Work, Travel, Study, Invest: Major New Policy Boost for Foreigners

Hainan Province has recently issued the “Three-Year Action Plan for Optimizing Foreign-Related Services and Improving the International Business Environment,” outlining 30 key measures across seven major areas to systematically enhance the quality, efficiency, and end-to-end management of foreign-related services.

The plan aims to better align Hainan’s service systems with international standards, strengthen institutional openness, and improve convenience for foreign investors, expatriates, and international visitors.

I. Strengthening policy and legal service capabilities

A key priority is the upgrading of the international service system of the Hainan Free Trade Port. The province will continuously improve the multilingual international service portal of the Hainan Free Trade Port, providing integrated services including multilingual policy interpretation, online government services, and updated information resources to better present Hainan’s international image. Updated service handbooks for foreign residents will be regularly issued, covering work, daily life, tourism, investment, study, duty-free shopping, and other topics.

Hainan will also build a “central kitchen” for policy interpretation—a unified Chinese-English policy query and explanation platform—covering key areas such as market access, tax incentives, and industrial support. Foreign-related policy documents will generally be translated and reviewed in English within three months of release and published through official platforms.

To improve complaint handling, the province will upgrade its 12345 hotline system with multilingual support and establish a dedicated “Free Trade Port Policy Hotline Desk,” supported by sector specialists and a tiered response mechanism.

In legal services, Hainan will advance the internationalization of commercial arbitration and promote the establishment of the Hainan International Arbitration Court Hong Kong Center. The province also plans to cultivate at least 20 foreign-related legal service institutions and attract reputable overseas law firms to set up branches or representative offices.

II. Improving the multilingual environment for international communication

Efforts will be made to enhance foreign language support across public services, including upgrading government websites and adding multilingual functions to investment platforms such as “Qihang Free Trade Port.”

Public signage systems will be standardized and improved in line with international practices, while public service providers will be encouraged to strengthen foreign language labeling.

The province will also build a talent pool for foreign language professionals and regularly conduct training programs for civil servants engaged in foreign-related work. Universities and vocational institutions are encouraged to develop “profession + foreign language” programs to cultivate interdisciplinary talent.

III. Upgrading government services for foreign nationals

Hainan will establish dedicated international service zones—both online and offline—with multilingual support and streamlined administrative procedures. The province will expand bilingual service guides, enable online identity verification for foreign residents, and increase the scope of online government services.

Key service centers in cities such as Haikou, Sanya, and Danzhou will be equipped with bilingual staff and translation tools. Foreign permanent residence identity cards will be more widely recognized in areas such as transportation, healthcare, banking, and digital payments.

A “one-stop service” model will be further developed for foreign nationals, integrating administrative processes and enabling cross-departmental efficiency improvements.

IV. Enhancing services for foreign-invested enterprises

The plan emphasizes greater trade and investment facilitation, including attracting international economic organizations to establish operations in Hainan and expanding cross-border financial mechanisms such as multi-function free trade accounts.

Business registration for foreign investors will be simplified through upgraded bilingual systems and streamlined procedures. Hainan will also extend enterprise registration services to Hong Kong to facilitate cross-border investment.

Foreign enterprises will benefit from enhanced service coordination mechanisms, improved policy delivery platforms (including an English version of the “Hainan Easy Benefit” system), and strengthened tax and cross-border service support.

The province will also promote innovation cooperation, protect the rights of foreign-invested enterprises, and strengthen intellectual property enforcement at borders.

V. Strengthening services for expatriates

Hainan will implement the “Million Talent in Hainan” initiative to attract and retain international professionals. Foreign talent evaluation systems will be refined based on performance and contribution, with improved career pathways for technical experts.

The province will streamline employment and professional qualification recognition, integrate work permits with social security cards, and enhance recruitment mechanisms for international professionals.

Healthcare services will be upgraded through improved multilingual systems in hospitals, expanded international clinics, and broader cooperation with international insurance providers for direct billing.

Education services will also be expanded, supporting the development of international schools and encouraging overseas universities and vocational institutions to operate in Hainan.

Additional measures include improved financial services for expatriates, better telecom and housing support, multilingual lifestyle services, and community cultural exchange programs.

VI. Improving tourism and international consumption services

Hainan will expand international air routes, especially to RCEP member countries, Europe, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, and Oceania, while also promoting international cruise routes.

Tourism services will be upgraded through multilingual smart systems, integrated service centers, and stronger cooperation with global travel agencies. International brands in retail, dining, and culture will be encouraged to establish a presence.

The province will also develop and attract international sporting events, aiming to host at least 30 international sports events annually, including cycling races and table tennis tournaments.

Payment convenience will be further improved by ensuring wide acceptance of international cards and mobile payment systems across key tourism and commercial venues.

VII. Safeguarding implementation and ensuring an open and secure environment

Local governments and departments are required to implement the action plan through detailed task lists and project-based management. Inter-agency coordination and resource allocation will be strengthened to ensure effective execution.

At the same time, Hainan emphasizes risk prevention in foreign-related affairs to ensure stability throughout its opening-up process. Equal treatment for all types of enterprises will be maintained to foster a fair and competitive market environment.

Regular evaluations of foreign resident and investor experiences will be conducted, with continuous improvements to the foreign-related service system.

The full Chinese version of the policy is available at:

https://www.zmgrc.gov.cn/show-32196.html

Source: OT-Team(G)