China Business & Visa Guides
Practical, up-to-date guides to setting up and running a business in China and the Hainan Free Trade Port — written by the HCSG team. Grouped by topic, with more added as we publish.
Company Registration
Forming your WFOE or other entity in China and the Hainan Free Trade Port.
Company RegistrationSet Up a WFOE in Hainan
Step-by-step setup of a foreign-owned company (WFOE) in the Hainan Free Trade Port.
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Company RegistrationWFOE Registered Capital
How much registered capital a WFOE actually needs — and how to set the figure.
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Company RegistrationWFOE vs JV vs Rep Office
WFOE, joint venture or representative office? Choosing the right China entity.
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Company RegistrationSet Up a China WFOE Remotely
Register your China WFOE without travelling — handled remotely, end to end.
Read guideOffice Solutions
Registered addresses and workspace that meet FTP substance rules.
Taxation, Compliance & Bookkeeping
Hainan's 15% incentives, substance and ongoing compliance.
Taxation, Compliance & BookkeepingHainan 15% Corporate Tax
Who qualifies for the Hainan FTP 15% corporate income tax — and the substance test.
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Taxation, Compliance & BookkeepingHainan 15% IIT for Talent
The personal income-tax cap for eligible talent working in Hainan.
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Taxation, Compliance & BookkeepingEncouraged Industries
Whether your business is on the catalogue that unlocks Hainan incentives.
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Taxation, Compliance & BookkeepingSubstance Requirements
The real-substance test behind the 15% rate.
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Taxation, Compliance & BookkeepingHainan Customs Closure
What island-wide independent customs operation means for your business.
Read guideCould your business qualify for Hainan's 15% tax rate?
Check your eligibilityCorporate Bank Account Opening
Opening and funding your China company bank account.
Work Visa & Immigration
Z visas, work permits and residence permits.
Work Visa & ImmigrationChina Z Visa & Work Permit
Full work-visa requirements and the end-to-end process.
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Work Visa & ImmigrationZ Visa to Residence Permit
Converting the Z visa after arrival — the 30-day rule.
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Work Visa & ImmigrationWork Permit Tiers A/B/C
How China's talent-tier system decides your work permit.
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Work Visa & ImmigrationWork Visa Checklist
Every document you need, plus authentication and notarization.
Read guideInvitations to China International Events
Attending the Canton Fair and other China trade fairs.
Invitations to China International EventsAttend the Canton Fair
Badge, invitation and the M visa — how to attend China's biggest trade fair.
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Invitations to China International EventsCanton Fair Invitation Letter
Get the free official letter — and avoid the paid-letter scams.
Read guideCanton Fair from Nigeria
Invitation, M visa, buyer badge and shipping — the whole trip mapped for Nigerian buyers.
Read guideHeading to the Canton Fair? Get your badge and invitation sorted.
Arrange my invitationBusiness Invitation & Delegation Services
China business (M) visas and official invitations.
Business Invitation & Delegation ServicesChina Business (M) Visa
M vs Z vs L, invitation letters, and validity vs length of stay.
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Business Invitation & Delegation ServicesBusiness Invitation Letter
What a valid business-visa invitation needs — and how to avoid scams.
Read guideChina Business Visa from Nigeria
Online-first M-visa from Lagos or Abuja: fees, documents and the ~4-day process.
Read guideChina Business Visa Cost
The two fees to budget — consular plus service — across Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.
Read guideA Stronger Visa Application
How to make your China business (M) visa application as strong as possible.
Read guideFamily Residence Permit
Bringing your family to China on S-family visas.
China Tourist Packages
Tourist (L) visas and travelling to China.
Visas, bookings and itineraries — your China trip, handled.
Plan my tripHealth & Medical Tourism
Treatment travel: visas, logistics and coordination.
Trademark Registration
Protecting your brand in a first-to-file market.
E-Commerce Setup with Alibaba
Sourcing from China and verifying your suppliers.
From supplier checks to shipping — source from China with confidence.
Explore our trade servicesMulti-Language Translation & Interpreter
Interpreters and certified document translation.
Event Organisation & Management
Conferences, launches, booths and delegations in China.
Skill-Based Diploma Programs
Studying in China: universities, scholarships and the X visa.
Not sure which service you need? We'll point you the right way.
Talk to our teamLand, Property & Factory Acquisition
Buying property, land and factories in Hainan.
Not sure which guide you need?
Tell us what you are trying to do in China and we will point you to the right answer — or just handle it for you.
Talk to our team