Moving to China: the complete guide
A vast, fast moving country where almost every long stay runs through a job and a residence permit, and where customs gives you a single, strict window to import your goods. Here is the honest brief on what it costs to ship your life to China, the residence steps that come first, and how the border treats your furniture.
Costs are indicative ranges for 2026.
Career scale, deep history, and a country that runs on the residence permit.
People move to China for career opportunities, the experience of one of the world's great civilizations, and a standard of urban life that has transformed in a generation. It is overwhelmingly a move tied to work, since the residence permit that follows a job is what makes a long stay and a household move possible.
The pull is scale and momentum. Cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou are huge, modern, and astonishingly convenient, with fast trains, cashless payment everywhere, and food culture that rewards the curious. For professionals in technology, manufacturing, education, and trade, the opportunities are real.
Daily life runs in Mandarin, and while the big cities have English in international circles, learning to read key characters and speak basic Mandarin changes everything from ordering food to dealing with officials. The mobile apps that run daily life, from payments to transport, are central, so getting set up with a local number and bank account early is a priority.
The honest trade offs are the language barrier, air quality in some cities, the distance from home, and an administrative system where your residence permit governs much of your life. Internet access to some foreign services is restricted. None of this is a surprise to people who plan, but it shapes the move.
Who it suits, honestly
China suits professionals, teachers, and people posted by an employer who want a front row seat to a fast changing country and are ready to learn some Mandarin. It is harder for people who need English only administration, who underestimate the residence permit's central role, or who expect to import goods on a leisurely timetable, since customs gives you a tight window.
The realistic routes into China, in plain language.
Almost everyone settling in China arrives on a work, study, or family visa and then converts it into a residence permit after landing. These are the routes people on this site use most.
The Z visa is the work visa, granted on the basis of a job offer and a work permit. After arrival you convert it into a residence permit, which is the document that lets you live, work, and import your household goods.
Issued after arrival to holders of work, study, or family visas, the residence permit is what anchors a long stay. Customs treats first time importers who hold a valid residence permit far more favourably than visitors.
Spouses and dependents of workers or Chinese nationals can apply to join them, typically on a Q or S category visa that leads to a residence permit, subject to proof of the relationship.
The X visa covers longer study, leading to a residence permit for the course. It suits students and academics, though it is not a work route on its own.
Bringing your household goods into China.
China is one of the strictest destinations for a household move. You generally get one sea and one air shipment per residence permit, and it must arrive within a tight window after you land, so timing is everything.
The authority is the General Administration of Customs of China, the GACC. A foreign national who holds a visa valid for a year or more together with a work or residence permit, and who is importing for the first time, can usually clear used personal effects, subject to inspection. New items, books, and any single item valued over a modest threshold are treated separately and can attract duty.
The rules that catch people out are the limits. Only one sea shipment and one air shipment are typically allowed per residence permit, and the goods generally must arrive within about six months of your arrival date, or customs will not clear them. You will need a detailed inventory and packing list, your original passport, the visa, and the work or residence permit.
Many categories are restricted. New goods, large quantities, printed and media materials, drones, and certain electronics draw scrutiny, and political, religious, or media items can be sensitive. A vehicle is effectively not a normal personal import. Pets are possible but follow strict quarantine and documentation rules, so plan them well ahead.
Verify before you move. The one shipment limit, the arrival window, value thresholds, and restricted item lists change and are enforced firmly. Confirm the current rules with the General Administration of Customs of China and your mover's destination agent before your goods ship, and never rely on a forum post for the version that applies on your move date.What your money buys once you are there.
China spans a wide range, from expensive central Shanghai and Beijing to far cheaper second tier cities. Typical monthly figures below are in US dollars and are indicative.
Indicative monthly figures for 2026 in US dollars. Central Shanghai and Beijing sit well above the national average, while second and third tier cities are dramatically cheaper.
Healthcare
Public hospitals are capable but crowded and run in Mandarin, so most expats use international clinics and private hospitals in the big cities and carry comprehensive private health insurance, often arranged or topped up by an employer. Confirm what your package covers and where, since costs at international facilities are high.
Banking and money
Opening a bank account is straightforward once you have a residence permit and a local phone number, and it is essential, because daily life runs on mobile payment apps linked to a Chinese account. Bring your passport and residence permit, set up a local SIM first, then link the bank account to the payment apps you will use every day.
Your first month checklist
Register your address with the local Public Security Bureau within twenty four hours of arrival, which hotels do automatically but private renters must do themselves. Convert your visa into a residence permit on the required timeline, get a local SIM, open a bank account, and link the payment apps. Arrange health insurance and, if you have children, contact an international or local school early.
What shipping your home to China costs.
The main factors are where you ship from and your volume, with the strict customs window making timing as important as price. Ranges below cover the typical spread for 2026.
Indicative ranges for 2026 in US dollars. Volume, season, the origin country, and inland delivery distance from Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, or Tianjin move the final number. A binding pre move survey is the only way to get a real figure.
How to choose a mover for China
We never name, rank, or recommend a moving company. Instead, here is the neutral checklist we would use ourselves. Apply it to any quote you receive, then request comparable quotes through the form below.
FIDI or IAM affiliation
Membership of the FIDI Global Alliance or the International Association of Movers signals audited financial stability and a complaints process you can lean on if something goes wrong.
Real corridor experience
Ask how many households the company has shipped on your exact route in the past year. A mover that runs the lane often knows the ports, the customs broker, and the paperwork by heart.
A binding pre move survey
Insist on a video or in home survey and a binding or not to exceed quote. A price built from a real volume estimate is the only quote you can compare like for like.
Clear insurance terms
Read how marine transit cover is calculated, what the deductible is, and whether valuation is by replacement value. Vague cover is the most common regret on an international move.
Verifiable reviews
Look for recent, specific reviews that name the destination, not just star ratings. Patterns in how a company handles claims tell you more than any single glowing note.
Written scope and timeline
Everything that matters belongs in writing: packing, customs clearance, delivery, unpacking, and debris removal, with who pays destination charges spelled out.
Get moving quotes for your move to China.
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Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move to China?
For a 2 to 3 bedroom home, a shared container typically runs from about 3,500 to 14,000 US dollars in 2026, depending on where you ship from and the season. Moves from nearby Asian origins sit lower, while containers from Europe or North America sit higher. Always base your budget on a binding pre move survey.
Do I pay duty on my household goods when moving to China?
Holders of a residence permit importing for the first time can usually clear used personal effects, subject to inspection, while new items, books, and single items over a modest value threshold are treated separately and can attract duty. Confirm current rules with the General Administration of Customs of China before shipping.
How strict is the customs window for moving to China?
Strict. You generally get one sea and one air shipment per residence permit, and the goods must usually arrive within about six months of your arrival date, or customs will not clear them. Plan the shipment timing around your arrival and residence permit, not the other way round.
How long does shipping to China take?
Door to door times range from about three to five weeks for a move from a nearby Asian origin to roughly six to nine weeks for a container from Europe or North America, including clearance at Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, or Tianjin. Shared container services add time because they wait for a full sailing.
Do I need to register with the police in China?
Yes. You must register your address with the local Public Security Bureau within twenty four hours of arrival. Hotels handle this automatically, but if you rent privately you must do it yourself, and it is needed for the residence permit and many official steps.
Moving to China from your country.
Corridor guides built for each pair into China are being added. In the meantime, start from your origin country to plan the move, the strict customs window, and the costs out of that market.