Shenzhen, as a first-tier city, is known for its accessibility to overseas students who want to settle down here. It is one of the easiest cities in China for international students to settle down in, as there are no social security requirements and no physical examination is required for international student household registration.
Requirements for overseas students to apply for household registration in Shenzhen:
Time: Usually, the time for international students to apply for household registration is 1-2 months.
Cost: The cost of applying for household registration in Shenzhen is free of charge for international students. However, if one chooses to entrust an agency to handle the application, the general fee standard is around 1800-2000 RMB. Different agencies may have different fees.
To be eligible for household registration in Shenzhen, one must meet one of the following conditions:
1. A student who has studied overseas and obtained a bachelor's degree or above (including those who have obtained permanent residency in their host country or those who are eligible to re-enter their host country).
2. A visiting scholar or postdoctoral fellow who has worked or studied for more than one year in a university or research institution abroad and achieved certain results.
Note: The latest policy for household registration for overseas students is consistent with the domestic standards for academic qualifications: Bachelor's degree holders must be under 35 years old, Master's degree holders must be under 40 years old, and Ph.D. holders must be under 45 years old, in order to be eligible for household registration in Shenzhen.
Types of household registration for overseas students in Shenzhen:
1. Household registration through property ownership: Suitable for individuals who own property in Shenzhen, or those who have relatives or friends who own property in Shenzhen.
2. Household registration through company collective registration: Suitable for individuals who work for companies that have a company collective registration with the authorities in charge of household registration. Employees can inquire about the relevant information from the company's human resources department.
3. Talent special household registration through police station: Suitable for most working professionals, as it is stable and convenient. This type of household registration is free of charge and permanent.
Can international students apply for household registration without a job in Shenzhen?
International students who reside in Shenzhen but do not have a job can apply for household registration through a designated police station responsible for their place of residence.
Requirements for applying for household registration include a document proving their residency, such as a rental agreement or their landlord's consent, among other essential documents.
If international students do not have a job or a place of residence in Shenzhen, then they are not eligible to apply for household registration.
Subsidies: Currently, there is no subsidy policy for students below Ph.D. level. However, the policy for a subsidy for Ph.D. students under the age of 35 is being planned.
Required documents for international students to apply for household registration in Shenzhen:
1. Certificate of education obtained overseas or in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.
2. Domestic diploma or degree certificate for visiting scholars who have gone abroad or to Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan.
3. Identity card, marriage certificate (marriage certificate required for married personnel), household registration booklet personal page and household registration page, birth certificate (required for children accompanying their parents), and more.
Special instructions:
1. For those who got married in China, they need to provide their marriage certificate. For those who got married overseas, they need to provide a marriage certificate certified by the embassy or consulate.
2. For those who have a collective household registration, a copy of the collective household registration booklet's household registration page, personal information page, or a household registration certificate issued by the public security department of their registered residence is required.
Why British international students fail to apply for household registration in Shenzhen, and how to address it?
Despite the fact that international students who have studied abroad are allowed to apply for household registration in Shenzhen, it is not necessarily easy for everyone. For example, British international students may face particular challenges when applying for household registration. One of the main reasons for such difficulties is that the academic qualifications of British international students do not fit Shenzhen's household registration policy.
In terms of academic qualifications, China's educational system and standards differ greatly from those in the UK. For example, in the UK, undergraduate studies usually last for three years, but in China, it takes four years. This causes British international students to not qualify for the household registration policy in Shenzhen, as they will exceed the age limit due to the longer duration of their undergraduate studies.
In addition, due to different education systems, international students may face challenges when it comes to certifying their degrees. In the UK, degree certificates usually only have a student's name, degree classification, and date of graduation. They do not provide detailed information about the student's education background.
To address this issue, the Chinese government can explore the possibility of adapting the household registration policy for international students, taking into account the differences in academic qualifications across different educational systems. At the same time, it is essential to establish a professional certification system for international students' education background. This system can standardize and recognize different education systems' information and provide more accessible ways for international students to apply for household registration in China.
In conclusion, international students can now apply for household registration in Shenzhen more readily. However, British students may still face challenges in terms of the system's requirements. Adjustments to the policy and the creation of a certification system for international students' education background could be considered to make it easier for international students from all around the world to settle down in China.