China Housing Fund Withdrawal for Foreigners: 2026 Guide
Good news: the money in your housing provident fund (住房公积金, HPF) is yours — both your own contributions and your employer's matching part. When you leave China for good, you can make an account-closure withdrawal (销户提取) and take out the entire balance, tax-free. This guide explains the 6 statutory withdrawal circumstances under Article 24 of the HPF Regulation, the exact process for foreigners and Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan employees, and how it differs by city. Estimate your balance first with the China Housing Fund Calculator.
1. Quick Answer: Yes, You Can Take It All Out
If you are leaving China permanently (or moving to Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan), the route is "settling abroad" withdrawal (出境定居提取) under Article 24(4) of the Regulations on the Administration of Housing Provident Funds. With proof that you are settling abroad, you withdraw the full balance — your contributions plus your employer's — and the account is closed (销户) at the same time. There is no IIT on HPF withdrawals, and no cap on the amount: everything that has accumulated in the account goes to you.
If you are not leaving for good yet, you can still withdraw for housing purposes while working: rent, mortgage repayment, or buying/renovating a home. See Section 3 for all six circumstances.
2. What the Housing Fund Is — and Why There Is Money in It
The HPF is a mandatory housing savings scheme for employees in mainland China. You and your employer each contribute a share of your monthly salary base:
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Contribution rate (each side) | 5%–12% of the salary base, set by the city and the employer |
| Salary base ceiling | 3× the local average wage of the previous year |
| Ownership | All contributions (yours + employer's) belong to the account holder |
| Interest | Accumulated at the unified one-year fixed deposit benchmark rate (currently 1.5%) |
| Tax | Contributions within the cap are IIT-exempt; withdrawals are not taxed |
Many expats discover years of employer matching sitting in the account — at 5%–12% each side, that can be a substantial five- or six-figure sum in RMB by the time you leave. Use the Housing Fund Calculator or the HPF Withdrawal Calculator to estimate what you can take out.
3. The 6 Statutory Withdrawal Circumstances (Article 24)
Article 24 of the HPF Regulation lists when a contributor may withdraw. Cases 2, 3 and 4 also require closing the account:
| # | Circumstance | Account closed? | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Purchase, construction, renovation or major repair of owner-occupied housing | No | Per invoice / plan, up to the cost |
| 2 | Retirement (退休) | Yes — full closure | Entire balance |
| 3 | Complete loss of labour capacity and termination of employment | Yes — full closure | Entire balance |
| 4 | Settling abroad (出境定居) | Yes — full closure | Entire balance |
| 5 | Repaying principal and interest on a home purchase loan | No | Per repayment schedule |
| 6 | Rent exceeding a prescribed share of family income | No | Per local rent rules |
For foreigners, the practical routes are #4 (settling abroad — full closure) while leaving China, and #5/#6 (mortgage or rent) while living and working in China.
4. Leaving China: the Account-Closure Withdrawal, Step by Step
The exact platform differs by city, but the logic is the same everywhere:
- Get proof of settling abroad. Typically your foreign passport plus an immigration visa / permanent residence permit of the destination country — or, for Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan residents, the corresponding residence permit. Requirements vary slightly by city; some accept the cancelled work permit plus a departure record, so confirm with the local HPF centre.
- Make sure your employer has processed separation. Under Article 15 of the HPF Regulation, the employer must complete the change registration and seal (封存) your account within 30 days of your employment ending. A sealed account is eligible for closure withdrawal.
- Apply for the closure withdrawal. Submit the application through the city's online HPF platform or at a counter, with your passport, the settling-abroad proof, and your own bank account (usually a local Class-I debit card in your name).
- Receive the full balance; the account is closed. Funds are usually transferred within a few working days to two weeks depending on the city.
Do this before your visa/residence permit lapses — most centres verify your identity and status in China, and some document checks are easier while you are still in the country. If you have already left, many cities accept an entrusted application or online filing, but policies on remote processing vary.
5. City Differences: Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and More
| City | What's special for foreigners |
|---|---|
| Beijing | Online: the Beijing HPF personal online business platform lists a dedicated item — "Foreign, Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan personnel account closure" (外籍、港澳台人员销户); counter processing at management departments also available. |
| Shanghai | Since April 2023 (Shanghai HPF [2023] No. 3), foreigners and HK/Macau/Taiwan employees with stable employment in Shanghai may voluntarily contribute to the HPF; closure withdrawal for settling abroad follows the standard process. |
| Shenzhen | Non-local-hukou employees (including foreigners) have flexible withdrawal options; upon terminating employment and leaving Shenzhen, closure-style withdrawal of the full balance is a well-established route. |
| Guangzhou / Hangzhou | Standard Article 24 process; rent and mortgage withdrawals are popular while employed, closure withdrawal on settling abroad. |
For city-specific contribution rates, bases and social insurance details, see our city guides: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou.
6. How It Interacts with Social Insurance and Tax
- Social insurance is separate. Pension contributions (8% employee / 14–16% employer) are governed by a different system. Pooled pension money is generally not refundable for foreigners — only the individual pension account portion can be settled on departure in specific cases, and bilateral social security agreements change the picture for 13 countries. See the Social Insurance for Foreign Employees Guide.
- No IIT on HPF withdrawals. Both the contributions within the 3× average wage cap and the withdrawals (including the full closure payout) are tax-exempt. There is no need to include it in your annual reconciliation.
- Your employer must seal the account within 30 days of your last day — if they have not, chase them before applying, since a still-active account blocks the closure withdrawal.
- Severance is taxed, the fund is not. When leaving you may also receive N/N+1/2N compensation — that has its own 3×-average-wage exemption rule. See Does Severance Pay Get Taxed in China?
7. FAQ
Can foreigners withdraw the housing fund when leaving China?
Yes. With proof of settling abroad (immigration visa / permanent residence of the destination, or HK/Macau/Taiwan residence documents), you can withdraw the entire balance and close the account under Article 24(4) of the HPF Regulation.
Do I get my employer's contributions too?
Yes. Everything in the account — your own 5%–12% and the employer's matching part, plus accumulated interest — belongs to you and is paid out in full on closure.
Is the withdrawal taxed?
No. Housing fund withdrawals are exempt from individual income tax, unlike severance pay which is only partially exempt.
What documents do I need?
Commonly: passport (or HK/Macau/Taiwan travel document), proof of settling abroad or equivalent departure proof, the employer's separation/sealing record, and your own bank card. Exact lists vary by city — check the local HPF centre before applying.
Can I leave the account open and withdraw later?
You can leave it, but it earns only the benchmark deposit rate (~1.5%), and you generally cannot make partial withdrawals for rent or a mortgage from abroad. Most departing expats do the full closure withdrawal.
My employer never opened an HPF account for me — what now?
In most cities HPF enrolment is mandatory for employees including foreigners (Shanghai opened voluntary enrolment for foreigners in April 2023). Ask the employer to register and make up contributions; if they refuse, you can file a complaint with the local housing fund management centre.