Area: 9,596,960 km²
Residents: 1,395,380,000 (2018)
Population density: 145 E / km²
Form of Government: Republic
System of Government: Socialist one-party system
Neighboring countries: Macao, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajigiskan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, North Korea
Capital: Peking (Beijing) National
language: Chinese (Mandarin)
Religions: officially recognized national religious communities:
Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Roman Catholic Church, Protestant Church
Currency: Renminbi or Yuan (CNY)
1 Yuán = 10 Jiǎo = 100 Fēn
Exchange rates:
1 EUR = 7.94 CNY
100 CNY = 12.74 EUR
1 CHF = 7, 28 CNY
100 CNY = 13.73 CHF
(rate from 16.01.2021)
Telephone area code: +86
Time zone: UTC + 8 = CET + 7
In 2020, 987 Germans officially emigrated to the People’s Republic of China and 2,417 came back to their homeland. Within the 10 years from 2010 to 2019, 25,404 Germans officially emigrated to China and 26,427 moved back to Germany.
China is the land of records: the largest population, the fastest growth, the highest foreign investment and the most gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. But there is probably no other country in which one has tried so often and thoroughly to influence population development and rural exodus. Nevertheless, there are 15 megacities in China today, with a total of more than 260 million people and more than 150 cities with a million residents. But at least it has been possible to avoid the formation of slums and infrastructure congestion.
The negative side effects of rapid urbanization, such as the destruction of agricultural land and environmental pollution, could not be prevented. Another problem is the unequal treatment of internal migrants moving from the countryside to the cities, especially those of the 260 million migrant workers in large and medium-sized cities.
In addition to the predominant Han ethnic group (around 1.25 billion people), there are 55 recognized ethnic minorities in China. In addition to the general official language, standard Chinese, there are other official languages depending on the region. These include: Cantonese (in Hong Kong and Macau), English (Hong Kong), Zhuang (Guangxi), Tibetan (Tibet), Uyghur (Xinjiang), Mongolian (Inner Mongolia), Korean (Yanbian).
Emigration is primarily worthwhile for investors, specialists and managers. China has a lot to offer in terms of culture and landscape. That’s why it’s definitely worth a trip – here are some recommended travel tips and sights.
General provisions for travel and residence (until the corona pandemic)
A tourist visa (L visa) is required to enter the People’s Republic of China, which must be obtained from the relevant Chinese diplomatic mission in the country of the respective nationality or habitual residence or from the Visa Application Service Center. This means that moving to third countries (such as Hong Kong) is only possible if there is a permanent, legal residence there.
Currently, applicants whose passports were issued after January 1, 2014 are sometimes required to present their previous, expired passport together with their current passport when applying for a visa. If the old passport has been withdrawn, a signed declaration stating the time and place of residence must be submitted. Furthermore, the declaration must include the countries that have been visited in the last three years and the duration of the respective stay.
An L visa for citizens of the Schengen countries (for one, two or more entries) costs 60 euros per person. A visa for other citizens (depending on the length of stay and whether single or double entry) costs 30 to 100 euros per person. Consular provider fees are a uniform 65.45 euros per person. The flat rate for the CVASC shipping service is 35.70 euros per person.
The L visa is valid for 3 months, but only entitles you to a stay of 30 days. These can be extended in China under certain circumstances. The processing time for the standard service is 4 working days, by post it is 10 working days.
A work visa (Z visa) can only be obtained with an invitation letter from a Chinese company. The work visa initially authorizes a single entry. After arriving in China, you are required to register with the local police authority within 30 days and have your visa converted into a residence permit. After that, there is also the right to return and enter the country several times.
This Z-Visa is valid for 6 months or a whole year and can be extended on site. The content of the letter of invitation from the employer is decisive for the approved length of stay.
Reporting requirement
Foreigners are required to report to the local police if they stay in one place for more than 24 hours. The report must be made within 24 hours. If you stay overnight in a hotel, this will automatically take over the message. However, if you are staying privately with friends, they have to make the report. Foreigners who live permanently in China must always have proof of their registration certificate with them.
Immigration and Permanent Residence
Permanent residence permits are quite difficult to come by. You can get it, for example, through a large investment in China or many years of work in a company based in China, the biggest country in Eastern Asia. (The second biggest country is Japan, See more on thedressexplorer.)
A good alternative to the permanent visa is the multiple entry visa, with which you can stay in the country for up to 1 year. There is also an option to extend this. The prerequisite is either a company invitation and an existing visa (e.g. two normal visas for China), or an official invitation.
Work – job offer
English and German teachers are in demand in China. Often you can get a well-paid job even without special qualifications. Even for Germans or other non-native English speakers, it is possible to get a job as an English teacher. Foreigners are also often sought for Chinese film productions.
German-language jobs for emigrants, which can also be carried out in China, are available on the Osourced portal. Native speakers in particular are in great demand. The employers come mainly from Germany and DACH. The wages are usually below the German level but above the local level in China. Emigrants with German language skills benefit from a locally above-average wage with low cost of living at the same time (geo-arbitrage). Tip: Emigrants can still apply for a job in Germany. With a job offer, emigrating is much easier.
Personal contacts and relationships are essential. Informal social networks, the guanxi, are always relationships between individuals. You do business first with people you trust and then with people who know your friends.
Foreign companies work best with a local partner. An agency alone that analyzes the market and manages addresses is not enough. A partner that the Chinese trust is crucial. A very big advantage is if you speak Chinese. In some areas you can get along well with English.
Emigration and living in China – conclusion
Emigrating to China is primarily something for investors, specialists and managers, primarily on behalf of or in the employ of German companies. The advantages are: low cost of living (LHK-I 61.1), high quality of life in some regions. You can get along well with English in some places. However, if you want to stay in the country for a longer period of time, you will have some advantages with Chinese.