The Outbound Investment Readiness Checklist helps Chinese companies organize the facts, documents and legal workstreams for a greenfield project, acquisition, joint venture or minority investment. It separates China-side authority and funding from destination-side entry and closing requirements.
Use the checklist before signing an unconditional commitment or fixing a funding date. Its output is a preparation record: missing documents, unresolved facts and workstreams to review—not a legal conclusion.
1. Select the transaction mode
Greenfield
Acquisition
Joint Venture
Minority Investment
2. Universal project facts
3. China-side workstreams to review
Workstream
Preparation evidence
Status wording
Corporate authority
Board/shareholder approvals, constitutional authority and signatory record
Authority to confirm
Decree No. 837 scope
Direct/indirect path, assets, rights, financing and guarantees
Scope to review
NDRC
Project classification, sensitive factors, authority and filing/approval evidence
Route to confirm
MOFCOM
Enterprise/path classification and certificate/application evidence
Route to confirm
Bank and FX
Handling-bank checklist, registration and lawful source-of-funds pack
Funding workstream to review
Adjacent controls
Tax, state assets, merger control, export control, data, cybersecurity and personnel map
Potential issue to confirm
Security review
National-security facts and escalation record
Counsel review recommended
4. Destination-side workstreams to review
5. Minimum document pack
6. Readiness output
At the end of the exercise, record only:
Missing documents: unchecked evidence that must be assembled.
Unresolved facts: ownership, amount, control, destination, timing or funding assumptions that are not stable.
China-side workstreams to review: areas for PRC counsel, authorities or the handling bank.
Destination-side workstreams to review: areas for appropriately qualified local counsel.
Coordination issues: dependencies that affect signing, closing, funding or launch timing.
Do not record: approved, compliant, no legal risk, filing definitely applies, or funds may be remitted.
Cluster navigation updated 24 August 2026. Substantive content retains the review status stated on this page.
Source register · primary authorities and verification
Sources & trust
How to use this guide
Primary sources cited on this page: State Council Decree No. 837; Official Ministry of Justice, NDRC and MOFCOM explanation; NDRC Order No. 11; MOFCOM Order No. 3 of 2014; SAFE Capital Account Foreign Exchange Business Guidelines; Overseas holding-structure decision framework; Official primary-source register; NDRC, MOFCOM and SAFE workflow.
Editorial, AI and verification policies
This page is general information for orientation. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship.
Legal boundary: Prefer primary statutes, judicial interpretations, and official guidance when making decisions. Where this guide links to city hubs or lawyer listings, verify credentials and engagement terms directly with counsel. Full disclaimer · Request a consultation.
Consultation preparation
What to prepare before contacting counsel
Send a focused first package so counsel can check conflicts, understand scope, and identify urgent deadlines.
A concise timeline and the result you want to achieve.
Names of all parties and affiliates for a conflict check.
Key contracts, notices, correspondence, filings, or decisions.
Known deadlines, preferred language, location, and budget constraints.
Directory
Destination and China-side counsel
Use International Lawyers for host-country counsel. Use Find Counsel when a PRC workstream (ODI, SAFE, onshore entities, mainland contracts) still sits beside the destination matter.
Status shown per profileFree initial consultationDestination + PRC routing
