Foreigners Living in Tianjin Know Everything-Business

(I) Registration for Accommodation

Q1 In what circumstances do foreign nationals need to declare accommodation registration in Tianjin？

A Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China stipulates:

When foreign national stays in a hotel within the territory of China, the hotel shall, in accordance with the relevant regulations on the administration of public security in the hotel industry, register the foreign national’s accommodation and submit the registration information to the local public security organ.

A foreign national who lives or stays in a residence other than a hotel shall complete registration at the local public security organ by himself or the accommodator within 24 hours after check-in.

Q2 What are the procedures for foreign nationals to apply and register for accommodation？

A If foreign national wants to stay in a hotel within the territory of China, he/she shall show the original valid entry certificate for the entry this time to the front desk of the hotel when checking in; for a foreign person who lives or stays in a residence other than hotels, the person or the receiver shall hold the person’s original valid entry certificate for the entry this time to apply to the public security organ in the place where the residence is located for accommodation registration within 24 hours after check-in, and the public security organ will issue an “Accommodation Registration Card for Reference”.

(II) Residence Purchase

Q3 Are foreign nationals and residents from Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR eligible to buy residences in Tianjin？

A Foreign nationals and Hong Kong and Macao residents are eligible to purchase a residence in Tianjin by holding a certificate showing that they have resided in Tianjin continuously for two years or more in recent three years.

Q4 What are the materials required for real estate registration of the newly-built commercial housing bought？

A 1. Application for registration of real estate 2. Proof of identity of the applicant 3. Tianjin’s commercial housing sales contract 4. Voucher for house purchase and payment 5. Voucher for deed tax payment (check the original) 6. If the real estate development enterprise obtained the real estate ownership certificate at the time of the first registration, the certificate shall be submitted; if advance notice registration is completed, a certificate of advance notice registration of house ownership shall be submitted, and Tianjin’s commercial housing sales contract and the voucher for deed tax payment are not needed. 7. If mortgage and easement registration is done, the written materials that the mortgagee and the easement holder agreed with shall be submitted; in case of dissenting registration, a written promise signed by the assignee being aware of the existence of dissenting registration and bearing all consequent risks shall be submitted. 8. Other materials required by laws and regulations.

(III) Housing Provident Fund

Q5 What are the specific policies for foreign nationals working in Tianjin to deposit and use the housing provident fund？

A At present, the policy for foreign nationals working in Tianjin to deposit and use the housing provident fund is based on the Notification Concerning Policies on Housing Provident Fund for Foreigners to Work in Tianjin (JGJJW [2018] No.1). The policy came into force on February 1, 2018.

The main content of the policy includes:

1. Foreign nationals who have established labor relations with employers in Tianjin or obtained People’s Republic of China Foreigner’s Work Permit or People’s Republic of China Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card may pay for housing provident fund based on the mutual agreement with employers in accordance with relevant provisions of Tianjin. The registration, payment base, and payment and deposit ratio of the housing provident fund and its account sealing, unsealing, and transfer should be implemented in line with relevant provisions on the administration of the housing provident fund of Tianjin.

2. Foreign nationals who have paid the housing provident fund in Tianjin can withdraw the fund for paying for the following cases that happened in the administrative region of Tianjin: house purchase, house rent, and repaying the principal and interest of housing loans. The withdrawal conditions and limits of the housing provident fund shall be implemented in accordance with relevant provisions on the administration of the housing provident fund of Tianjin.

3. Foreign nationals who have paid the housing provident fund in Tianjin can apply for housing provident fund (syndicated) loans when purchasing houses in the administrative region of Tianjin. The housing provident fund (syndicated) loans conditions, limits, repayment period, rate, loan guarantee, and loan repayment shall be in accordance with relevant provisions on the administration of the housing provident fund (syndicated) loans of Tianjin. Applicants for the syndicated loan of housing provident fund shall simultaneously conform to relevant provisions of commercial banks on individual housing loans.

Q6 How can foreign nationals working in Tianjin deal with the housing provident fund after the termination of the labor contract with employers？

A Foreign nationals who are leaving Tianjin and have terminated the labor contracts or relations with employers can draw out all the balance in the housing provident fund account and cancel the account.

See more information about the latest policies, required documents, and handling procedures, please consult Tianjin House Fund Management Center.

Official website of Tianjin House Fund Management Center (www.zfgjj.cn)

Tel.: 022-66224162.

Q7 How to search for information about the business outlets for housing provident fund loans？

A Foreign nationals working in Tianjin can visit the website of Tianjin House Fund Management Center (www.zfgjj.cn) searching for addresses and hotlines of the banking outlets in Tianjin for the business of housing provident fund loans by clicking on the buttons of “Convenient Service” and then “Loan Undertaking Bank”.

Locations and hotlines of the offices for the business of housing provident fund loans in TEDA:

Q8 What are the handling procedures and time limits for foreign nationals working in Tianjin when drawing out the housing provident fund？

A Foreign nationals working in Tianjin shall apply for drawing out the housing provident fund with required documents to the management department of banking outlets. The application shall be examined and verified by Tianjin House Fund Management Center. The housing provident fund can be drawn out on the same day once the application is eligible. If the application needs further verification, it will generally take three working days from the date of accepting the application to complete the verification and notify the applicant of the result of whether to grant the withdrawal of the housing provident fund.

Foreign nationals shall bring the Co-Branded Card when drawing out the housing provident fund; those who do not have Co-Branded Card shall bring the deposit card issued by China Construction Bank. Drawing out at the counter can be handled by the account holders or the responsible persons from the entrusting employers. The responsible persons from the entrusting employers shall bring the ID cards of themselves.

Q9 How to search for information about the business outlets for withdrawal of housing provident fund？

A Foreign nationals working in Tianjin can draw out the housing provident fund in any of the outlets interspersed in all districts and the Airport Economic Area in Tianjin among all the 21 business outlets set up by Tianjin House Fund Management Center. See more details please consult through the following channels:

1. Visit the website of Tianjin House Fund Management Center (www.zfgjj.cn), clicking on the buttons of “Convenient Service” and then “Business Outlet for Drawing”.

2. Download Tianjin House Fund Management Center APP and click on the button of “Business Outlets”.

3. Visit the WeChat official account of Tianjin House Fund Management Center, clicking on the buttons of “My Guide” and then “Business Outlets”.

Development Management Department

Ground Store, 1F, Zone F, TEDA Finance Square, 45 the 2nd Avenue, TEDA

Business Hours:

9:00-12:00 (except public holidays)

13:30-17:00 (except public holidays)

Tel.: 022-12329

Q10 Can foreign nationals draw out housing provident funds to pay house rents？

A According to current policies in Tianjin, foreign nationals working in Tianjin and meeting all the following requirements can draw out the housing provident fund in accordance with relevant provisions of Tianjin to pay house rents: full amount paying of housing provident fund for three consecutive months; the applicant (and his/her spouse) do(es) not have a house for personal use and is (/are) living in a rental house in Tianjin. (Both the husband and wife can draw out their housing provident funds.)

See more information about the latest policies, required documents, and handling procedures, please consult Tianjin House Fund Management Center.