Living in China · Housing & healthcare

Renting a home and seeing a doctor

Two practical topics that worry newcomers most. Here is how renting works — including the filing duty your landlord owes, and the identity checks that are compulsory — and how medical care works when you need it.

Checked against official sources on 13 October 2026. Rules change — confirm with the issuing authority before you apply. Sources at the bottom.

At a glance

The two halves of this page

Topic	What is required of you	What is required of the other side
Renting a home	Show a valid identity document and sign the lease under your real name. Register your address with the police within 24 hours of moving in. Verified	Your landlord files the lease with the housing authority and reports occupant information to the police. Verified
Medical care	Register or make an appointment, and pay per the hospital's process. Carry identification and, if insured, your insurance details.	Public hospitals serve foreign patients with the same standard of service as Chinese citizens. Verified

Housing

Renting a home

Most foreigners rent through a letting agency or a property management office; direct rentals from an individual landlord also happen and can save on fees. In every case the same legal obligations apply on both sides.

Through an agent

Common in cities. The agent shows properties, drafts the lease and usually completes the lease filing on the parties' behalf. Ask up front what the agency fee is, and confirm the fee is disclosed before you sign. Summary — fees vary by city and agency

Direct from a landlord

Fewer fees, more responsibility on you to check the property and to see that the lease is filed. Ask the landlord for proof they have the right to rent the home — a property ownership certificate or equivalent. Verified · official source

What the lease should cover

Clause	Why it matters to you
Deposit	The contract must state the deposit amount, when it is returned, and the circumstances in which it may be deducted. Outside those agreed circumstances, the landlord may not deduct the deposit without good reason. Verified · official source
Term and rent	Start and end dates, rent amount, payment schedule, and any rent adjustment. Put the payment method in writing.
Utilities and repairs	Who pays electricity, water, gas, internet and property management fees, and who fixes what when something breaks.
Real names	Both landlord and tenant must sign under their real names — this is a legal requirement, not a formality. Verified · official source
Filing	The lease must be filed with the local housing authority. The landlord does this; it is free of charge, and if the landlord does not file it, you may file it yourself. The 30-day filing period comes from the earlier Measures for the Administration of Commodity Housing Leasing — the 2025 Regulation on Housing Leasing requires filing but sets no period. Verified · official source

Step 1

View and verify

View the property, confirm the landlord's or agent's identity, and ask for proof of the right to rent. Landlords must also verify your identity document and may not rent to someone who refuses to show one. Verified

Step 2

Sign under real names

The lease is signed by the real names of both parties. Read the deposit and repair clauses before you sign.

Step 3

The lease is filed

The landlord files the lease with the local housing authority. The 2025 Regulation on Housing Leasing requires the lease to be filed and makes it free of charge, but it does not set a filing period; the 30-day deadline comes from the earlier Measures for the Administration of Commodity Housing Leasing. In either case, if the landlord does not file it, you can do it yourself. Keep a filed copy — it is useful for banking and other paperwork. Verified · official source

Step 4

Register your address with the police

Moving in triggers the 24-hour accommodation registration rule: you or your host registers at the local police station, or online through the immigration channels. See Living in China. Verified · official source

Step 5

Move in and keep records

Photograph the condition and the meter readings on day one. Landlords must not enter the property without consent, and must not use force or threats to make you leave. Verified · official source

Two red flags worth knowing. Kitchens, bathrooms, balconies, corridors, basements and garages may not be rented out separately as living space, and letting agencies are forbidden to broker such rentals. If you are shown a subdivided space like this, walk away. Illegal sublets also cannot be properly registered — which leaves your address unregistered. Verified · official source

Keep the receipt chain. Save the signed lease, the filing confirmation, deposit receipts and rent transfer records. If a dispute over the deposit or the property arises, the rule is to resolve it by negotiation first, then mediation, arbitration or a court action. Verified · official source

Healthcare

Seeing a doctor

Foreign nationals in China receive medical services on the same footing as Chinese citizens. In practice, you choose between a public hospital, an international department, or a private or foreign-invested clinic.

In an emergency, call 120. State the address clearly and stay on the line. For anything that is not life-threatening, go to a hospital during working hours rather than calling an ambulance. Verified · official source

Public hospital

The standard route, and usually the most affordable. Larger city hospitals often have an international or foreign-patient department with English-speaking staff. Appointment systems vary by city. Summary — process differs by hospital

International or private clinic

Higher fees, shorter waits, and a service model designed for foreign residents. China also permits wholly foreign-owned hospitals in pilot regions, aimed at residents with diversified medical needs and at foreign nationals living and working in China. Verified · official source

Pharmacy

Pharmacies are widely available for everyday medicines. Bring a card or app to pay. For prescription medicines, a hospital prescription is normally needed. Summary — bring your prescription

A typical visit to a public hospital

Hospitals differ, and many now run mobile appointment systems. Treat this as the shape of the process, not a fixed script. Summary — confirm with the hospital

Step 1

Register or book

Register at the hospital's reception or outpatient desk, or book through the hospital's own app or mini program. You will choose a department.

Step 2

Pay the registration fee

A small registration or consultation fee is paid before you see the doctor. Bring identification, in case it is requested.

Step 3

See the doctor

The doctor takes your history and, if needed, orders tests. An interpreter app or a bilingual friend helps. Ask for any diagnosis and prescription in writing.

Step 4

Tests and results

Labs and imaging are usually in the same building. Payment for tests is typically made before the test is taken.

Step 5

Pharmacy and receipts

Collect medicines at the hospital pharmacy and keep every receipt — you need them for any insurance claim or reimbursement.

Insurance and reimbursement. If you are lawfully employed in China you take part in the employee basic medical insurance scheme alongside your employer. How much is reimbursed, and which hospitals and clinics count as in-network, depends on your employment status and on your own policy. Reimbursement is always subject to the terms of the relevant policy — read it, and check with your employer's HR team or the insurer before you rely on it. Summary — your policy governs

Keep going

Related guides

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Social insurance

How foreign employees join China's social insurance schemes.

Social insurance →

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Sources & disclaimer

Facts on this page are linked to the official sources below, checked on 13 October 2026. Requirements, fees and timelines change — always confirm with the issuing authority. This page is for reference only — official sources prevail; always check the latest version with the relevant Chinese authority. General information, not legal advice.