Bureaucracy
Work and study visas, police registration, health checks, and residence compliance.
Countries · Student guide
China
Complete guide for international students in China: bureaucracy, housing, budget, healthcare, work, and finance.
Updated on Jul 28, 2026
Cost of living
Medium
Typical spending band for a student
Language
Chinese
Main language to handle day to day
Currency
CNY
Local currency for banking and payments
Visas
Hard
Typical visa/permit process complexity
Overview
In China, digital life is the system: WeChat, Alipay, local apps and police registration count as much as a visa. Shanghai and Beijing are expensive; secondary university cities more accessible, but the language barrier and implicit rules weigh on them.
What really changes here
Ideal if…
- Students of Chinese, business, engineering with a structured program
- Those who have campus housing or university assistance for permits
- Strong cultural curiosity and openness to learning Mandarin
- Budget for deposit and upfront insurance
Harder if…
- Zero Mandarin and aspects of life only in English off campus
- You don't want to use WeChat/Alipay for everything
- Looking for last-minute rental without local guarantor
- You expect free internet like in the EU
Arrival checklist
First 7 days
- Residence permit application within 30 days
- Police registration with dorm/home contract
- Chinese SIM + WeChat + Alipay/WeChat Pay
- Chinese bank account if required by university
- Campus health insurance
- Metro/Bus code map; save 110/120/119
- VPN only if university policy allows it — check rules
Mistakes to avoid
- Stay on a tourist visa while you study
- Not registering address within deadlines
- Sign contract in Chinese without translation
- Ignore campus policies on VPN and data
City guides
Cities in China
Neighborhoods, rent, universities, transport and safety: everything you need to choose where to move.
Shanghai
- from 2,800 CNYroom/month
- 5universities
- 8neighborhoods
Shanghai, the economic capital and the most international of Chinese cities, combines the futuristic skyline of Pudong with the Art Deco charm of the French Concession. It is home to leading universities (Fudan, Jiao Tong, Tongji, NYU Shanghai) and the largest subway network in the world. It is cosmopolitan, lively and relatively open to foreigners, but it is also the most expensive city in China.
Open city guidePechino- from 2,500 CNYroom/month
- 5universities
- 8neighborhoods
Beijing, the capital of China, is the political, cultural and academic heart of the country: it is home to Tsinghua and Peking University, the two best Chinese universities, as well as a huge tech ecosystem and a thousand-year history (Forbidden City, hutong). It's safe, with a giant, cheap subway; the challenges for those arriving are language, visa bureaucracy and some digital restrictions.
Open city guideShenzhen- from 2,000 CNYroom/month
- 5universities
- 8neighborhoods
Shenzhen, China's tech megacity that has grown in forty years from a fishing village to a metropolis of innovation, is the youngest and most dynamic in the country. Alongside Hong Kong, it is the capital of start-ups and hardware (Tencent, Huawei, DJI, BYD), with rapidly rising universities (SUSTech, CUHK-Shenzhen). Extremely modern and full of opportunities, it however has some of the highest real estate prices in China.
Open city guideHangzhou- from 1,800 CNYroom/month
- 5universities
- 8neighborhoods
Hangzhou, the capital of Chinese e-commerce (headquarters of Alibaba) and the city of the famous West Lake, a UNESCO heritage site, is among the most livable and green in China. It is home to Zhejiang University, among the best in the country, and a thriving tech ecosystem. It combines scenic beauty, quality of life and a lower cost of living than Beijing or Shanghai.
Open city guideChengdu- from 1,100 CNYroom/month
- 5universities
- 8neighborhoods
Chengdu, capital of Sichuan and city of pandas, is one of the most livable and relaxed in China: famous for spicy cuisine, teahouses and a "slow" pace of life, it combines one of the lowest costs of living in large cities with a growing tech industry (gaming, aerospace). It is home to Sichuan University and attracts more and more young people and digital nomads.
Open city guideGo deeper
Guides by category
Pick a topic to get started — bureaucracy, housing, work, and more.
Housing and rent
Platforms, leases, deposits, and how tenancy ties to police registration.
Daily survival
Alipay, groceries, transport, and apps you will use every day.
Health and medical insurance
Public vs international hospitals, insurance, and emergency numbers.
Work and taxes
Work permits, typical contracts, IIT tax, and expat-friendly sectors.
Finance
Banking and UnionPay, Alipay/WeChat Pay, FX compliance, IIT basics, and cautious use of money-market balances.