakes.
Why You Should Care, Even If You Never Plan to Return
Some people assume that if they do not plan to return to China, exit procedures no longer matter. In practice, this is rarely true.
Employment records, tax filings, and permit histories may later be required for visa applications, pension claims, financial transactions, or legal matters in other countries. Closing these files properly protects your ability to document this period of your life, regardless of whether you ever return.
Many people think:
“Once I’m gone, I’m gone. Why worry?”
Here is why it matters.
Future Visas and Immigration Elsewhere
Countries such as:
- Canada
- Australia
- UK
- EU
- US
- Japan
Often require:
- Full employment history
- Proof of legal residence
- Police or background records
- Tax history
- Explanations for gaps in resumes
If your time in China is poorly documented, you may later find it difficult to prove what you were doing. The responsibility for documenting that period rests with you, and the necessary records may no longer be available.
Money and Benefits Don’t Disappear
Even if you never return, you may still have:
- Salary owed
- Deposits
- Bank balances
- Tax refunds
- Social insurance refunds
- Employer disputes
If you leave without closing matters properly, you are often abandoning money.
Records Are Needed Years Later
Real situations where people suddenly need old China records include:
- Mortgage applications
- Pension claims
- Government benefits
- Divorce or property cases
- Court proceedings
- Immigration paperwork
If your records are missing, you are left explaining gaps with no evidence.
How China’s System Works (In Practice)
Administratively, China works like this:
Records do not disappear.
They remain in systems.
And when you re-enter the system, they can reappear, sometimes years later.
When you apply for:
- A new visa
- A job
- A business license
- Financial verification
Old records may matter again.
If you did not secure documents before leaving:
- Employers may have closed
- HR staff may be gone
- Systems may be archived
- Files may be inaccessible remotely
At that point, retrieval can be impossible.
Why Leaving Is More Complicated Than Arriving
When you work in China, your legal status is built around three linked systems:
- Your employer
- Your work permit
- Your residence permit
When you leave, all three must be closed properly.
If they are not, records may remain “open” in administrative systems. This can complicate future applications.
Most people only discover this when something goes wrong later.
Immigration and Legal Status
What Should Normally Be Closed
Before leaving, you should normally confirm:
- Work permit cancellation
- Residence permit cancellation or adjustment
- Exit formalities (if required locally)
In most cases, employers initiate these steps, but you should still confirm that they have been completed.
Check that:
- Your work permit is formally cancelled
- Your residence permit is handled correctly
- You exit within the permitted time window
Leaving without proper cancellation may not trigger immediate penalties, but it can cause administrative difficulties later.
Employment and HR Records
Documents to Secure Before Departure
Before leaving, request copies of:
- Termination certificate (离职证明)
- Work permit release confirmation
- Contract completion record
- Payroll or tax summaries (if available)
These documents are often required later for:
- New jobs
- Visa applications
- Pension inquiries
- Immigration paperwork
Some expatriates report difficulty obtaining these after departure, so secure them while you still can.
Banking, Salary, and Money
The Financial Exit Trap
Once you leave China, managing finances becomes harder.
Before departure, clarify:
- Final salary date
- Outstanding bonuses or deposits
- Bank account status
- Transfer procedures
Important reality: Resolving some bank issues remotely can be slow and may require in-person verification, depending on the bank.
If money is owed to you, try to resolve it before leaving and document all communications.
Social Insurance and Pension Accounts
If you were enrolled in social insurance, confirm:
- Whether your account is active
- Whether refunds are available
- Required documents
- Local deadlines
Procedures vary by city.
Many people assume they can “deal with it later.” In practice, this is often difficult from overseas.
Housing, Registration, and Utilities
These steps are commonly overlooked.
Before leaving, confirm:
- Rental termination
- Deposit arrangements
- Temporary residence registration updates (if required)
- Utility and internet closure
If you lived in employer housing, formal closure may still be required. Unresolved housing matters can affect deposits and references.
Records to Keep Permanently
Your Personal “China File”
Keep digital copies of:
- Passport and visas
- Work and residence permits
- Contracts
- Tax records
- Social insurance records
- Termination documents
Store them securely.
Future employers or authorities may request these years later.
The Exit Timeline
90 Days Before Leaving
- Confirm contract end date
- Ask HR about procedures
- Review banking
- Identify unpaid amounts
60 Days Before Leaving
- Collect documents
- Check insurance status
- Prepare copies
- Plan transfers
30 Days Before Leaving
- Close utilities
- Finalise housing
- Confirm permit steps
- Prepare banking actions
7 Days Before Leaving
- Verify cancellations
- Download records
- Confirm salary
- Save contact details
Common Exit Mistakes
Most long-term problems come from:
- Not confirming permit cancellation
- Assuming “the school/employer handled it”
- Ignoring social insurance
- Leaving money unresolved
- Losing documents
These are rarely intentional; they usually happen because nobody explains the process.
Leaving Suddenly
Not everyone leaves on schedule.
Common reasons include:
- School closures
- Family emergencies
- Health issues
- Contract disputes
If you must leave quickly, prioritise:
- Permit status
- Financial access
- Document copies
Even partial closure is better than none.
A Practical Rule of Thumb
If it affects your:
- Legal status
- Money
- Records
Do not assume it will fix itself later.
Confirm.
Document.
Keep copies.
This prevents most long-term problems.
In the next article
In the next article, we will look at changing employers inside China, and how to avoid visa and work permit problems during job transitions.
Exiting cleanly matters, transitioning correctly matters just as much.
Final Thought
Leaving China is not just a personal decision; it is an administrative process. Handled properly, it keeps future options open. Handled casually, it can create problems long after you believe you have moved on.
Related article: Why Foreign Teachers in China Are Facing Stricter Document Checks in 2026
