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What Is the Xiamen Minimum Wage for Foreign Employees in 2026?

For foreign companies hiring employees in Xiamen, understanding local minimum wage requirements is an essential part of employment compliance.

Many overseas employers are unsure whether foreign employees working in China are subject to different salary requirements from local employees.

In China, minimum wage standards are generally determined by the employee’s working location and employment relationship, rather than nationality.

Foreign employees who are legally employed in Xiamen are subject to the same minimum wage regulations as Chinese employees.

However, minimum wage compliance is only the starting point. Employers must also consider:

This guide explains Xiamen’s minimum wage requirements for foreign employees and what international companies should know when hiring in Xiamen.



1. Does Xiamen Have a Different Minimum Wage for Foreign Employees?

No. Xiamen does not set a separate minimum wage standard for foreign employees.

Under China’s labor regulations, minimum wage requirements apply based on:

  • The employee’s actual work location;

  • Employment relationship;

  • Full-time or non-full-time employment status.

Nationality, passport, or visa type does not affect the applicable minimum wage level.

For foreign companies hiring employees in Xiamen, compliance involves two separate areas:

Labor Law Compliance

Employers must ensure:

  • Employee wages meet Xiamen’s minimum wage requirements;

  • Employment contracts comply with Chinese labor regulations;

  • Payroll records are properly maintained.

Immigration Compliance

Foreign employees must also maintain:

  • A valid Foreigner’s Work Permit;

  • A valid work-type residence permit;

  • Employment information consistent with government records.

Meeting the minimum wage requirement does not mean that a foreign employee automatically qualifies for employment authorization in China.


2. Fujian Minimum Wage Standards Differ by City

Foreign employers should understand that Fujian Province does not apply one single minimum wage standard across all cities.

Different cities and regions in Fujian implement different minimum wage levels based on:

  • Local economic development;

  • Average wage levels;

  • Labor market conditions.

Therefore, companies hiring employees in Fujian must apply the minimum wage standard based on the employee’s actual working location, rather than using a province-wide figure.

According to Fujian’s latest minimum wage adjustment effective from April 1, 2025, Xiamen belongs to the highest minimum wage category in the province.)

Examples of different minimum wage levels in Fujian:

City / Region

Full-time Minimum Wage

Non-full-time Hourly Minimum Wage

Xiamen (all districts)

RMB 2,265/month

RMB 23.5/hour

Fuzhou, Quanzhou and some developed areas

RMB 2,195/month

RMB 23/hour

Other cities and counties

RMB 2,045/month or lower

RMB 21.5/hour or lower


For employers operating in Fujian Province, this means:

  • A foreign employee working in Xiamen follows Xiamen’s minimum wage standard.

  • A foreign employee working in Quanzhou or Zhangzhou may follow a different standard.

  • The applicable wage requirement depends on the employee’s actual workplace.


3. What Is the Minimum Wage in Xiamen?

Xiamen implemented its latest minimum wage adjustment from April 1, 2025, and the standard continues to apply in 2026.

The current Xiamen minimum wage standards are:

Employment Type

Minimum Wage

Full-time employees

RMB 2,265/month

Non-full-time employees

RMB 23.5/hour

These standards apply to employers located in all Xiamen districts.

The standard applies equally to Chinese employees, foreign employees and employees hired by foreign-invested enterprises.

However, in practice, most foreign professionals in Xiamen receive salaries significantly higher than the statutory minimum wage due to:

  • Professional qualifications;

  • Industry salary levels;

  • Job responsibilities;

  • Foreign work permit requirements.


4. Do Different Visa Types Have Different Minimum Wage Requirements?

No.

Xiamen’s minimum wage requirement does not change based on a foreign employee’s visa category.

The minimum wage is determined by:

  • Employment location;

  • Labor relationship;

  • Employment type.

It does not depend on whether the employee holds a specific nationality or passport.

Foreign employees legally working in Xiamen, including:

  • Foreign managers;

  • Technical specialists;

  • Professional employees;

are subject to the same minimum wage rules.

However, visa status determines whether the foreign employee can legally work in China.

Z Visa + Foreigner’s Work Permit + Work-Type Residence Permit

This is the standard authorization structure for foreign employment in China.

Business Visa (M Visa)

A business visa is generally used for:

  • Business meetings;

  • Negotiations;

  • Commercial visits.

It does not authorize regular employment.

Family Visa (S/Q Visa)

Family visas are mainly used for:

  • Family reunion;

  • Private affairs.

Additional work authorization is required before employment.

The correct compliance process is:

  1. Confirm valid work authorization.

  2. Ensure salary arrangements comply with Xiamen labor requirements.


5. Does Xiamen Minimum Wage Include Social Insurance and Housing Fund?

According to Fujian’s minimum wage rules, the published minimum wage standard includes employee social insurance and housing provident fund contribution portions.

However, employers should still separately manage:

  • Employer-side social insurance obligations;

  • Housing provident fund requirements;

  • Overtime payments;

  • Legally required allowances.

The minimum wage standard does not represent the company’s total employment cost.

For example:

A contractual salary of:

RMB 2,265/month

only represents the minimum statutory wage level.

The employer may still need to consider additional employment costs, including:

  • Employer social insurance contributions;

  • Payroll administration costs;

  • Other employee benefits.

Therefore, the company’s actual hiring cost is higher than the employee’s basic salary.


6. Is Personal Income Tax Included in Xiamen Minimum Wage?

The minimum wage refers to the employee’s salary standard and should be distinguished from individual income tax obligations.

For foreign employees, personal income tax calculation depends on:

  • Number of days staying in China;

  • Tax residency status;

  • Income source;

  • Applicable tax treaties.

The general payroll process is:

  1. Gross salary calculation;

  2. Social insurance and other deductions (where applicable);

  3. Individual income tax calculation;

  4. Net salary payment.

Employers should manage:

  • Minimum wage compliance; and

  • Tax withholding compliance

as separate obligations.


7. Xiamen Minimum Wage vs. Foreign Work Permit Salary Requirements

Foreign employers should understand that:

Minimum wage requirements and foreign work permit salary requirements are different concepts.

Xiamen’s minimum wage of RMB 2,265/month only represents the legal minimum protection required under labor regulations.

Foreign work permit approval considers additional factors, including:

  • Educational background;

  • Professional experience;

  • Job position;

  • Salary level;

  • Industry standards;

  • Local labor market conditions.

For foreign professionals applying for work permits, especially:

  • Category A high-end talents;

  • Category B professional talents;

salary expectations are generally much higher than the minimum wage requirement.

Therefore:

A salary meeting Xiamen’s minimum wage does not mean that a foreign employee can automatically obtain a work permit.

Employers should separately evaluate:

  • Whether the salary meets work permit requirements;

  • Whether the position matches the application;

  • Whether employment documents are consistent.


8. What Should Foreign Companies Consider When Hiring in Xiamen?

When hiring foreign employees in Xiamen, companies should focus on three major compliance areas.

8.1 Employment Contract Compliance

Employment contracts should clearly specify:

  • Salary amount;

  • Payment schedule;

  • Job title;

  • Responsibilities;

  • Working location;

  • Benefits and allowances;

  • Contract term.

Contracts should be signed with a legally qualified employing entity and comply with Chinese labor regulations.


8.2 Payroll, Social Insurance, and Tax Compliance

Employers should ensure:

  • Salaries are paid on time;

  • Payroll records are maintained;

  • Social insurance obligations are properly handled;

  • Individual income tax is accurately calculated.

Foreign employee payroll may involve additional considerations, including:

  • Tax treaty applications;

  • Cross-border salary arrangements;

  • Social insurance considerations.


8.3 Work Permit and Residence Compliance

Foreign employees working in Xiamen must maintain:

  • A valid Foreigner’s Work Permit;

  • A valid work-type residence permit;

  • Accurate employment records.

Non-compliance may result in:

  • Labor disputes;

  • Administrative penalties;

  • Illegal employment risks;

  • Immigration consequences.


9. Key Points for Foreign Employers

For foreign employees working in Xiamen:

  • Xiamen does not have a separate minimum wage standard for foreigners.

  • The current full-time minimum wage is RMB 2,265/month.

  • Fujian Province applies different minimum wage levels depending on the city and region.

  • Employers must apply the standard based on the employee’s actual workplace.

  • Social insurance, housing fund, and individual income tax should be handled separately.

  • Foreign work permit salary requirements are separate from minimum wage requirements and are usually much higher.


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Disclaimer: The data is released by government authorities and may be subject to real-time changes. The information provided in this article is for reference purposes only.



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