This page provides you with the practical information you'll need for planning a stay in China within the SDC framework. Whether you are a researcher or a PhD student we have gathered relevant information, links and documents for your preparation.

Planning your stay

Applying for a research stay
Researchers employed by a Danish university, who wants to arrange a stay in China within the SDC framework, must fill in an application form and send it to the relevant Danish Principal Coordinator (PC). The application form is available here.

 
Tax
Before you leave for SDC in China, we strongly recommend that you contact your local tax authorities, as only they can provide you with valid information on how your stay in China may affect your tax conditions. You will find adresses of all Danish tax centers here.

In case you need it, the Danish tax authorities can provide you with a legally binding answer to any request related to tax issues prior to your stay in China.

Further information related to tax issues can be found at the following websites:

To find information on income tax matters for persons on foreign assignment with their family, please see SKAT's guidelines (Danish only).

To find information on income tax matters for persons on foreign assignment without their family, please see SKAT's guidelines (Danish only).

For a short introduction to laws and regulations concerning persons going abroad within SDC, please see International Staff Mobility's "Praktisk guide til forskningsophold inden for SDC" (Danish only)

To view the Tax Assessment Act  (Ligningsloven) concerning persons on foreign assignment, please click here .

 
Visa
Every Danish citizen, who is going to China, needs to apply for a visa through the Chinese Embassy in Denmark. Depending on the length of your stay, you need to apply for either a F-visa (business) or a Z-visa (employment). Due to the rather time-consuming procedure we recommend you to begin collecting the necessary documents as soon as you know the date of your departure. Usually, the Chinese Embassy needs four days to issue a visa. Visas will commonly only be valid to entry for three months from the date of issue. For this reason do not hand in your application too early.
 

You can find more information on rules and prices on the website of the Chinese Embassy .
 
Insurance
When you go to China your journey and your stay will be covered by "Statens Tjenesterejseforsikring" administered by "Europæiske Rejseforsikring A/S" (European Travel Insurance A/S). This applies whether you visit SDC for a shorter period of time or on longer term. "Statens Tjenesterejseforsikring" covers most current insurance issues such as acute illness (treatment, repatriation and call arrangements), accident, baggage and legal assistance.

Please be aware that "Statens Tjenesterejseforsikring" requires that you are covered by the General Health Insurance in Denmark. If you move out of Denmark and unsubscribe to "Folkeregistret" the insurance will lapse and you are required to subscribe for private medical insurance. The same conditions count for international researchers, who are not registered as residents to Denmark during their stay.

You can read the entire agreement on "Statens Tjenesterejseforsikring" on the website of Personalestyrelsen (Danish only). Also, European Travel Insurance has its own office in Beijing that can advice you during your stay in China:

Euro-Center China (H.K.) Co., Ltd.
Beijing Representative Office
8/F, Bld. C., East Lake Villas
35 Dongzhimenwai Dajie
Dongcheng District, Beijing 100027, P.R.C.
Phone: +86 10 6462 0486
Email: Beijing@euro-center.com

Insurance during vacation
Please note that Statens Tjenesterejseforsikring does not cover you during vacation. You are however covered on weekends and holidays.

If you stay at SDC for a longer period of time, it is recommended that you take out insurance for the periods when you plan to go on vacation. You may be covered if you already have private annual travel insurance. In any case we recommend you to contact your insurance company before leaving - there may be special rules for vacation periods, when they are spent in connection with a business trip.

If your private insurance company does not cover periods of vacation European Travel Insurance A/S offers an additional discount insurance valid for vacation. It is your own responsibility to take out additional vacation insurance. The Danish Universities do not offer to take out additional insurance.


Housing
GUCAS's future Yanqihu Campus will offer residences and dormitories. Danish researchers and students who are stationed in Beijing within the SDC framework will have access to these housing options. Until 2013 when the new campus is inaugurated, GUCAS will, to some extent, advise you on existing housing options on the Northern Beijing Campus. The campus apartments are usually designed for one person. If you prefer something larger you will have to manage housing concerns your self.

Beijing is huge and you can find almost any kind of housing, ranging from very cheap to expensive. You should be aware that the standards some places are lower than in Denmark. If you do not speak any Chinese it is recommended to contact a real estate agent who has English-speaking staff. The Danish Embassy in Beijing uses Sion Real Estate which has a large selection of good housing options. Sion Real Estate or a similar real estate company will be able to understand your needs and has good contacts to distributors of furnished apartments. If you wish to carry out the search on your own, the online forum, the Beijinger , is a good place to start.

Renting an apartment in China tend be a complicated process and the language barrier can lead to some misunderstandings. Using an agent to help you through can avoid some common problems.

Bear in mind that even if the Chinese copy of your rental contract has an English translation, the Chinese version will be the one used as reference in case of a dispute. Thus, make sure that someone goes through the Chinese version with you to verify that it does not differ from the English translation.