China

01The country in 30 seconds

China gives Russians a real perk: 30 days visa-free, no visa needed for a short trip or a first look. Cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Chengdu are safe, modern, and cheap to live in — but almost nobody speaks English, and your Russian bank cards will not work.

• 30 days visa-free entry for Russian citizens, as of September 2026
• Very safe cities, with a fast metro and high-speed rail between them
• Mandarin dominates everywhere — expect a real language barrier
• Mir and Russian-issued Visa/Mastercard do not work at all

02Who it's for

China works well if you want city life, low costs, and don't mind planning around cards and language.

Good fit if:

• You want a big, safe, modern city with great public transport
• You're fine using mobile apps (Alipay/WeChat Pay) instead of cash or cards
• You're okay with a real language barrier, or willing to learn basic Mandarin
• You have a card from a third country (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Tajikistan), or plan to use cash
• You want low living costs without giving up city comforts
• You're flexible about visa status — visa-free tourist, work, or business

Not for you if:

• You need your Russian bank cards to work
• You want to freelance for foreign clients long-term — there's no clear legal channel for that
• You expect English to work in daily life

03Entry & visa

Russian citizens with an ordinary passport can enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days. This covers tourism, business, private visits, exchanges, or transit.

This is a special deal just for Russia, separate from China's general visa-free list. It started September 15, 2025, and has since been extended — sources differ on the exact new end date (September 2027, or end of 2027). Check the current status before you fly.

Russia has also started letting Chinese citizens in visa-free. Right now there is no official limit on the number of entries or total days per year.

Hong Kong (visa-free up to 14 days) and Macau (visa-free up to 30 days) have separate entry rules. A trip there does not extend or replace your mainland visa-free days.

For longer stays, work, or study, you need a real visa — usually category L. Apply in person at a visa center or consulate. Visa fees for Russians are currently reduced — check the current rate with a visa center. China has no full online e-visa for ordinary tourists. A "visa on arrival" exists, but only for specific ports and emergencies, and costs significantly more than a regular visa.

Some people leave and re-enter to reset the 30-day clock — a short trip to Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, or Macau. Be careful with Hong Kong and Macau specifically: the Russian consulate there warns that local authorities dislike frequent visa runs and can refuse entry, fine you, or ban you later. For mainland China there is no clear ban on this yet, but the rule is still a "trial" and could change — carry proof of your travel plans, like a hotel booking or return ticket.

04Residency & legalization

Getting long-term residence in China is not simple. Here are the real paths.

• Work (Z-visa): get a job with a China-based employer, get a work permit, then a residence card once you're in the country. This is the most common route, especially in border regions like Heilongjiang and Zabaykalsky Krai.
• Business: register your own company (a WFOE) and become the company's official contact person. China has no fixed "golden visa" amount — thresholds you see online depend on the specific region or industry, so check with a consultant.
• Marriage: a Q1 visa (for living with a Chinese spouse or permanent resident) lets you apply for residence soon after entering, renewable after. Permanent residence is possible after several years of living together as a married couple, but it's hard to get, and marriage does not give you citizenship — China does not recognize dual citizenship.
• Digital nomad: there is no nomad visa in China. Working remotely for a foreign employer while on tourist status is not clearly legal.
• Property or retirement: buying property does not give you residency, and there is no retirement visa.

If you're Russian, expect extra checks on any payments linked to Russian banks under sanctions. This can affect banking and how carefully employers or partners check you — it's not a formal legal restriction, just added caution.

05Work & taxes

Freelancing for foreign clients while living in China on a tourist visa is a grey area. There is no digital nomad visa, and technically any paid work is not allowed on visa-free or tourist status. The only clearly legal way to work is a Z-visa with a China-based employer, or starting your own company (a WFOE) and working as its legal representative.

If you do become a tax resident, income tax (IIT) is progressive, from 3% up to 45%.

• Under 183 days a year in China: you're a non-resident, taxed only on income earned in China
• 183+ days a year: you're a tax resident, taxed on China-source income
• Resident 183+ days a year for more than 6 years straight: you're taxed on worldwide income too (the "six-year rule"). Spending 30+ days outside China in one year resets this clock.

China has a simplified tax regime for small registered businesses (个体工商户) — a low VAT rate and reduced income tax. But this is built for Chinese nationals and registered residents with a business license. It is not a real option for a foreigner working informally without registration.

06Banks, cards & money

This is the part that trips up most Russians moving to China.

• Mir cards do not work at all — not at ATMs, not at stores. Even a UnionPay card linked to a Mir card gets flagged as Russian and blocked.
• Russian-issued Visa and Mastercard also do not work abroad. They have been cut off from international networks since 2022.
• UnionPay cards from Russian banks (like Rosselkhozbank) technically still work, but more payments get declined since 2024. Do not rely on one.

What actually works:

• A card from a bank in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, or Tajikistan (Visa, Mastercard, or UnionPay)
• Cash yuan
• Alipay or WeChat Pay, linked to one of those working foreign cards

You can legally open an account at a Chinese bank as a foreigner. But since 2022-2024 it has gotten harder specifically for Russians. You need to go in person, bring extra documents, and approval depends a lot on the bank and even the branch. Having a residence permit (through work or study), not just tourist status, makes approval more likely.

07Renting a place

Most people find apartments through rental apps or a local agent.

• Local apps: Ziroom, Anjuke, Lianjia (Beike), 5i5j
• Expat-friendly options: SmartShanghai, Wellcee, SimpleStayChina — English service, sometimes no agent fee
• A local agent (中介) usually charges you one month's rent as a commission

The standard deal is "押一付三": 1 month deposit + 3 months rent, paid upfront. That means about 4 months of rent in cash to move in. In Shanghai, agents sometimes ask for "2 months deposit + 1 month rent" instead — this is negotiable, not a fixed rule.

Standard leases run 1 year. Shorter, month-to-month rentals exist but cost more per month.

Since September 15, 2025, a new national law (住房租赁条例) protects deposits and tenant rights for everyone, including foreigners.

08SIM card & internet

The three main carriers are China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom.

• Physical SIM: buy at the airport or a carrier store, $12-70 depending on the plan. A mid-range plan (about 20GB, 30-day validity) runs roughly $25-30.
• eSIM: easier for most foreigners. Carriers usually need a Chinese ID and bank account to issue one directly, so most foreigners use a third-party eSIM reseller (like Holafly) instead — prices run about $2.50-70 depending on data.
• Home broadband is cheap and fast: a typical 100-300 Mbps plan costs roughly $4-15 a month. Average speeds are 200+ Mbps.

09Healthcare & insurance

Public hospitals are open to foreigners, but they are crowded and mostly Mandarin-only. Most expats use private or international clinics for anything beyond a small issue.

Private health insurance for expats usually costs $150-300 a month for solid coverage if you are under 40. Cheaper basic plans exist from about $50-100 a month, but cover less. Without insurance, a private clinic visit can cost ¥500-2,500, and a night in an international hospital can run into the tens of thousands of yuan.

Good private and international hospitals:

• Shanghai — Shanghai United Family Hospital, Jiahui International Hospital, ParkwayHealth, Raffles Hospital
• Beijing — Beijing United Family Hospital (part of the wider United Family network, English-speaking staff)

10Transport

Getting around Chinese cities is easy and cheap.

• Metro: fast and cheap in Shanghai, Beijing, and Chengdu (¥3-9 a ride)
• Didi: the main ride-hailing app, works in 400+ cities, has a full English interface, and takes foreign SIM numbers and overseas Visa/Mastercard/Amex
• Shared bikes (Hellobike, Meituan) — unlock with an app or QR code
• High-speed rail connects Shanghai, Beijing, and Chengdu in a few hours

A Russian driving licence alone is not valid in China — there is no agreement between the two countries recognizing it (only France, Serbia, Belgium, and the UAE get exemptions). You need to convert it to a Chinese licence at the local vehicle office.

You will need your passport, a visa or residence permit valid 3+ months, your original licence with a certified Chinese translation, a residence registration certificate, and a medical certificate. The theory exam is offered in Russian, among other languages. Short-term visitors can sometimes get a provisional permit — check the current local rules first.

11Safety & important laws

China is very safe overall. Violent crime against foreigners is rare. The real risks are scams, traffic, and pickpocketing, not physical danger.

Common scams:

• The "tea ceremony" scam: friendly strangers invite you to a tea house or bar, then hit you with a huge bill
• A similar "art gallery" scam pressures you into buying overpriced art
• Unlicensed taxi drivers at airports offer a "cheap" flat fare, then overcharge — always use a metered taxi or book through Didi

Other trouble spots:

• Missing the police registration deadline (24 hours in cities, 72 hours in rural areas) can bring fines and cause problems with visas later
• Traveling with certain prescription medication (like ADHD meds or strong opioids) without proper paperwork can trigger smuggling charges — check China's list of banned drugs first
• Photographing military sites, some government buildings, or border areas can get you detained and your device taken

For emergency numbers, see the Health section above.

12How much money you need per month

Total: About $1,200-1,800 per month in Shanghai or Beijing (Chengdu is roughly 20-30% cheaper). A comfortable lifestyle runs $2,500-3,500 per month.

13Step-by-step moving plan

1. Check the current visa-free rule and make sure your passport is valid for 6+ months.
2. Book your flight and your first week of accommodation (hotel or short-term rental).
3. Get a card from a bank in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, or Tajikistan, or bring cash yuan — your Russian cards will not work.
4. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay, linked to that working card, before or right after arrival.
5. On arrival, check into your hotel (it registers you automatically), or register at the local police station within 24 hours if staying elsewhere.
6. Get a local SIM at the airport, or buy an eSIM from a third-party reseller in advance.
7. Look for a longer-term rental through Ziroom, Lianjia, or an expat platform like SmartShanghai; budget about 4 months of rent upfront.
8. Get private health insurance and find a private clinic near you.
9. If you plan to stay long-term, start the Z-visa or company registration process with an employer or immigration consultant.

14Useful links & Telegram

• National Immigration Administration: converting a foreign driving licence
• China-Briefing: Individual Income Tax in China
• Numbeo: Cost of Living in Shanghai
• US Department of State: China Travel Advisory
• TravelChinaGuide: useful telephone numbers
• Pacific Prime: best hospitals in Shanghai for expats