China
This content was last updated in February 2024.
Being the world's second-largest economy, Mainland China remains the No. 1 destination for multinational companies seeking investment opportunities in the Chinese market. Like many other countries in the world, its immigration policy strives to achieve the delicate balance of maintaining border sovereignty and an adequate employment rate for local residents, while also facilitating trade and commerce.
To encourage economic growth and firmly establish its role in the global economy, Mainland China has comprehensive laws and regulations governing foreign nationals coming to do business in the country and has been developing new laws and regulations for foreign nationals working in the country (see "Current trends" below). While the laws are generally national in scope, practices and procedures are often dictated by local government offices, giving rise to significant variation within the country.
The Special Administrative Regions (e.g., Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR) have their own immigration systems. Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan are discussed in separate chapters.
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