The 2026 Essential Checklist for Expats Leaving China for Good

CdExpat Team

June 6, 2026

No Comments

Foreigners leaving China permanently need more than just to finish their jobs. Our curated 2026 guide delivers essential practical tips to fully prepare your exit from China.

Daily Life Related

1. Cancel the Accounts
2. Cancel Phone SIM Card
3. Off-lease Procedure
4. Transfer Money to your Foreign Account
5. Cancel Broadband
6.Get the Contacts
7. Pet Affairs
8. Bucket List

Administrative Procedures
9. Recommendation Letter
10. Employment Separation Certificate
11. Work Permit Cancellation Certificate
12. Apply for T Visa
13. Non-criminal Record
14. Withdraw Social Insurance
15. Withdraw Housing Fund
16. Handle Individual Income Tax
17. Personal Income Tax Payment Certificate

1) Cancel the Accounts

Your Chinese phone number is crucial for accessing apps like Alipay or WeChat linked to your bank.

Failing to cancel the accounts linked with your number before departing from China may run into problems, especially if it is associated with your passport number.

If the phone bill remains unpaid for an extended period (6 months), the number might be reassigned, and others could potentially access your accounts.

So it’s necessary to unbind your phone number from all associated applications and services or cancel the accounts linked to the number.*For SkyRemit, you can add your email as an additional sign-in method in the account settings first and unbind your phone number with the assistance of customer support.

2) Cancel Phone SIM Card

Decide if you want to keep your Chinese phone number active.

Keep the phone number

Downgrade to the cheapest plan that will keep your account active (China Mobile is about 18 CNY per month).

Keeping your phone number allows you to continue using services associated with it, such as Alipay and banking apps, even after departing from China.

You can simply switch your phone to airplane mode and connect to Wi-Fi when necessary, eliminating the need for a mobile data plan.

Using SkyRemit requires access to Chinese banking apps and services like WeChat or Alipay, which may need your phone number for verification.

Cancel the phone number

If you have settled all matters before departure, including the remittance of your salary, you can choose to cancel your mobile phone number.

The materials required for cancelling a mobile phone number may vary by city, it is recommended that you contact the customer service of the relevant telecom operatorsto clarify the requirements before visiting a local telecommunications business hall.

The customer service numbers are as follows:

China Mobile: 10086

China Unicom: 10010

China Telecom: 10000

*If the SIM card is not cancelled, it will continue to be charged by the Chinese provider. In addition, after 90 days, the provider will take back the number and blacklist you. This will cause problems for you to apply for a new SIM card later.

3) Off-lease Procedure

Before leaving China, foreigners need to communicate with the landlord to handle the rental deposit or get reimbursement of housing subsidies from your company. Due to the visa time, it is better to plan in advance.

4) Transferring Funds Out of China

Worried about missing bank visits before leaving?

Concerned about accessing RMB after you’re gone?

Use SkyRemit to transfer RMB overseas anytime – before departure or after you’ve left – 100% online. Eliminate last-minute bank runs!

Simple 3-Step Setup (Better Complete in China):

1. Sign up on SkyRemit

2. Upload documents (one-time):

• Valid passport & work permit

• Income tax payment records(Approval grants long-term transfer access)

3. Initiate a transfer• Supports 195+ destinations & 43+ currencies

Scan to Check and Sign Up

Why Choose SkyRemit?

1. 24/7 Accessibility

• Transfers 365 days/year – no Chinese holiday restrictions

2. Competitive Rates

• Uses XE.com mid-mark

3. Fast Delivery• 80% transfers in 24-48hrs; select currencies in 30min4. Fully Licensed

5) Cancel Broadband

For all broadband services, if you no longer use them, need to bring your passport and internet device to the business hall to cancel your account before leaving China.

Otherwise, there will be further fees incurred. If you do not actively cancel your account, you will bear the expenses incurred.

6) Get the Contacts

Collect the email addresses and phone numbers of those you wish to stay in touch with, especially close friends and professional contacts. Make sure they have your contact information as well.

This is important because if you ever need to deactivate WeChat or if it becomes unusable due to regulatory changes in the future, you’ll still have a way to reach out to your friends.

For any former supervisors or managers, and anyone who could serve as a reference for a job, obtain their contact details and ensure they have yours too. This will be beneficial for maintaining professional relationships and networking.

7) Pet Affairs

If you decide to leave China with your pet, you need to prepare the following:

1. Booking Flight Tickets

Before purchasing flight tickets, confirm with the airline whether the desired flight has pet-in-cabin or oxygen-supply cargo hold spaces. Currently, pet tickets can only be confirmed by calling customer service.

After confirming the suitable flight, it is recommended to buy the tickets as soon as possible due to limited spots, especially during peak travel seasons. It is advisable to purchase pet tickets at least two months in advance for more options.

2. Preparation of Vaccination Certificate

More than one month before departure, ensure your pet’s rabies vaccine is valid within one year; if it is about to expire, it is recommended to get a booster shot one month before takeoff.

Veterinarians recommend waiting at least one month after vaccination before undertaking long flights.

3. Animal Health Certificate Issued by Customs (Valid for 5 Days)

Sample of the certificate

If you prefer not to go through the hassle, you can entrust a pet exit service agency through online forums, social media groups, or pet adoption websites such as RED, Xian Yu or related WeChat official accounts.

One month before departure, call the local customs hotline 12360 to inquire about the process, required documents, time, and location for handling (which may vary slightly by region).

*Note, the customs hotline does not offer English services.

If you decide not to take your pet with you when leaving China, there are several options for finding a new home for your pet.

1. Friends or relatives

Find a new loving home for your pet by contacting friends, family, or colleagues who may be willing to adopt.

2. Online Platforms

Utilize online forums, social media groups, or pet adoption websites such as RED, Xian Yu or related WeChat official accounts to find potential adopters.

8) Bucket List

Dive into your bucket list of activities you’ve always dreamed of experiencing in China but never found the time for.

Whether it’s walking along the Great Wall, exploring the historic Forbidden City, or tasting authentic street food in bustling markets, countless adventures are waiting for you.

Don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in cultural festivals, traditional tea ceremonies, and ancient temples.

These unique experiences offer a glimpse into a rich heritage and lifestyle that you won’t easily find outside of China. Enjoy every moment and create unforgettable memories.

9) Recommendation Letter

Sample of recommendation letter

In the following conditions, you may need a recommendation letter.

a. Work or Study: If foreigners are working or studying in Chinese companies or schools, and need recommendation letters to apply for work or study opportunities in other countries, then recommendation letters may be necessary

.b. Visa Application: In some cases, foreigners may need recommendation letters as part of the visa application process, especially when applying for work or student visas.

c. Professional Certification: Certain professional fields may require foreigners to continue working in related jobs after leaving China, and in such cases, recommendation letters may be needed to prove their professional capabilities and experience.

d. Personal Development: Recommendation letters can sometimes be part of personal development, such as applying for scholarships, attending professional conferences, or engaging in academic exchanges.

e. Other Specific Purposes: In some specific situations, such as applying for certain specific projects or opportunities, recommendation letters may be required.

There are strict regulations on the content of the recommendation letter, such as the job position, working time, and signature and seal of recommender or official seal.

10) Employment Separation Certificate

Sample of employment separation certificate

Before leaving a company in China, you should ask for a certificate of separation or work experience from the company.

This certificate should have your name, passport number, job dates, job title, company contact info, and the company’s stamp.

If you want to work in China again or need a work permit, this certificate is very important. Following the Labor Contract Law, the company must give the employee a separation certificate.

As you might need a notarized work certificate when applying for jobs or permanent residency in another country in the future, it’s also a good idea to get this certificate notarized.

11) Work Permit Cancellation Certificate

Sample of work permit cancellation certificate

There are two situations:

a. If your last working day is on or close to the work permit’s expiration date(e.g., within 3 days of the expiration date), you don’t need to cancel the work permit (because cancellation must be done a few days before you leave).

b. If there is a long gap between your last working day and the work permit’s expiration(e.g., more than 30 days), you must cancel the work permit and get a cancellation certificate from the Bureau of Foreign Experts Affairs.

If you return to China in a short period and apply for a domestic work permit transfer, this certificate must be provided.

Work Permit Cancellation Materials:

① Application for cancellation of work permit

② Termination certificate or termination certificate

③ Non-meeting Commitment (if applicable, can be submitted to complete the application online)

12) Apply for T Visa

Sample of T visa

After obtaining the work permit cancellation certificate, you can apply for a stay visa from the exit and entry department of the Public Security Bureau, and the duration of the stay visa will be determined based on the specific circumstances, usually 30 days.

Non-Criminal Record

Sample of non-criminal record

Obtaining a certificate of non-criminal record typically requires the applicant’s presence. If you have already left China, the materials needed for agent handling will be more complicated.

Foreigners in China usually need to meet the following conditions and requirements when applying for a certificate of no criminal record:

a. Residence Time Requirement: The cumulative residence in China must reach 180 days (inclusive) or more.

b. Personal application material needed on site (taking Shenzhen as an example):

①Original passport

②Temporary residence registration form

Sample of temporary residence registration form 临时住宿登记表样本

③application form (fill and sign on site)

*Please note that many foreigners do not update their records after renewing their residence permits or changing their addresses, which leads to discontinuous residence periods in the system and makes it impossible to process a certificate of no criminal record.

请注意，不少人每次在更新居留许可或变更地址后并未更新填表，导致系统里的居住时间不连续而无法办理无犯罪证明。

c. Application Department: An application should be submitted to the immigration administration department at or above the county level where the applicant resides.

3. 申请部门：应向居住地的县级以上出入境管理局提出申请。

d. Processing Time: Generally, it takes 5-10 working days to complete the process.4. 办理时间：一般情况下，办理时长为5-10个工作日办结。

If you have left China, materials needed for agent:

① The Chinese visa page of passport and residence period, must be authenticated by the Chinese Embassy or consulate.

② Temporary Accommodation registration form.

③ The power of attorney, must be certified by the Chinese Embassy or consulate.

Suppose the certificate is to be used abroad. In that case, obtaining two to three notarized copies of the certificate from a notary office after receiving it is recommended to be prepared for unforeseen needs.

Withdraw Social Insurance

Please be aware that you can only apply for social security surrender once the company has stopped your payments.

Generally, if the social security for the current month has been paid, the company can only stop the payments in the last few days of the month. Therefore, please plan your time carefully.

Offline Social Security Bureau window application:(taking Shenzhen as an example)

Documents needed of withdrawing Social Insurance:

① Passport

② A bank card issued in China’s Mainland

③ Work permit cancellation certificate or separation certificate

④ Financial social security card, no need if not available

⑤ Social insurance relationship settlement application form (signed by the insured, such as the unit agent, need to stamp official seal if company handled it instead of.)

The application form is as follows:

Q: How much money can I claim back?

A: You can log in to the personal social security system account to inquire, or to the Social Security Bureau front window to inquire. Any part paid by an individual can apply for withdrawal.

15) Withdraw Housing Fund

If your company has purchased the housing fund for you, you can withdraw the balance of all the housing fund before leaving.

For housing fund withdrawal, you can apply online or offline. It is recommended to apply offline, as online applications do not have the option of departure withdrawal and usually take several months to receive.

Online Apply: You can try searching for ‘公积金提取’ on Alipay, but if that doesn’t work out, we recommend going offline to handle it.

Offline application for the withdrawal of housing fund material (taking Shenzhen as an example):

① Original passport

② Original Housing fund card (if no, use other Chinese bank cards instead)③ Housing Fund Withdrawal business personal authorization, commitment letter (fill in bank window site)

16) Handle Individual Income Tax

Individuals in China are responsible for personal income tax. Before leaving, verify your tax records to ensure your employer has fully withheld and paid the corresponding personal income tax for you.

If there’s a shortfall, coordinate with your employer to settle it promptly to avoid late fees, penalties, and credit damage in China. Seeking help from a tax professional or service is advisable.

If your taxpayer status changes before departure: a resident becomes a non-resident, or a non-resident becomes a resident, resulting in a discrepancy between the tax paid and the tax payable, in this case, you need to go to the tax Bureau for a tax refund before departure.

If you are a resident taxpayer and you have used the eight eligible subsidy policies to refund the tax in the following year, you need to prepare relevant information before leaving the country.

If you have used the qualified rent subsidy, you need to collect the rent invoice, lease contract and other information before leaving the country, to handle the personal settlement from March to June of the following year. Provide supporting documents to the tax office.

17) Personal Income Tax Payment Certificate

Sample of the certificate

To comply with tax obligations in your home country or a third country where you may work, it’s advisable to secure documentation of your income and tax payments from your employment in China before you leave.

This proof of tax payment can be essential for demonstrating compliance with tax laws in other jurisdictions.

Please follow and like us: