How to live in China as a foreigner

Can you live in China with a Hong Kong company?

No. A Hong Kong company can be a useful commercial base, but it does not itself give you the right to live or work in mainland China. An M visa is for commercial and trade activities, and the application requires commercial-activity documents from a trade partner in China or another relevant China-based inviting entity.

Visa validity, number of entries and permitted stay are set case by case by the issuing authority. Do not use repeated M-visa stays as a substitute for the work permit and residence-permit route when you will actually work or live in China.

Which visa route actually fits?

For a founder making genuine commercial visits, an M visa may be the appropriate route. The exact entry validity and stay length vary by nationality, supporting documents and the issuing authority, so do not assume every applicant gets the same terms.

If you want to live in China in the ordinary sense of the word, the better route is a residence permit. The standard path is work-based: Z visa, then work permit, then residence permit. Other legal residence routes exist for family, study, talent, and some private-affairs cases, but they are application-specific.

What the Hong Kong company does and does not change

A Hong Kong company can give you a clean commercial base for mainland-facing business, contracts, payments and cross-border administration. It can help demonstrate the commercial context of a visit, but the M-visa invitation and supporting activity must still meet the issuing authority's China-based requirements.

The practical workflow is: establish the real commercial relationship, obtain appropriate documentation from the China-based trade partner or inviting entity, apply for the correct visa, and use the work-permit/residence-permit route where the activity requires it.

Tax residency and the 183-day rule

China's individual income tax test is simple on paper: if you are not domiciled in China and stay there for an aggregate of 183 days or more in a tax year, you are generally a resident individual. But a non-domiciled resident who has not met the six-consecutive-year condition can generally retain an exemption for qualifying foreign-source income paid outside China, subject to the statutory conditions and filing.

Keep a day count, board passes, entry stamps, and tax advice from both China and your home country. The six-year rule, payment source, work location and any departure of more than 30 days can materially change the result.

Daily reality on the ground

If you stay in a hotel, the hotel handles registration. If you stay elsewhere, you or the person hosting you must register the address within 24 hours after check-in.

That sounds minor until you need a bank account, a local phone number, payment apps, healthcare, or a lease. China is manageable, but it runs smoother when your paperwork is clean from day one.

Visa fees, terms and local procedure vary by nationality and issuing post. For the company setup side, see the [Hong Kong Limited company page](/formation/hong-kong-limited) for formation costs and ongoing compliance.

Bottom line

A Hong Kong company can support a China-facing commercial structure, but it is not an immigration shortcut. Use an M visa only for the commercial activity it authorizes, use a work/residence route where needed, and plan China tax residence with the 183-day and six-year rules in view.

Frequently asked questions