Shorter work / contribution history
Key change: to buy an apartment inside the Fifth Ring Road, buyers now need only one year of tax or social insurance payments — down from two years.
In December 2025, the requirement inside the Fifth Ring had already been cut from three years to two, while purchases outside the Fifth Ring used a one-year threshold. The rules are now aligned citywide.
After this change, non-hukou households that have paid tax or social insurance for at least one year may buy one apartment inside the Fifth Ring. Households with two or more children may buy an additional apartment in that area. Outside the Fifth Ring Road, limits on the number of apartments that can be purchased have been fully lifted.
Who counts as a “non-resident”?
Under Chinese rules, non-local (non-hukou) buyers are all households not registered in Beijing. Foreign nationals who legally live and work in the capital are treated in this same category for property purchase purposes.
Record increase in Housing Provident Fund loan limits
Alongside the shorter contribution history, Beijing sharply raised financial support for buyers through the Housing Provident Fund (住房公积金):
| Borrower category | First home | Second home |
|---|---|---|
| Single borrower | up to 1.2 million yuan | up to 1.0 million yuan |
| Married couple | up to 2.4 million yuan | up to 2.0 million yuan |
Important: with stacked preferential add-ons, the maximum loan for a couple can reach 3.4 million yuan for a first home.
Extra allowances apply when borrowers meet these criteria:
- Households registered in Beijing’s central districts buying outside those districts — 200,000 yuan add-on
- Purchase of housing that meets green building standards — 400,000 yuan add-on
- Households with two or more children — 400,000 yuan add-on
All three conditions can be combined, for a maximum increase of up to 1 million yuan for married couples.
In addition, the cap linking loan size to years of fund participation has been removed: each year of contributions now supports 200,000 yuan for a single borrower and 400,000 yuan for a couple.
Simpler gifting of housing
Buyer-eligibility checks for parent-to-child housing gifts have been cancelled. Previously, gifting an apartment to adult children required proof that the children themselves qualified to buy. The transfer can now proceed directly.
Further easing
A “transfer with existing mortgage” mechanism (带押过户) has been introduced for properties purchased with Housing Provident Fund financing. That simplifies buying homes that still carry a mortgage.
Provident Fund savings may also be used for renovation: up to 250,000 yuan (no more than 50% of the renovation invoice), with an interval of at least 10 years between withdrawals.
What this means for foreign professionals
The new rules materially lower the entry bar to Beijing’s property market for foreign nationals and expats. One year of tax or social insurance payments is a realistic threshold for most professionals already working in the city.
Analysts see the move as a clear market signal: Beijing is continuing a systematic effort to stabilize the housing market and make the city more attractive for skilled talent.
Official documents: Beijing Municipal Government portal | Beijing Housing Provident Fund portal