According to the third article of the "Interim Procedures for the Foreigners Employed in China to Apply for Social Insurance", all foreigners that are legally employed in China by legally registered organizations, which include enterprises, institutions, social groups, private nonprofit units, foundations, law firms, accounting firms and so on ( "employers"), should comply with the law and apply for the basic retirement insurance, basic medical insurance, jury insurance, unemployment insurance and maternity insurance. The social insurance fees should be regularly paid by the employer and the applicant.

Expats who are sent to work in the branches or representative organizations registered in China after having signed an employment contract with the overseas employers should also comply with the law and apply for the basic retirement insurance, basic medical insurance, jury insurance, unemployment insurance and maternity insurance. The social insurance fees should be regularly paid by the domestic employer and the applicant.

Those who are working in China and are from countries that have signed with China bilateral or multilateral contracts on social insurance (such as South Korea, Germany, and Denmark) should apply for social insurance in accordance with the regulations stated in their contracts.