Should Foreigners Get Social Insurance in China and How?
Should Foreigners Get Social Insurance in China and How?
According to the relevant Chinese laws, employers should purchase social insurance for their employees.
When applying for a Chinese visa, some cities could have requirements for the cost and length of your social insurance. You will need to prepare relevant supporting documents.
In this article, we will explain whether you should get social insurance in China and how.
What Is social insurance?
According to the Provisional Measures for Social Insurance for Foreigners Employed in China(《在中国境内就业的外国人参加社会保险暂行办法》) promulgated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People's Republic of China(人力资源和社会保障部), foreigners working legally in China should purchase social insurance below:
pension insurance(养老保险）;
medical insurance（医疗保险）;
work injury insurance（工伤保险）;
unemployment insurance（失业保险）;
maternity insurance（生育保险）.
The fees shall be paid by the employer and employee together.
If foreigners register a company and get type B work permit as a legal person/an investor in China, they need to pay social insurance for the Chinese employees. (for at least 6 months)
The proof will be needed when they extend their visa, otherwise, their visa could be seriously affected.
If you need assistance with making up for social insurance payments or getting social insurance for Chinese employees, please feel free to contact VisaOfChina team!
Note
Currently, China has signed bilateral agreements(about social insurance) with Germany, South Korea, Denmark, Canada, Finland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, Luxembourg, Japan and Serbia.
The scope of mutual exemption refers to the notification documents issued by the government regarding social insurance.
Source: the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People's Republic
of China
What are the benefits of getting social insurance in China?
Paying pension insurance, you can receive a monthly pension when you reach the legal retirement age;
Paying health insurance allows you to receive reimbursement in medical service;
(Compared with commercial insurance, social health insurance has a wider coverage of disease cost reimbursement, and the reimbursed percentage is generally higher than commercial insurance).
Paying work injury insurance allows you to receive compensation in the event of a workplace accident or occupational disease;
Paying unemployment insurance allows you to receive benefits if you lose your job;
Paying maternity insurance allows you to be reimbursed for prenatal checkups, delivery procedures, etc.
Who can get social insurance in China?
Those who have obtained legal employment documents(such as work permits) and residence perits for foreigners.
Those who hold "Permanent Residence Permit for Foreigners" and are legally employed in China.
Notice:
Age limit for getting social insurance in Shanghai:
Foreigners working in Shanghai who have not yet reached the legal retirement age(under 60 years old for men and under 55 years old for women).
Basic documents required to purchase social insurance
Individual Social Insurance Registration Form《个人社会保险登记表》
Labor contract or employment contract
Valid Work Permit
Valid Passpord
A sample of Individual Social Insurance Registration Form
If you have any questions about China visa applications(work visa, PU letter, company registration and more), please contact our visa consultant Lisa (WeChat ID: AnyHelper-DD).
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