Integrated 'Join in Card' launched for expats

China's first integrated foreigner's work permit and social security card is issued in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province on Tuesday, aiming to provide more convenience for foreigners living in the country. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)

China recently issued its first integrated foreigner's work permit and social security card to provide more convenience for foreigners living in the country.

The "Join in Card," available in physical and digital versions, allows expats to access 264 public services in diverse sectors such as government affairs, transport, tourism, finance, and healthcare without carrying their passports or other certificates.

"As a foreigner, I encounter some difficulties and challenges in my work life. For example, it's not very convenient to make an appointment for registration at a hospital or to swipe your card to buy medicine at a pharmacy, to borrow or return books from the library," said Stephen Fox, who works at an energy company in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province.

"With this new card, I can use my phone to make appointments with doctors in advance, just like my wife, in-laws and Chinese friends. I can seek quick medical treatment on arrival. It also offers a great convenience for kids to go to museums and libraries. I don't need to present my passport or go through extra registration procedures," he said, adding that he is looking forward to using it.

Fox, from the United States, has lived in Jiaxing for 13 years and married a Chinese wife. He was one of the first expats to receive the card at a launching ceremony in the city on Tuesday.

Jovanovic Milos, from Serbia, is a coach at a football club in Jiaxing. He said, "I can save money now." Previously, when he used a foreign bank card for purchases, he had to pay a transaction fee. However, using the "Join in Card" for payments means he no longer needs to pay any fees.

According to local authorities, expats can use the card to take the subway and bus 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.

Work permits and social security cards are important certificates for foreigners in China. In the past, they had to visit two departments, submit materials multiple times and fill in information repeatedly, which would take about a month.

Now, they 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.

Shen Zhenning, deputy director of the foreign experts service department of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said introducing the card is crucial for providing convenient services for foreigners working and living in China.