How can Staff of Foreign-funded Enterprises apply for importing vehicles for personal use ?

In accordance with Measures of the Customs of the People’s Republic of China for the Supervision of the Entry and Exit of Articles for Personal Use of Long-term Non-resident Travelers (Order No. 194 of the General Administration of Customs), permanent personnel who want to import motor vehicles shall, either in person or authorize the declaration enterprises to, apply to competent customs authority in written form and hand in the original and copy of the following documents;
(1)  Original and photocopy of the personal identification (passport);
(2) Long-term residence certificates ( issued by the Public Security Exit-Entry Administration , with a span of more than one year [included]);
(3) ” The application form for entry and exit of articles for personal use” with personal signature.
(4) The bill of lading, packing list and other relevant documents;
(5) foreign-invested enterprises’ import and export goods’ consignee or consignor’s declaration registration certificate”
(6) Foreigner Employment Permit
(7) Labor contracts signed with the enterprise.
(8) Vehicle purchase invoices;
(9) Other documents required by the customs.

The above observations are for reference only, in case of difference, the results from the competent customs shall prevail.

How can Legal person or shareholders of foreign-invested enterprises apply for importing cars for private use?
(1)  Original and photocopy of the personal identification (passport);
(2) Long-term residence certificates (issued by the Public Security Exit-Entry Administration, with a span of more than one year [included]);
(3) ” The Application Form for Entry and Exit of Customs of the People’s Republic of China of Articles for Personal Use” with personal signature.
(4) Original and copy of the bill of lading, packing list and other relevant documents;
(5) foreign-invested enterprises’ Import and Export Goods’ Consignee or Consignor’s Declaration Registration Certificate” ;( original and copy, and if it is the shareholder who files the application, his or her name shall be on the certificate).
(6) Original and copy of “Legal Representative Registration Certificate “(submitted by the legal person).
(7) Original and copy of the vehicle purchasing invoice.
(8) Other documents required by the customs.

The above observations are for reference only, in case of difference, the results from the competent customs shall prevail.

Permanent personnel import car for their own use needs the transfer of the following relevant procedures and formalities;
A: According to the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China Notice No. 30 of 2006, Permanent staff’s vehicle can be granted for transfer to others only after a year since the time of vehicle registration procedures was completed by the public security traffic management department. For transferring the motor vehicle, permanent personnel shall submit a written application to the competent customs and the original and photocopy of the following documents:
(1) Identification;
(2) Long – term residence certificates;
(3) Motor Vehicle Driving License of the imported Motor Vehicles.
(4) Customs Of The People ‘S Republic of China’s Permanent Institutions Record Card of the resident office or foreign-invested enterprises’ Import and Export Goods’ Consignee or Consignor’s Declaration Registration Certificate”

After the competent customs’ approval, People’s Republic of China Customs Control Vehicles Deregulation Certificate should be issued and Permanent staff can, by virtue of this certificate, go through procedures for the relevant vehicle for transfer with the Public Security Traffic Management Department.

Question on Embassy Staff Bringing Cars for Personal Use
A: According to the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China Notice No. 41 in 2005, the returnees shall, within six months of their entry, submit written application to the local direct custom or subordinate customs authorized by the direct customs (Hereinafter referred to as the competent customs) and submit the original and copy of the following documents:
(1) Passport and identity card;
(2) Embassies and Consulates Staff Identification issued by our embassies and consulates abroad (See Attachment 3 uniformly printed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
(3) Returning Certificate Staff of Embassies and Consulates Abroad issued by the competent dispatching authorities in China( See the format in Annex 4 , printed by each enterprises and units on their own ) ;
(4) Bill of lading (shipping) orders, vehicle purchase invoices, packing lists and other relevant documents;
(5) ” The Application Form for Entry and Exit of Customs of the People’s Republic of China of Articles for Personal Use” (See Annex 5 , hereinafter referred to “Application Form” )

After the approval of the competent customs authority, customs establishment at the place where the goods enter the territory would issue verification and discharge of goods at the customs based on the customs documents and other relevant documents, and after vehicle release results are endorsed on the “Application Form” return receipt, the receipt shall be return to the competent customs. And the embassy shall, within 20 working days of the date of customs clearance vehicles, apply to the competent customs for the Customs of the People’s Republic of China Vehicle Entry / Exit Licensing Notice (See Annex 6, hereinafter referred to as the “licensing notice ” ). And the motor vehicle registration procedures should be completed at the public security organs of the traffic management department in accordance with the law. The Public security organs of the traffic management department shall issue a small car license plate. For staff who met the following requirements, they can import a car exempted from the import duty. But the Import VAT and consumption tax shall not be levied.

1. Permanent Representative (permanent institutions) to apply for imported cars must provide the following documents:
1) Record card of the permanent institutions in the People’s Republic of China
2) The application form of entry and exit of articles for personal use in quadruplicate (Organization Seals and Signature of the applicant);
3) Identification Documents: 1 resident staff passport, affixed with the residence permit for more than one year (included) issued by Exit and Entry Administration; Hong Kong and Macao residents must provide the Hong Kong and Macao residents Mainland Travel Permit and more than one year proof of residence issued by the local police station. Taiwan compatriots must provide their Mainland Travel Permit and more than one year (included) Residence endorsement issued by the Exit and Entry Administration 2 foreign countries (regions) Representative Offices work permit. 3 Employment Permit for foreigners and Employment Permit for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao compatriot 4 a copy of the identity document.
4) Original and a copy of the vehicle bill of lading and packing list (consignee for vehicles should be the applicants for vehicle’s entering the country).

2. For Foreign resident staff enterprises in the three forms of joint venture, cooperative business and exclusively foreign-owned enterprises in China to apply for imported cars, the following documents should be provided.
1) Declaration Registration Certificate of Consignee or Consignor of Import and Export (original and a copy).
2) back up copy of the business license (original and a copy).
3) “the application form for entry and exit of articles for personal use” in quadruplicate (with the company seal and the Signature of the applicant)
4) Identification Documents: a. resident staff passport, affixed with the residence permit for more than one year (included) issued by Exit and Entry Administration; Hong Kong and Macao residents must provide the Hong Kong and Macao residents Mainland Travel Permit and more than one year proof of residence issued by the local police station. Taiwan compatriots must provide their Mainland Travel Permit and more than one year (included) Residence endorsement issued by the Exit and Entry Administration. b. Employment Permit for foreigners and Employment Permit for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao compatriot c. A copy of the identity document
5) Original and a copy of the vehicle bill of lading and packing list (consignee for vehicles should be the applicants for vehicle’s entering the country).

3. For overseas science and technology experts to work in China to apply for imported cars, the following documents must be provided:
1) “the application form for entry and exit of articles for personal use” in quadruplicate (with the company seal and the Signature of the applicant)
2) Identification Documents: a. resident staff passport, affixed with the residence permit for more than one year (included) issued by Exit and Entry Administration; b. foreign expert certificate and a copy of the original;
3) Original and a copy of the vehicle bill of lading and packing list (consignee for vehicles should be the applicants for vehicle’s entering the country).

4. Matters Needing Attention
1) Permanent staff can import vehicles such as cars, SUVs and small passenger cars (9 seats and below), the right wheel cars are not allowed to be imported;
2) Drive the vehicle to the customs , and hold customs entry customs seal, the fourth copy of the original ” entry and exit of articles for personal use application form”, the original and copy of the tax bill, the vehicle test compliance report to apply for customs seal of the license registration notice.
3) Permanent staff’s vehicle can be granted for transfer to others only after a year since the time of vehicle registration procedures was completed by the public security traffic management department. Replies above are for reference only; results from actual business scene shall prevail.
4) Permanent staff could import motor vehicle into China, limited to one vehicle per person, other long – term non-resident travelers shall not import vehicles into China.
5) since July 1, 2010, apart from the resident offices and permanent personnel high-level personnel and foreign experts who, in accordance with the relevant intergovernmental agreements, can import motor vehicles, other permanent institutions and Permanent personnel shall not import the used motor vehicles, application for their used motor vehicles entering the country shall not be accepted by the Custom.