"Is social insurance mandatory for working in China?" Many foreign friends have this question before coming to China. In fact, social insurance is like a "basic safety net" for living in China. Understanding it in advance can help you start your career journey with more peace of mind. Today, we will explain everything related to social insurance for foreigners working in China in a straightforward way.

“在中国工作，社保是必须交的吗？” 不少外国朋友在出发前就带着这样的疑问。其实，社保就像在华生活的 “基础保障网”，提前了解清楚，能让你更安心地开启这段职业旅程。今天，咱们就用通俗易懂的方式，把外国人来华工作与社保相关的那些事讲明白。

1

Employers must pay social insurance for foreign employees

用人单位必须为外籍员工缴纳社保

Relevant laws and regulations

相关法条

1. Article 3 of the "Interim Measures for Foreigners Employed in China to Participate in Social Insurance (Revised in December 2024)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Interim Measures"): Foreigners legally employed by organizations such as enterprises, public institutions, social organizations, private non-enterprise units, foundations, law firms, and accounting firms that are legally registered in China (hereinafter referred to as employers) shall participate in the basic pension insurance for employees, basic medical insurance for employees, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance, and maternity insurance in accordance with the law. Both the employer and the employee shall pay social insurance premiums in accordance with regulations.

1.《在中国境内就业的外国人参加社会保险暂行办法（2024年12月修订）》（以下简称《暂行办法》）第三条： 在中国境内依法注册或者登记的企业、事业单位、社会团体、民办非企业单位、基金会、律师事务所、会计师事务所等组织（以下称用人单位）依法招用的外国人，应当依法参加职工基本养老保险、职工基本医疗保险、工伤保险、失业保险和生育保险，由用人单位和本人按照规定缴纳社会保险费。

2. Article 97 of the "Social Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China" (hereinafter referred to as the "Social Insurance Law"): Foreigners employed within the territory of China shall participate in social insurance with reference to the provisions of this Law.

2.《中华人民共和国社会保险法》（以下简称《社保法》）第九十七条：外国人在中国境内就业的，参照本法规定参加社会保险。

It can be seen that employers shall pay social insurance for foreign workers in China.

由此可见，对于外籍在华务工人员，用人单位应当为其缴纳社保。

2

Consequences of non-payment

不缴纳面临的后果

Under normal circumstances, social insurance is a mandatory payment item, which means enterprises are obligated to pay social insurance for foreign employees. If a foreign employee complains or reports issues related to social insurance, or if the labor supervision authority intervenes in the investigation, the enterprise will not only need to make up the payment but may also face administrative penalties.

通常情况下，社会保险属于强制性缴纳项目，这意味着企业有义务为外籍员工缴纳社会保险。一旦外籍员工就社保问题进行投诉举报，或者劳动监察机构介入调查，企业不仅需要进行补缴，还可能面临行政处罚。

3

Payment content and time requirements

缴纳内容与时间要求

The specific payment items include basic pension insurance for employees, basic medical insurance for employees, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance, and maternity insurance. The expenses are jointly borne by the employer and the foreign employee in accordance with regulations. In terms of time requirements, the employer shall handle the social insurance registration for the foreign employee within 30 days from the date of handling the employment certificate for them.

具体的缴纳内容涵盖职工基本养老保险、职工基本医疗保险、工伤保险、失业保险和生育保险，费用由用人单位和外籍员工本人按照规定共同承担。在时间要求上，用人单位应在为外籍员工办理就业证件之日起 30 日内，为其办理社会保险登记。

4

Benefits of social insurance payment

社保缴纳的权益

China's social insurance system covers five major types of insurance: pension, medical, unemployment, work-related injury, and maternity, providing comprehensive protection for foreign employees. Many foreigners may have purchased international insurance before coming to China. International insurance often covers global medical services with a wide range of protection and high flexibility, but the premiums are usually relatively expensive. China's basic medical insurance for employees focuses on domestic daily medical scenarios. Its protection includes common medical expenses such as hospitalization, outpatient services (including some outpatient chronic and special diseases), and surgeries. During their work in China, foreign employees can be reimbursed in proportion for expenses that meet the medical insurance catalog requirements, whether for daily outpatient visits or hospitalization due to illness. It can be used in most domestic public hospitals and some private hospitals.

中国社保体系涵盖养老、医疗、失业、工伤和生育五大险种，为外籍员工提供全方位保障。许多外籍人员来中国前可能已购买国际保险，国际保险往往覆盖全球医疗服务，保障范围广、灵活性高，但保费通常也较为昂贵。中国职工基本医疗保险聚焦国内日常就医场景。其保障内容涵盖住院、门诊（含部分门诊慢特病）、手术等常见医疗支出，外籍员工在国内工作期间，无论是日常门诊看病，还是因病住院治疗，只要产生的费用符合医保目录规定，均可按比例报销。在普遍国内公立医院和部分私立医院都可以使用。

In terms of pension insurance, if a foreigner working in China leaves the country before reaching the specified pension age, their personal social insurance account will be retained; when they come to China again for employment, the payment period can be accumulated. If they apply in writing to terminate the social insurance relationship, they can also withdraw the balance in their personal social insurance account in a lump sum. (For specific information, please refer to previous articles：Click the link)

养老保险方面，在华工作的外国人若在规定领取养老金年龄前离境，其社保个人账户予以保留；待再次来华就业时，缴费年限可累计计算。若本人书面申请终止社保关系，也可一次性支取社保个人账户储存额。（具体相关信息可参考前期文章：点击此处）

5

Procedures for first-time insurance participation

首次参保办理手续

For foreigners participating in insurance for the first time, the employer needs to provide their valid passport, "Notice of Work Permit for Foreigners in China", and relevant supporting materials such as labor contracts or dispatch contracts when handling the procedures.

对于首次参保的外国人，用人单位在办理手续时，需提供其本人有效护照、《外国人来华工作许可通知》，以及劳动合同或派遣合同等相关证明材料 。

6

Exceptions to social insurance payment

社保缴纳的例外情况

Foreigners working in China may be exempt from participating in social insurance within the scope specified in the agreement if their home country has signed bilateral or multilateral agreements on social insurance payment with China. Currently, there are 11 countries that have signed such agreements with China, including Luxembourg, Serbia, Japan, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Canada, Denmark, South Korea, and Germany. Take Germany as an example: if a German employee who meets the conditions specified in the agreement works in China, in accordance with the bilateral agreement, they may not need to participate in duplicate insurance payment for specific social insurance items, thus avoiding the burden of double payment while ensuring their relevant rights and interests during their work in China.

在中国境内工作的外籍人员，如果其所属国家与我国签订了社会保险缴费双边或多边协议，那么该外籍人员可在协议规定的范围内免于参与社会保险 。目前，与我国签订此类协议的国家有卢森堡、塞尔维亚、日本、西班牙、荷兰、瑞士、芬兰、加拿大、丹麦、韩国、德国这十一个国家。以德国为例，若符合协议规定条件的德国籍员工在华工作，按照双边协议，其在特定社保项目上可能无需重复参保缴费，从而避免了双重缴费负担，同时也保障了其在华工作期间的相关权益。

7

Insurance requirements for work permits by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs

外国专家局对工作许可中保险要求

The State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs has different insurance requirements for different types of work permits. When applying for Type A and Type B work permits, employers can choose to only submit the applicant's proof of commercial insurance participation during the work permit application stage. However, the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs has clear and detailed requirements for the types of such commercial insurance:

外国专家局对于不同类别工作许可在保险方面有着不同要求 。在申请 A 类和 B 类工作许可时，用人单位在提交工作许可申请阶段，可以选择只提交申请人的商业保险参保证明。不过，外国专家局对这类商业保险的险种有着明确细致的要求：

• Medical evacuation insurance: The insured amount shall reach 1 million yuan.
• 医疗运返险：保额要求达到 100 万

• Repatriation of remains: The insured amount shall reach 200,000 yuan.
• 遗体运返：保额要求 20 万

• Hospitalization: The insured amount shall reach 200,000 yuan.
• 住院：保额要求 20 万

• Outpatient services: The insured amount shall reach 20,000 yuan.
• 门诊：保额要求 2万

• Critical illness: The insured amount shall reach 100,000 yuan.
• 重大疾病：保额要求10万

• Aviation accident: The insured amount shall reach 1 million yuan.
• 航空意外：保额要求 100 万

• Non-aviation accident: The insured amount shall reach 500,000 yuan.
• 非航空意外：保额要求50 万

For those applying for Type C work permits, the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs mandates the submission of proof of medical insurance participation to ensure that such personnel can obtain comprehensive and stable social security during their work in China.

而对于申请 C 类工作许可的人员，外国专家局则强制要求必须提供医保参保证明，以此确保该类人员在华工作期间能够获得全面、稳定的社会保障。

In conclusion, social insurance payment is crucial for both foreign employees working in China and their employers. Foreign employees should pay attention to their social insurance rights and interests to ensure that the company participates in insurance in accordance with regulations; employers must strictly handle social insurance registration and payment for foreign employees in a timely manner in accordance with laws and regulations. For personnel from countries with bilateral or multilateral social insurance agreements with China, it is important to understand the exemption from payment under the agreements. If encountering problems, you can consult the local social insurance department. It is hoped that every foreign friend can work and live in China with peace of mind with the protection of social insurance.

总之，社保缴纳对来华工作的外籍员工和用人单位都至关重要。外籍员工应关注自身社保权益，确保公司依规参保；用人单位务必严格按法规，为外籍员工及时办理社保登记与缴纳。若属有社保双边或多边协议国家的人员，要知晓协议免缴情况。遇到问题，可咨询当地社保部门。希望每位外籍朋友都能借助社保保障，在中国安心工作、舒心生活 。

Author 作者 | Fiona