No more physical Work Permit from Dec.1 2024

Recently, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security issued a notice, deciding that starting from December 1, 2024, the physical card of the work permit for foreigners coming to China will be merged with the social security card, and the original work permit information will be loaded onto the social security card. This measure will provide more convenience for foreigners working and living in China, but it may also mean that the collection of social insurance for foreigners will be more stringent.

On November 25, the website for applying for work permits for foreigners coming to China issued a notice, stating that the integration and integration of the work permit card with the social security card in the management service system for foreigners coming to China will officially start from November 29 to December 1. This means that the work permit information for foreigners will be included in the social security card, and from December 1, 2024, no physical work permits will be issued.

In the future, foreigners can also register with the social security card application and complete identity verification using their name, work permit number, or social security number, and then receive an electronic social security card that includes work permit information. If foreigners have already obtained a physical social security card, the electronic social security card will automatically synchronize to provide standard services.

For the original physical work permits that are still valid, according to government documents, they will follow the principle of "no change, no replacement," and operations will be performed when foreigners apply for extensions or changes to their existing work permits.

According to relevant legal provisions, employers have the obligation to pay social insurance for foreign employees they hire in China. However, in practice, in some areas (such as Shanghai), this has not been strictly enforced, and many foreign-funded enterprises still do not pay social insurance for foreigners they hire, instead purchasing commercial insurance. After the merger of the work permit for foreigners with social security, it may strengthen the requirement for foreigners to pay social insurance, and relevant employers should pay attention.