China

• Travelers from Germany must be able to present a negative, self-performed antigen test result within 48 hours of departure time. PCR tests are also possible, but no longer necessary. The test result must be entered into the Chinese Customs Health Declaration via WeChat or this website.
• After entering the PRC, all persons are subjected to routine infection control. In case of irregularities, a rapid test must be carried out. If the test result is positive, those affected must go into quarantine at home.
• If you are considering entering China, please note the current regulations, which can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office and on the official website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Travel documents

Entry is possible for EU nationals with the following documents:

• Passport: Yes
• Provisional Passport: Yes
• ID card: no
• Provisional identity card: No
• Child Passport: Yes

Remarks/minimum remaining validity:
Travel documents must be valid for six months at the time of applying for a visa and contain at least two pages that can be vised.
Foreigners over the age of 16 must be able to identify themselves with a passport containing a valid Chinese visa at all times. Police checks are possible at any time, especially in the course of increased security measures in the context of major events or commemorations.

Visa

• All EU citizens require a visa to enter the People's Republic of China, which must be applied for in person or by post prior to travel.
• Additional fees apply for this.
• Not every consular branch allows a postal application. The branches of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf make this possible, but not only higher fees are charged, but also the the processing time is a total of 10 instead of the usual 4 working days.
• Since visas for China are usually valid for 90 days from the date of issue, they should not be applied for too early: Apply for your visa about 3-4 weeks before departure if all relevant travel services for China have already been booked

Biometric Registration

Since December 16, 2019, every applicant between the ages of 14 and 70 must submit their fingerprints to a Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich or Duesseldorf, depending on their place of residence, in order to be able to obtain an entry permit. The CVASC in Munich is only responsible for Bavaria. Individuals residing in Baden-Württemberg must submit their application to the Visa Application Center in Frankfurt.

Visa categories

• Tourist visa (visa category L): People who travel to China for tourism purposes.
• Family visits, private affairs (S visa category): Family members of foreign nationals who work or study in China and people who travel to China for other private affairs apply for an S category visa.
• Work (visa category Z): Employees (including interns) with fixed-term employment contracts apply for a Z visa.The residence and work permit must be applied for within 30 days of arrival at the responsible local foreigners authority (Public Security Bureau).
• Specialized professionals (visa category R): Highly qualified specialists, specialists and executives, as well as expatriates, which China urgently needs, apply for an R visa.
• Non-business visit (visa category F): An F visa is applied for in China for non-commercial purposes. This can be, for example, short-term guest lectureships, visits to congresses and research stays; also participants and judges in music and art competitions as well as athletes and their coaches fall into this category. The visa is issued for a visit period of up to 90 days. Upon presentation of an official invitation (Invitation of Duly Authorized Unit) up to 180 days are possible. A work visa must be applied for for stays longer than 180 days.
• Business visa (M visa): Depending on the invitation, the business visa is granted for stays of 30, 60 or 90 days, in exceptional cases also for up to 180 days. The visa is issued either for single entry, for double entry (within 90 or 180 days), or for multiple entry (within 6 or 12 months). The double-entry visa is especially required if you are traveling from China to Hong Kong, Macau or another country bordering China.The second entry date must be stated in the visa application. Both entry dates must be within 180 days of the visa issuance. However, the departure date may be later.

To apply for a China visa, you need the following documents:

• Application document
• Signed Privacy Policy
• Passport and passport photo
• An invitation from a local institution (be drawn up on the letterhead of the inviting company/institution, contain the name and date of birth of the invitee, stamped and signed. The invitation will be drawn up in German, English or Chinese. It will be scanned in China and sent to you by email)

Applicants whose passports were issued after January 1, 2014 are sometimes required to submit their previous, expired passport together with their current passport for the visa application. If the old passport has been confiscated, a signed declaration of the time and place of whereabouts must be submitted.
The declaration must also state which countries have been visited in the last three years and the duration of the respective stay. It is not yet clear how long this stricter practice will last.

Once you have registered your biometric data, you will be given an appointment to apply for a visa in person.

Visa-free entry to Hainan Province

German nationals who only want to visit the island of Hainan have the option of visa-free entry for a stay of up to 30 days. Prerequisite is the initiation of entry formalities via an accredited travel agency in Hainan at least 48 hours before arrival. ExploreHainan provides a list of accredited travel agencies and more information.The visa-free entry applies exclusively to visitors to Hainan Island. If you intend to travel to other provinces of the People's Republic of China, you must first obtain a visa.

Visa application for foreigners residing in Germany

If you are not applying for a visa in your country of citizenship, you must provide the original and a photocopy of your valid residency certificates. The residence permit should be valid for more than 6 months.

Employment

The “Preliminary Application Notes Concerning Short-Term Employment of Foreigners in China” currently apply. These regulations extend the obligation to obtain a work permit or a work visa considerably.
Many short-term activities that could previously be carried out with a business travel visa (type M) are now only possible with a work visa (type Z) after obtaining a work permit.

This includes e.g.
- Research activities, sports training stays, participation in fashion shows / modeling and filming / filming - even if the stay lasts less than 90 days - as well
- Internships and unpaid activities for stays longer than 90 days.

Check with the employer/contact in China to apply for the correct visa category.

Legalisation of official documents

To apply for a work permit, the employee must submit a certificate of good conduct from the home country or the last country of residence. The certificate of good conduct must usually be presented in a legalised form. You can have this certified at the Federal Office of Administration in Cologne. The authentication is necessary for the legalization.

Duty to report/registration

All foreigners are obliged to register with the Public Security Bureau (Entry-Exit-Administration) responsible for their place of residence within 24 hours of each entry. If you are staying in a hotel, the hotel will take care of the registration. A violation of this regulation will be logged by the Chinese authorities and can later lead to a refusal of entry or a visa.
Foreigners living in China must always provide proof of their registration card.

Please note the current safety instructions (in German) from the Federal Foreign Office.

Emergency numbers:

Ambulance: 120 or 999
Police: 110
Fire department: 119

Paying and withdrawing money

The umbrella term for the Chinese national currency, which is divided into yuan, jiao and fen, is renminbi. This umbrella term causes some confusion for some travelers, because prices are always indicated in the respective subdivision. Thus, the actual payment currency is called Yuan. One yuan is divided into 10 jiao or 100 fen.

An exception in terms of currency and means of payment are Hong Kong and Macau. Although both regions belong to the People's Republic of China, they have their own currency, the Hong Kong dollar. In Macao, the Macao pataka is also used as a means of payment.

Since the banks in this country usually offer worse exchange rates than the Chinese banks, it is advisable to change money in yuan only when you arrive in China.

Currency exchanges are not as common in China as in other Asian countries. Alternatively, you can look for an exchange counter at one of the numerous banks to change money.

As soon as you arrive at an airport, you will find counters from various banks that change all common currencies into yuan.

Airports usually have a card terminal. Anyone who has a free travel credit card can save the traveler the fee when changing money in the exchange office, because money in local currency can be withdrawn free of charge at the airport card terminal.

Emergency numbers

Country code: +86

Police: 110
Traffic police: 122
Fire department: 119
Ambulance: 120

Outpatient care

There is no system of resident doctors in China. Health care is therefore concentrated in the hospitals. In the big cities there are very large clinic centers with the most modern equipment, whereas in the country the care can still be very simple. The hygiene may not correspond to European ideas.

As in other major cities in China, medical care for foreigners and locals has improved significantly in recent years, especially in Beijing. Outpatient treatment in medical practices of resident doctors is not yet established here, but there are a few private clinics with general practitioners, dentists, ophthalmologists and gynecologists open to strangers, where English is spoken regularly. Some hospitals also have international departments in some of which interpreters are made available. For many foreigners, the first port of call in Beijing will be the private clinics of Beijing United Family or Raffles Medical, where a number of German doctors are good at covering the usual outpatient treatment needs of patients. Local vaccines are also available here. In the pharmacies there is a good selection of medicines manufactured exclusively in China – but in some cases under license from world-famous pharmaceutical companies – but the labels are always in Chinese.

Censorship

• Censored Internet: If you log into the Chinese Internet with a local SIM card, you will find yourself behind the "Great Fire Wall". This means that you can no longer access Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and all Google services.
• Censored text messages: SMS sent via Chinese providers are also censored.The messages are automatically scanned for certain keywords and may not be delivered. In English or even German, however, the censorship is hardly or not at all noticeable.

The largest network operators in China are China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom. Signing up for cell phone service in China is pretty easy: just buy a SIM card from any store that sells phones, top up your airtime credit and you're good to go. Mobile phone contracts are not common in China, so you have to buy a phone card every time your credit expires.

Note that the city where you buy your SIM card is considered the "home city" for your phone. Even though your phone will work all over China, you always have to buy the top-up phone cards in your hometown. If you plan to travel around China for a while, you should take a supply of phone cards from your city. Most cell service providers offer a nationwide coverage area without additional charges outside of their hometown.

SIM cards are available in China at practically every kiosk. The problem is: To unlock the card, you have to identify yourself. The kiosks have a device that can read Chinese IDs. Unfortunately, they still can't handle foreign passports. Therefore, you should buy and register the SIM card in an official sales outlet. It is most practical if you do this immediately upon arrival at the airport.

Mobile coommunication companies

• China Mobile has the best network coverage and is attractively priced. Unfortunately, China Mobile uses protocols/frequencies for data transmission that are often not compatible with European cell phones. China Mobile is the best choice for expats in combination with a Chinese cell phone.
• China Unicom is the second largest telecom operator in China and works seamlessly with virtually all foreign cell phones. However, you pay a slightly higher price for the carefree package.
• China Telecom has the smallest market share and the worst coverage, but scores with significantly cheaper tariffs and partly uses international protocols. In addition, many plans require the payment of a non-refundable deposit fee.

With the cell phone on the Internet

It is best to book a data package directly with the SIM card. Additional data packages can be purchased via SMS if required.

Short Term Accommodations

Here you can book hotel rooms:

tripadvisor.de/China-Hotels

hotels.com//hotels-china/

booking.com/cn.enl

agoda.com/de-de/country/china

Longer Term Accommodations

In China, rental prices vary considerably between different cities. Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai and Beijing have some of the highest rents in the world. In contrast, in smaller towns you can rent a good apartment for as little as US$100-200 a month.

Houses (both detached and townhouses) are called "villas" in China and tend to be the most expensive and luxurious accommodation options. Usually they are built within walled enclosures. If you don't speak Chinese at all, you may find it easier to find an apartment through a real estate agent. According to Chinese law, renters and landlords must share payment of the agent's commission.

Most of the rented apartments and villas are fully furnished, including electrical appliances.

In China, there are short-term (<6 months) and long-term (>6 months) leases. Normally you should rent an apartment for at least six months, but preferably for a year. Most owners sign leases for one year. It is also possible to get short-term leases, it depends on the landlord. In addition, rent for short-term contracts is usually more expensive.

Rent

Rent is usually paid in cash in RMB one month in advance. In some cases, you can transfer the money, but you must first open an account in a Chinese bank. The rental prices do not include additional costs. Typically, you must also add management and tax fees.

Rental deposit

When you sign a long-term contract, landlords usually require a deposit of two months' rent and the first month's payment in advance. The deposit receipt is called shouju and is a written confirmation that the landlord has received the money. Deposits are paid at contract signing to ensure occupancy of the accommodation and to compensate for damage caused by the tenant or in the event of non-compliance.

Should the condition of the rented property be deemed acceptable after the expiration of the contract, the deposit will be returned in full.

Deposits are returned on the last day of the contract after you and the owner have checked the apartment. If you break the contract before it expires, the landlord will keep your two months' rent.

Extra costs

The tenant usually pays gas, water, electricity and phone bills. The average annual amount is around US $65. Bills can be paid at nearby stores such as Kedi, Lawson or Convenience 21. Just take your bills with you.

Electricity is paid monthly. China has a standard of 220 volts and 50 hertz. Sockets come in at least 4 shapes: three jagged square terminals (as in Australia), three jagged round terminals (as in Hong Kong), two flat terminals (as in America) and two narrow round terminals (as in Europe). You will be able to buy most adapters in China, but it would be good to bring a few with you to start with.

Water is paid every two months. The tap water is not drinkable or must be boiled before drinking. We recommend that you use a water dispenser with water jugs. The basic unit is available in every supermarket. Water containers can be delivered if necessary.

Gas is paid every two months. Most kitchen burners use gas.

Public transportation

The Beijing subway is a great way to get around the city. Opened in 1971 with two lines, the network is constantly being expanded.

Here is information about trains in China: https://www.seat61.com/China.htm

Driving in China

• A Chinese driving license is mandatory for driving a motor vehicle in China. This can be requested from the traffic police responsible for your place of residence.
• A medical and a theoretical test must be passed (available in several languages).
• Liability insurance is mandatory and must be taken out on site. Foreign insurances are not accepted.

The Chinese school system

There is a nine-year compulsory education system for Chinese children aged 6 to 15. Tuition is free for Chinese citizens during the period of compulsory education, although parents have to pay small fees for textbooks or the like.

Public or private school?

• While some international schools only accept immigrants, Chinese schools are required by law to accept all children of foreigners who are legally in China. Chinese schools are not free for immigrants, but the tuition is much lower than international schools.
• The obvious disadvantage of a local school is the language barrier. Children should be able to understand Mandarin fairly well before they start school, as all classes are conducted in Mandarin. Children who don't speak Chinese are usually put back a few years.
• Local schools have class sizes of 20 to 30 students. The enrollment procedures must be completed by the parents at the chosen school (mostly in Chinese). To enroll your child, you will need your child's passport, a health certificate issued in China, and your work and residence permits.
• The national curriculum devotes most of the day to Chinese and mathematics, with an emphasis on preparation for middle school, high school, and university entrance tests.
• If your children stay at a local school through senior high school, they graduate with the strenuous national university entrance exams that determine what type of college will be admitted afterward. Due to the tough tests, this degree is also recognized as a university entrance qualification in many other countries.

International schools in China

• International private schools in China are among the most expensive in the world. At top international schools in well-known cities, tuition can be as high as US$25,000 per student per year. Even at cheaper schools you will pay between US$10,000 and US$15,000 per year.
• Waiting lists are common in the admissions process, so send your child's application in early March if you want to secure a place for the next school year.
• Enrollment procedures vary, but most schools will ask for your child's passport, health records, and previous school documents. In some cases, you will also need to provide a letter of recommendation and your child will need to appear for an interview and entrance exam.

Links to international schools in China

• Deutsche Botschaftsschule Peking
• Beijing BISS International School
• British International School in Shanghai
• Shanghai American School
• Deutsche Schule Shanghai
• International-Montessori-School-of-Beijing