Legal Centre · Foreign nationals
Living in China - Legal Guide for Foreign Nationals
A legal starting point for foreign nationals and families entering, working, residing, owning property or dealing with personal and family matters in mainland China.
Choose a personal legal path
Enter, work and stay
Visas, work permits, residence and employment rights.
Home and family
Property, marriage, divorce, children, inheritance, notarization and apostille.
Disputes and safety
Civil disputes, personal injury, criminal investigations and administrative risk.
Individual Income Tax
Residence, income source, the six-year framework, payroll and annual reconciliation for foreign individuals.
Core guides
Immigration and Employment Compliance
Coordinate work permits, residence, employer compliance and employment law.
Visa and Immigration
Entry, stay and immigration compliance for foreign nationals.
Employment and Labor
Employment contracts, workplace rights and dispute routes.
Real Property
Buying, leasing, use rights and property disputes.
Divorce and Family Law
Marriage, separation, children and cross-border family questions.
Personal Injury
Evidence, claims and compensation orientation.
Criminal Defense
Rights and procedure when a foreign national faces investigation or detention.
Find counsel or change path
Choose counsel for the specific issue and locality. Business formation and corporate governance belong in the Doing Business centre; cross-border matters may also require destination-country counsel.
General information only, not legal or tax advice. Individual Income Tax was editorially source-checked on 5 August 2026 and is not attributed to a legal or tax reviewer. Last editorial review: 5 August 2026.