1. Can foreigners contribute to the social security?

Foreigners recruited by enterprises, institutions, social organizations, private non-enterprise units, foundations, law firms, accounting firms and other organizations (hereinafter referred to as employing units) registered or enrolled in China, and foreigners dispatched to work in branches or representative offices (hereinafter referred to as domestic work units) registered or enrolled in China shall pay social security in accordance with the law, and the fees are charged jointly by the employer and the individual. Units recruiting foreigners should register for social security within 30 days from the date of applying for an employment permit.

2. How do foreign talents participate in social insurance?

Employees handle social security registration procedures at the local social security administration department by holding valid passports of the insured, work permits in China, Resident Foreign Journalist Certificate and other employment certificates (personnel who have obtained permanent residence qualification in China shall provide the Permanent Residence Certificate for Foreigners as well as labor contracts or dispatching contracts and other certificates. According to the Coding Rules of Social Insurance Number for Foreigners, the social security administration department establishes social security numbers and social security cards upon approval.

Documents required for foreigners to pay social security

(1) Your passport.

(2) Employment documents such as foreigner employment certificate, foreign expert certificate, foreign permanent journalist certificate, etc.

(3) Foreigner's residence permit or foreigner's permanent residence permit.

(4) Social security personal information form. 

(5) Social security participant form. 

(6) Your photograph (recent one-inch bareheaded photo with white background). 

(7) other relevant supporting documents. 

3. How can we confirm the payment base for foreign talents to participate in social insurance?

The payment base for foreign talents to participate in social insurance is declared according to the actual gross payroll. The social security administration department verifies the payment base according to regulations. If the monthly gross payroll of the foreign talent exceeds 300% of the average monthly salary of employees in the previous year in the whole province, the basic medical insurance fee is not paid by individuals for the extra part.

4. Where foreign talents have reached or exceeded the prescribed retirement age of our country when they work in China, do they still need to participate in social insurance?

Where foreign talents who have reached or exceeded our country's prescribed retirement age, they will no longer handle procedures for participating in social insurance.

5. What happens if foreign talents fail to pay old-age insurance fees for 15 years before retirement?

Where the insured foreigners who have obtained permanent residence right in China and fail to pay old-age insurance fees for 15 years before retirement, the payment period can be extended according to provisions of Several Regulations on Implementing Social Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as Several Regulations), and they can enjoy social insurance treatment after reaching the prescribed years. Foreigners who fail to obtain permanent residence right in China can collect a lump-sum pension of individual accounts.

6. How do foreign talents collect a lump-sum pension of individual accounts?

Foreign talents who participate in basic old-age insurance of employees, after reaching legal retirement age, can apply for terminating basic old-age insurance relation of employees in writing when the accumulated payment period falls short of 15 years. After the social security administration department receives applications, it shall notify the consequences for the termination of basic old-age insurance relations of employees in writing. Upon written confirmation, it terminates basic old-age insurance relations of employees and pays personal account deposit amount to the owners at one time.

7. Do foreigners need to change information at social security administration department for changes in passport number?

Yes. For changes in passport number, foreigners should apply for information changes at the local social security administration department in time.

8. What benefits are available to foreigners with social security?

（1）Pension insurance: Entitled to pension insurance benefits.

（2） Medical insurance: Entitled to medical insurance benefits, including access to basic medical services and coverage of drug costs.

（3）Work injury insurance: In case of work-related accidents or occupational diseases during work, you can receive appropriate medical assistance and financial compensation.

（4） Unemployment insurance: In case of unemployment, you can receive unemployment insurance benefits.

（5） Maternity insurance: In case of childbirth, you are entitled to maternity insurance benefits.

9. When foreigners are exempted from social security?

Employees with the nationality of a country that has concluded a bilateral or multilateral agreement with China on social security contributions, are exempted from paying contributions for the prescribed type of insurance for a specified period of time, by providing an insurance certificate issued by your country within three months of obtaining a permit for employment in China.

Up to now, China has signed bilateral social security agreements with 12 countries (Germany, South Korea, Denmark, Canada, Finland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, Luxembourg, France, Serbia and Japan), so that if a foreign employee has purchased social security in one of these countries, there is no need to pay for social security during his/her work in China.

10．Questions on social security accounts of departed foreigners

If a foreign employee leaves China before the pensionable age, his/her account can be retained and the contribution years can be accumulated when he/she returns; or he/she can apply in writing for termination of the social security and receive the account balance in a lump sum; if a foreigner has died, the balance of his/her social security account can be inherited in accordance with the law.

A foreigner who receives monthly social security benefits out of China, is required to provide the social security office responsible for paying his or her benefits with a survival certificate issued by the Chinese embassy or consulate abroad at least once a year, or a survival certificate notarized and certified by the relevant institution in his or her country and certified by the Chinese embassy or consulate abroad. Foreigners who have arrived in China may prove their survival on their own at a social security office, and no longer have to provide the survival certificates mentioned above.

11.Can foreigners contribute to the provident fund?

The answer is yes, and the specific contributions are as follows: 

(1) Unit contribution: Foreigners who are working in Changsha can contribute to the housing provident fund by their company.

(2) Flexible Employment Contribution: Foreigners contributing to the provident fund as a flexible employee are required to meet the following conditions:

Permanent Residence Identity Card for Foreigners as proof of identity, and a foreigner's passport is not acceptable for contributing to the housing provident fund.

Male 18-60 years old, and female 18-55 years old, with the ability of civil behavior.

Working in Changsha with legal income sources.

Voluntarily comply with the regulations of housing fund management and commit to fulfil the obligation of housing fund contribution.

Have not been in employment relationship with other companies.

Sources: the WeChat account of the Foreign Enterprise Service Center of Changsha High-Tech Zone; Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People's Republic of China