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China Legal Guides · National framework

WFOE Operations & Control Checklist for Foreign HQ

Use this as a quarterly HQ control review. If more than three boxes stay unchecked for two quarters, escalate.

117lawyer profiles listed
Updated16 Aug 2026
AudienceForeign businesses & individuals
Author China Legal Portal Editorial · Reviewer James Zhao · Last reviewed · 2 min read · Editorial policy · AI content policy · Disclaimer · Not legal advice — confirm current rules with counsel and authorities

At a glance

Company Formation: typical process stages

Four high-level stages — details and local variations are in the guide below.

  1. StructureWFOE, JV, RO or partnership fit
  2. AccessNegative list & sector approvals
  3. RegisterName, capital, licence & chops
  4. OperateBank, tax, HR & ongoing filings
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Local guides & lawyers

Drill into city × practice hubs where available, or open the city legal market guide.

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General information only. Company Law capital rules, chops, legal representatives, joint-venture governance, profit remittance, and deregistration turn on your articles, licences, local SAMR/SAFE/tax practice, and employment facts. This is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Instruct qualified PRC counsel before you appoint officers, move capital, seize seals, or dissolve an entity.

WFOE operations & control cluster: Hub · 5-year capital · Chop control · Legal representative · JV deadlock · Deregistration · Profit remittance · Primary sources · Checklist

Capital & corporate

  • ☐ Subscribed vs paid-in capital schedule current
  • ☐ Articles match actual governance practice
  • ☐ Beneficial ownership / FI information filings up to date as required
  • ☐ Annual report / publicity system filings not missed

Chops & banking

  • ☐ Full chop inventory with photos and serials
  • ☐ Written custody policy + usage log
  • ☐ Dual-control for official + finance chop
  • ☐ Bank U-keys and limits reviewed after staff changes
  • ☐ Legal rep and authorised signatories match SAMR and bank records

People

  • ☐ Legal representative succession plan
  • ☐ Foreign staff on correct work status (expat status hub)
  • ☐ Related-party service agreements documented for TP

Cash & exit readiness

  • ☐ Dividend capacity and tax forecast
  • ☐ Profit remittance document pack outline
  • ☐ Deregistration trigger criteria pre-agreed with HQ

Hub: WFOE operations hub.

Need counsel on WFOE control or exit?

Browse Foreign Investment · Company Formation · or Ask a Lawyer with your business licence, articles, and chop inventory.

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Sources & trust

How to use this guide

Primary sources cited on this page: ? Subscribed vs paid-in capital schedule current; ? Articles match actual governance practice; ? Beneficial ownership / FI information filings up to date as required; ? Annual report / publicity system filings not missed; ? Full chop inventory with photos and serials; ? Written custody policy + usage log; ? Dual-control for official + finance chop; ? Bank U-keys and limits reviewed after staff changes; ? Legal rep and authorised signatories match SAMR and bank records; ? Legal representative succession plan; ? Foreign staff on correct work status ( expat status hub ); ? Related-party service agreements documented for TP.

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.

Review the Editorial Policy, AI Content Policy, and Lawyer Verification Policy.

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

Company Formation lawyer profiles

China-based listings shown first. Review profiles for company formation, then request a free initial consultation.

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