China has launched an integrated work permit and social security card for foreigners living in the country. The “Join-in Card” allows foreigners to enjoy 264 public services in diverse sectors such as government affairs, transport, tourism, finance and healthcare without having to carry around their passports or other certificates. Shen Zhenning, Deputy Director of the Foreign Experts Service Department of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said that the introduction of the card is of great significance for providing convenient services for foreigners working and living in China.
Expatriates in Zhejiang province became the first recipients of the all-in-one card available in physical and digital versions. Expats can use the card to take the subway and buses in 336 cities, visit 2,825 cultural and tourism venues in the Yangtze River Delta region, and seek medical treatment and buy drugs at tens of thousands of medical institutions and pharmacies in 41 cities. Expats only need to apply online once, and within 10 days, the “Join-in Card” will be delivered directly to their homes. An electronic one will also be given. The card is convenient to make doctors' appointments, visit museums or borrow books from libraries, without the need to present a passport or go through extra registration procedures. Zhejiang has 67,000 foreign permanent residents as of late October, with 22,300 of them holding valid work permits. It was named a pilot area by the Ministry for promotion of the integrated card.
