Legal status: repealed. The former Provisions on the Employment of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Residents in Mainland China were repealed through MOHRSS Order No. 37 in August 2018. This page explains that change for employers, and is not a statement of current employment-permit requirements.
Official Chinese sources: 人力资源社会保障部关于废止《台湾香港澳门居民在内地就业管理规定》的决定; 港澳台人员不再需要办理就业证. Checked 26 October 2026.
What changed in 2018?
MOHRSS Order No. 37 — selected translation of the operative Chinese provision: To carry out the State Council’s cancellation of employment permission for residents of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau in mainland China, and to facilitate their work and daily life there, the Ministry repeals the former Provisions on the Employment of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Residents in Mainland China (Order No. 26). This repeal comes into force upon promulgation.
Practical significance for employers
MOHRSS confirmed that the former employment permit was no longer required from 28 July 2018. Employers should therefore not use the former permit requirements as their current onboarding checklist. They should assess lawful employment contracts, identity documents, tax reporting and social-insurance treatment against the provisions currently applicable to the worker and local jurisdiction.
Why this archive matters
Old summaries of mainland employment rules may still mention employment permits for these residents. Those passages refer to a repealed system and should not be used to make present-day HR decisions. The repeal removed that approval, not all employment obligations.
Original law and related HROne information
Official Chinese MOHRSS repeal decision · Official MOHRSS explanation · China Labor Law provisions.
Original translation prepared from the cited Chinese document for informational use. Not a certified translation or legal advice.
