Buying a flat in China in 2026: who can, prices, rules
A foreigner may own one flat in the whole country and only to live in, after a year of living in China. A square metre in Beijing costs about $5,400, and currency conversion is capped at $50,000 a year.
In short
- A foreigner may buy one flat in the whole country and only for their own residence.
- The right to buy comes after living in China, as a rule for at least a year.
- Housing in Beijing averages about $5,400 per square metre.
- Land is state-owned: the land use right for housing is usually 70 years.
- Individuals can convert about $50,000 a year, so payments are made in parts.
In detail
A foreigner can buy a flat in China, but only one in the whole country and only to live in: you need to have lived in China on a work, study or other visa, as a rule for at least a year. The land stays state-owned, and the buyer gets the building and a land use right for 70 years. How we select and check properties is explained on the page property in China.
How much a flat in China costs in 2026
According to China's National Bureau of Statistics, in the first half of 2026 housing in Beijing sold for an average of about 36,200 yuan per square metre, about $5,400. Central districts of Beijing and Shanghai cost several times the average, while second and third-tier cities are much cheaper. Example calculation: an 80 m² flat in Beijing at the average price is about $430,000.
Life in the largest cities is covered in the guides to Beijing and Shanghai.
Who can buy a flat in China
- A foreigner living in China - working, studying or there on another basis, as a rule for at least a year. Exact requirements on the period and documents depend on the city.
- Only one residential unit per person or family in the whole country, not per city.
- Only for your own residence: buying to rent out is not allowed for a foreign individual.
- Land belongs to the state: the buyer gets a right to use it, usually for 70 years for housing, with the possibility of extension.
How to pay: currency rules
The main difficulty is not the price but the money. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange limits currency conversion for individuals, usually to about $50,000 a year per person. So a large purchase is paid in several transfers or with money earned in China.
Since September 2025 a foreigner can make the currency payment more easily: the purchase can be paid under a signed contract, before the deal is registered. Banks check the source of funds especially closely, so income documents are prepared in advance.
One flat in the whole country, and $50,000 of conversion a year
In China a purchase falls through not on price but on rights and money: the residence period falls short of the city's requirements, the flat is registered to someone without the right to buy, the currency limit prevents paying on time, the bank holds the payment over the source of funds. We check your right to buy in your city, the developer and the land right, plan the currency payments and support registration.
The cost of support depends on the city and the property; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
How to buy a flat in China: step by step
- Check your right to buy: the residence period and the specific city's requirements.
- Choose the property and check it: the developer or seller, the land right and encumbrances.
- Sign the sale contract and register it.
- Make the currency payment within the limit and with source-of-funds checks.
- Register ownership and receive the property certificate.
Taxes and what buying gives
Taxes and fees on buying and owning a home follow the city's rules, and a Chinese tax resident's income is taxed on a progressive scale: more on the page taxes in China. Buying gives no residence: on the contrary, the right to buy a flat appears only for those already living in the country for work, study or another reason. If you need a business in China, start with company registration.
FAQ
Can a foreigner buy a flat in China?
How much does a flat in China cost in 2026?
Can you buy a second flat in China?
Does the buyer own the land in China?
How much currency can you convert to buy a flat in China?
Does buying a flat give residence in China?
Don’t want to figure this out alone?
We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
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