Various Types of Registrations Certificates Obtained after
a Resident Presentative Office is duly registered in China
Your Resident Representative Office (also known as Permanent Representative Office, RO) in China Should have Obtained These Certificates after Registration
INTRODUCTION
When setting up a Representative Office in China, you need to apply for about 8 certificates and documents from various government authorities. This article introduces the nature, usage and issuing bodies for these certificates.
CERTIFICATES
Registration Certificate of Foreign Enterprises Permanent Representative Office in China (Original, IC Card)
Issued By:
Local Administration of Industry and Commerce (e.g. Shanghai Administration of Industry and Commerce, SHAIC )
Main Items:
~ Name of Entity
~ Address of Entity
~ Name of Chief Representative
~ Scope of Business
~ Name of Head Office
~ Registered Address of Head Office
~ Residence Duration (3 years)
~ Validity (3 years)
Purpose:
It is evidence of approval to set up a representative office (RO). An RO is an office of a foreign enterprise set up in China for liaison with Chinese businesses and customers on behalf of its parent company. An RO is normally set up before a foreign enterprise decides to make an actual investment in China. It is not considered a separate legal entity. An RO cannot hire staff in its own name but can do so through authorised agents.
Chief Representative Certificate
Issued By:
Local Administration of Industry and Commerce (e.g. Shanghai Administration of Industry and Commerce, SHAIC )
Main Items:
~ Name of Chief Representative
~ Age of Chief Representative
~ Gender of Chief Representative
~ Nationality of Chief Representative
~ Validity (generally 3 years)
~ Permanent Address of Chief Representative
Purpose:
The Chief Representative Certificate gives the expatriate acting as the Chief Representative the right to act in that capacity, and is the record which the Chinese Government keeps. He will be taxed on his personal income in China and shall not enjoy the 90/183 days exemption rule.
Organisation Registration Certificate (Original, Duplicate, IC Card)
Issued By:
Local Technology Quality Supervisory Bureau (e.g. Shanghai Technology Quality Supervisory Bureau )
Main Items:
~ Organisation Code
~ Name of RO
~ Type of Business
~ Address of RO
~ Validity (3 years)
Purpose:
It gives the RO an Organisation Registration Code, similar to an identification number of an individual. The code will be used in the company's dealings with various bureaus and government authorities, eg. tax filing, opening of bank accounts, imports and exports etc.
Taxation Registration Certificate (National Local) (Original & Duplicate)
Issued By:
State Taxation Bureau Local Branch (e.g. Shanghai State Taxation Bureau )
Main Items:
~ Taxation Registration Number
~ Levy Management Code
~ Name of RO
~ Address of RO in China
~ Business Scope
~ Officer-in-charge
~ Name of Head Office
~ Address of Head Office
~ Validity (3 years)
Purpose:
It is the approval certificate from the local branch of State Taxation Bureau used as evidence of tax registration with the tax authority.
Statistics Registration Certificate
Issued By:
Local Statistics Bureau (e.g. Shanghai Statistics Bureau)
Main Items:
~ Financial Registration Number
~ Name of RO
~ Name of Chief Representative
~ Address of RO
~ Validity (3 years)
Purpose:
The RO has to submit a statistics report to the Local Statistics Bureau quarterly. The report includes the basic information of the RO. All the information will be collected and published as part of the provincial/city/national statistics by the Statistics Bureau.
Customs Approval Record
Issued By:
Local Customs (e.g. Shanghai Customs )
Main Items:
~ Customs Registration Number
~ Name of RO
~ Name of Chief Representative
~ Address of RO
Purpose:
The RO needs this certificate to import/export items eg. the expatriate
representative's personal effects or office items.
Foreign Exchange Registration Certificate (Original & IC Card)
Foreign Exchange Approval Certificate
Issued By:
State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) [Local Branch]
Main Items:
~ Registration Number
~ Organisation Code
~ Name of RO
~ Address of RO
~ Type of Business
~ Business Scope
Purpose:
The Foreign Exchange Registration Certificate includes all the information of the RO. The information is captured in the foreign exchange account card.
The Foreign Exchange Approval Letter gives the approval for the RO to open a foreign currency account and inject funds to finance the RO's operations.
SEALS
Every RO has three important seals. They are the RO Seal, Chief Representative Seal and Financial Seal. The RO needs to have these seals carved and registered with the Shanghai Municipal Police Bureau.
RO Seal Purpose:
Contracts shall take effect when the RO Seal is stamped on them. The seal needs to be kept in safe custody.
Chief Representative Seal
Purpose:
The Chief Representative Seal on a document indicates his endorsement.
Financial Seal Purpose:
The Financial Seal is required to effect bank and cheque transactions.
See also:
Introduction to China Permanent Representative Offices
Permanent Representative Offices Registration Procedures
Legal Status of Permanent Representative Offices
Business Scope of Permanent Representative Offices
Responsibilities of Chief Representative of a Permanent Representative Office
Taxation of Permanent Representative Offices
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