APAC • Country Guide

HIRE IN
CHINA.

The world's second-largest economy and manufacturing powerhouse.

EOR pricing
¥4,300
per employee / month (~US$599)
  • Full compliance handled
  • First hire live in 48 hours
  • No entity setup needed
Capital
Beijing
Population
1.41B
Currency
CNY (¥)
Language
Mandarin Chinese (English in business hubs)
Time zone
GMT+8
Region
APAC
Country snapshot

WHY CHINA?

China is the world's second-largest economy with 1.4B people across 33 province-level divisions. Beijing is the capital; Shanghai is the financial centre. Foreign employment requires a licensed local entity or FESCO/EOR partner — direct foreign hiring is not permitted.

World's largest consumer market (1.4B)
Deep, integrated manufacturing supply chain
Global leader in EVs and renewable tech
Tax incentives in Free Trade Zones and Greater Bay Area
Government push for foreign investment in high-tech sectors
Ready to hire

Your first China hire, live in days.

We handle entity, payroll, tax and compliance so you can focus on the work.

Market intel

THE MARKET
THE TALENT

Economy

USD $17.7T GDP, the world's second largest. Manufacturing, technology, EVs, semiconductors, and consumer goods drive growth.

Talent pool

Massive STEM workforce — 4.7M annual STEM graduates. Top hubs: Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou. English fluency is improving but varies; Mandarin is essential outside Tier-1 cities.

Key industries
Manufacturing & ElectronicsTechnology & E-commerceEV & BatterySemiconductorsConsumer Goods
Hiring & compliance

CORE HIRING
FACTS

Everything global operators need to know about employment costs, leave entitlements, and statutory rules in China.

Employer cost on top of salary
35–40%
Income tax
3–45% progressive
Social contributions
5 Insurances + 1 Housing Fund (~30% employer / ~10% employee, varies by city)
Minimum wage
Set provincially — Shanghai CNY 2,690/mo (highest); rural areas lower
Working hours
40 hours/week (standard)
Annual leave
5–15 days (by tenure)
Sick leave
Up to 14 days/year with medical certification
Maternity leave
98 days national (158+ in some provinces)
Paternity leave
7–30 days (varies by province)
Public holidays
11 days/year
Notice period
30 days statutory
Probation
1–6 months (capped by contract length)
Severance
1 month per year of service (capped at 12 months at 3x local avg wage)
Payroll cycle
Monthly, paid within 1 month of period end
13th month pay
Customary year-end bonus (not statutory)
Compliance, handled

Skip the legal setup in China.

We become the legal employer. You manage the work, we handle payroll, contracts, taxes and benefits.

Visa & immigration

MOVING
TALENT IN

Work visa types, eligibility, dependent visas, and the path to permanent residency in China.

Z Visa (Work Visa)

6–10 weeks

Standard work visa for foreign employees, requires job offer + work permit

R Visa (High-Level Talent)

4–6 weeks

Fast-track for specialists, scientists, and senior leaders

D Visa (Permanent Residence)

6+ months

Long-term residence for qualifying investors and top talent

Eligibility

Bachelor's degree, 2+ years relevant experience, clean criminal record, job offer from a licensed Chinese entity, age usually under 60.

Dependants

Spouse and children under 18 eligible for S1 (long-stay) or S2 (short-stay) visas.

Path to PR

D Visa (PR / "Chinese Green Card") for top-tier talent or long-term investors. Naturalised citizenship is extremely rare; dual citizenship not permitted.

Ready to hire in China?

START IN 48 HOURS.

We'll handle the legal entity, payroll, tax, and compliance. You focus on the work.