International Schools in China: Schools for Foreign Children

This article is for Korean parents who are moving to China and looking for a school for their children. In China, schools for foreign-passport children are commonly called "schools for children of foreign nationals." What follows draws on official guidance from Beijing and Shanghai. Rules differ by city and can change often, so confirm with the education authority and the school before you apply.

What these schools are

Under the Beijing Municipal Education Commission's revised measures (2022, checked as of 2026-10-29), schools for children of foreign nationals enrol children of foreigners legally residing in Beijing. Schools may set their own curriculum, but they must teach Chinese language and culture. These measures apply to Beijing, and other cities may have different rules.

Beijing: when enrolment is wider

The basic group is children of foreigners legally residing in Beijing. With approval from the district education authority, schools may also enrol the following:

• Children of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents
• Children of Chinese citizens legally residing overseas
• Children of qualifying introduced talents

In these cases the school does not decide alone, because district approval is needed. Ask the school and the relevant district education authority which case applies to your child.

Shanghai: applying directly versus getting a certificate first

Shanghai's International Service Portal (updated 23 July 2026) describes two situations.

1. A child with a foreign passport whose parents work legally in Shanghai with a Foreigner's Work Permit and Residence Permit applies directly to the school they want.
2. If Chinese-citizen parents return to work in Shanghai while the whole family holds foreign permanent residency, and the child has attended school in that country for at least the past two consecutive years, the family must first get a certificate from the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission.

The second case requires employment proof, the family's passports and permanent-residence documents, entry/exit records, proof of residence, proof of relationship and proof of schooling abroad, all in original and copy. The English page on the portal is for reference only, and the Chinese version prevails.

Residence permits: check the official guide

China's National Immigration Administration guide (2021, checked as of 2026-10-29) lists work, study, journalist, reunion and private-affairs residence permits. Family members visiting on an S1 visa (spouse, parents, spouse's parents and children under 18) apply for a private-affairs permit with the residence permit of the person visited. Its validity matches that person's permit. Work permits run 1 to 5 years depending on the applicant. This article does not judge which family qualifies for which permit. Confirm that with the official authority.

Choosing a school, and your Korean school record

A 2015 article in the American Foreign Service Association's journal gives several tips for families on overseas postings. It is an older piece, so read it as background only.

• International schools set their own admissions policies, so contact each school directly and complete its application.
• If the move is off-cycle from the school calendar, online or home-school programmes with rolling starts are an option.
• Check IB and AP offerings and the order of maths courses. The article notes that integrated maths can complicate transfers.
• If your child needs learning support, ask whether it is offered, whether there is space and whether it will continue next year.
• Keep school records and lists of textbooks and syllabi at every move.

Also look into your child's Korean school record in advance. Seoul's 2026 plan for returning students (in force 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027) says primary and middle-school pupils on recognised study abroad are exempted from compulsory schooling after reporting departure and stay. High-school students withdraw in either case. On return, the grade is set by mapping the foreign school years and transcripts onto Korea's 12-year system. Pupils returning mid-term must apply within one month of their last day at the foreign school. Details can differ by region, so confirm with your local education office.

Checklist

• I have checked whether my city's rules for these schools match those of Beijing or Shanghai.
• I have asked the school and the education authority which admission category my child falls under.
• I have prepared the required documents in original and copy.
• I have looked into the school's Chinese language and culture classes.
• I have checked that our moving date fits the school calendar.
• I have collected my child's transcripts and course lists.
• I have asked the local education office about departure reporting and re-entry to a Korean school.
• I have learned the conditions of any employer education allowance.

Ask the school

• Does my child fall within the admission categories, and is district approval or a separate certificate needed?
• Which documents are required, in what format, and what are the application dates?
• How many hours of Chinese language and culture are taught, and how?
• Are IB and AP offered, and in what order is maths taught?
• If my child needs learning support, what is offered, is there space, and will it continue next year?

Always confirm your own situation with the official authority or an immigration professional.