I. Admission Eligibility and Policy Protection

Legal Basis
According to the Measures for the Enjoyment of Relevant Benefits by Foreigners with Permanent Residency in China and the Ministry of Education’s regulations on foreign-affiliated education, children of foreign nationals holding a work residence permit are entitled to education privileges.

Basic Eligibility
At least one parent must hold:
✓ A valid work-type residence permit (or permanent residence permit);
✓ A formal employment contract with a registered employer.

II. School Options and Application Procedures

1. International Schools

Advantages

Full English or bilingual instruction with international curricula (IB, AP, A-Level, etc.);

Globally recognized academic credentials, facilitating future overseas education.

Application Documents

Copies of parents’ passports and residence permits;

Child’s birth certificate (consular authentication required);

Previous academic transcripts (notarized English version);

Vaccination records (in both Chinese and English).

Fee Reference

Tuition: ¥150,000–300,000 per year (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen);

Additional Fees: School bus ¥15,000–20,000 per year; extracurricular activities charged separately.

2. International Divisions of Public Schools

Available Cities
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu, etc. (application required one year in advance).

Entrance Exams

Written Test: Mathematics and English (lower difficulty compared to domestic students);

Interview: Family adaptability assessment.

Fees

Tuition: ¥50,000–80,000 per year (approximately 3–5 times the local student rate).

3. Specialized Sports Schools

Options

Affiliated Competitive Sports School of Beijing Sport University;

Sports Program of Shanghai Caoyang No. 2 High School;

Weilen Sports School of Guangzhou.

Special Policies

Children of professional athletes may be exempted from cultural subjects entrance exams (provincial-level sports bureau recommendation letter required);

Balanced schedule with a 1:1 ratio between training and academic classes.

III. Academic Pathways Planning

1. Higher Education Channels

2. Scholarship Opportunities

Chinese Government Scholarship: Apply through the China Scholarship Council (requires HSK Level 5);

Sports Talent Scholarships: Full or partial tuition waivers for children of athletes who have won medals at National Games or Asian Games.

IV. Support for Special Needs

Language Transition

Public schools offer free one-on-one Chinese tutoring (up to two years);

International schools provide native language preservation programs (e.g., German/French departments).

Balancing Training and Academics

Flexible academic systems allow online learning during competition periods;

Academic credits can be partially substituted with achievements in international competitions.

Visa Transition

Upon turning 18, children can apply for a study-type residence permit without leaving China.

V. Important Information for Parents

Key Timelines

International Schools: Applications open in January each year for the next academic year (rolling admissions);

Public School International Divisions: Registration in March, entrance exams in June;

Chinese Overseas Students’ Entrance Exam: Permanent residence must be obtained before the third year of junior high school.

Cautions

Beware of agencies promising "guaranteed admission" (verify school accreditation via the Ministry of Education’s official list);

Private bilingual schools are not equivalent to international schools (check curriculum certification carefully).

In Case of Emergency

For academic registration inquiries: Ministry of Education Foreign Supervision Information Website (English version available);

For discrimination complaints: Call 12345 and request the foreign education assistance desk.

VI. Policy Information Channels

Official Websites

Ministry of Education’s Foreign Supervision Information Portal: http://jsj.moe.gov.cn

National Immigration Administration “Children’s Education” Section

Offline Services

Education consultation counters at municipal Foreign Experts Bureaus (appointment required).