A social security totalisation agreement (also called a social security agreement or SSA) is a bilateral treaty between two countries that coordinates their social security systems to avoid situations where the same worker pays contributions to both systems simultaneously. For expatriates working in China, these agreements can significantly reduce the cost of social insurance.
As of 2026, China has concluded and brought into force totalisation agreements with Germany, South Korea, Finland, Denmark, Canada, Japan, Serbia, the Netherlands, Spain, Luxembourg, and a number of other countries. The scope and terms of each agreement differ and must be reviewed individually.
For nationals of countries with which China has an agreement, the agreement typically specifies which country's social insurance system applies. In most cases, a worker posted to China by an employer in the home country is covered by the home-country system and exempt from Chinese social insurance contributions during the posting — but must provide a 'certificate of coverage' (detachment certificate) from the home-country social security authority to benefit from this exemption.
For nationals of countries without a totalisation agreement with China (including the United States and the United Kingdom as of 2026), mandatory participation in Chinese social insurance is generally required for foreign nationals under standard Chinese labour contracts. Contribution rates and benefit structures have evolved, and up-to-date advice from a specialist is important.
The exemption from Chinese social insurance for covered workers can represent a significant cost saving — total Chinese social insurance contributions (employer plus employee) can reach 35–45% of salary depending on city. For employers and HR planners, understanding which workers qualify for the exemption and maintaining valid certificates of coverage is an important assignment management task.