In depth · Property
Buying property in Shanghai: the rules for foreigners
What the Shanghai Municipal Government says about foreigners buying a home in the city. It is general information, not legal or financial advice, and the rules have changed several times since 2024.
Updated October 2026
Who can buy
The city’s guide says you need Chinese permanent residency, or to have worked in Shanghai for at least one year. Working expats need a labour contract (and work visa), one year or more of continuous social insurance or personal income-tax records, and no other real estate in China. The home must be for residential use only: you may not rent it out or use it commercially. Permanent residence holders don’t need the labour contract or tax records.
Documents and registration
To register a purchase you need your passport or residence permit, the purchase contract, a tax payment certificate and a signed application and letter of commitment. Documents in a foreign language must be translated into Chinese and notarised. For new homes, the developer usually handles the foreign-ownership approval; for second-hand homes, you need the identity documents of buyer and seller and the property ownership certificate. Banks set their own requirements for mortgages.
Recent changes
Shanghai has adjusted its home-buying policies several times: in September 2024, in August 2025 (when limits on buying homes outside the Outer Ring Road were eased for families with a year of local social insurance or tax records) and with a seven-item package announced on 25 February 2026. We don’t interpret these changes. Confirm the rules that apply to you with the Shanghai housing authorities and a qualified lawyer before you start.
Where people live
See our property guide for the former French Concession, Jing’an and Lujiazui, and the international consultancies with residential teams. We don’t publish prices.
Questions and answers
Can a foreigner buy a flat in Shanghai?
Yes, with conditions. Under the city’s rules you need permanent residency or at least a year of work in Shanghai with social insurance or tax records, and you may buy only one home, for your own use (Shanghai Municipal Government).
Can I buy on a tourist or visa-free stay?
No. The rules require residency or a year of work in Shanghai.
Do I need a lawyer?
We recommend one. Documents must be translated and notarised, and the rules change.
General information only, not legal or financial advice. Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn. Rules change: confirm with the Shanghai housing authorities and a qualified lawyer.