לידה ואזרחות בסין / Expatriate Employees

בתקופה הקרובה נפרסם מדי פעם מידע זהה על ארצות אסיה השונות. כמובן שבחרנו בסין, הגדולה מכולן ואולי גם המדאיגה יותר את אותן משפחות. בעבר הלא רחוק היה מקובל שנשים מערביות מתניידות להונג קונג המתקדמת יותר מבחינה רפואית אך כיום, מסתבר שגם סין עומדת בסטנדרטים גבוהים.

GIVING BIRTH
Because giving birth outside of one’s home country in an unfamiliar culture can be a challenging experience, it is important for expectant parents to know what their options are.

Ten years ago, most expats living in China would go to Hong Kong or return to their home country to deliver their baby, but with the improvements in healthcare in general and in labour and delivery practices more specifically, this trip has become largely unnecessary.

In the first tier cities in China, they can choose between international, western-style hospitals and local hospitals. Smaller cities might not have an international hospital, so local hospitals are likely the only option. Routine and free prenatal care is available in second and third-tier cities, but it is limited.

International hospitals have high standard facilities and the doctors, nurses and staff are quite fluent in English but this comes at a high price. For expectant parents who don’t have international insurance, covering these costs by themselves can be very hard.

In the past, local hospitals didn’t always have a good reputation, but at least in the major 1^st tier cities, they are constantly improving and are offering better services to meet foreigner’s expectations. At these hospitals, the prices are more reasonable, but the doctors and staff probably are not very fluent in English and the staff’s bedside manner might be different than what foreigners are used to. Also, expat mothers often put a lot of importance in having a non-invasive birth. In China, where a lot of the deliveries are C-sections, it is important to discuss one’s preferences with the doctor and staff before. The minimum stay in the hospital is three days. This will be extended if there is the slightest concern for either newborn or mother. Both will be expected to stay in the hospital until the problem is rectified or identified. In most local hospitals, men are not allowed in the delivery room. Some hospitals have VIP rooms, where a husband is sometimes allowed to stay with his wife during delivery.

Homebirth is technically legal in China, but the practice is discouraged. Medical professionals are unable to attend the birth and local ambulances are slow to respond in case of an emergency. Also, birth certificates can only be issued by a hospital, so obtaining important paperwork may prove challenging.

All newborns should join a vaccination program within one month after the birth. Most hospitals have a specialized department within the Maternity and Aftercare department where you can get the vaccinations.

The most important thing is for parents to do some research to know what the options are and to choose the one that makes them most comfortable.

Here are some of the most used hospitals in China. In the local hospitals, expat parents might find that practices are not as patient/mother friendly as back home. Shanghai and Beijing have a lot of options, but in other cities United Family is the one with the first rate services and facilities. This comes at a high price, so parents have to check if their insurance covers this.

Beijing

• Beijing United Family Hospital
• GlobalCare Women and Children’s Hospital
• OASIS International Hospital
• Amcare Women’s & Children Hospital
• American-Sino OB/GYN Hospital

Shanghai

International Hospitals

• American-Sino OBGYN
• ParkwayHealth
• Shanghai International Medical Center
• Shanghai International Redleaf Women’s Hospital
• Shanghai United Family Hospital

Local Hospitals

• International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital
• Shanghai Changning Maternity & Infant Care
• Shanghai East Hospital
• Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital
• Shanghai Red House Maternity and Infant Hospital

Chengdu

• New Born Hospital (Chengdu)
• Huaxi Hospital (Chengdu)

Tianjin

• Tianjin United Family Hospital

Guangzhou

• Guangzhou Yilishabei Gynecological & Obstetrical Hospital
• Guangzhou Women and Baby Hospital
• Guangzhou United Family Hospital

Qingdao

• Qingdao United Family Hospital

REGISTRATION OF BIRTH / NATIONALITY  
When a child is born, the hospital will issue the birth certificate. A child born in China with two foreign parents is not eligible for the Chinese nationality. Within a month of the birth, the child must be registered at the local Public Security Bureau. Parents also have to contact their embassy or consulate to arrange for a passport for the child. Different countries request different documents to get the passport, so it is best to contact the embassy to check. The child will not be able to leave China until he or she has a visa or residence permit. This needs to be obtained at the Exit and Entry Bureau once the child has a passport.

If a baby is born to one foreign parent and one Chinese parent, the baby automatically has Chinese citizenship. The Chinese nationality law does not recognize dual nationality. If one of the baby’s nationalities is Chinese, the Chinese authorities do not recognize the other nationality. The child will be considered Chinese until the citizenship is formally renounced.  Until one nationality is chosen for the child, it is very difficult to obtain a visa or permit from the Public Security Bureau and the child is not allowed to leave the country. Citizenship can be renounced at a local Public Security Bureau.

So in short, parents have to:

• get the birth certificate from the hospital
• register the birth at the Public Security Bureau (within one month)
• get a passport at your embassy/consulate
• apply for the child’s visa.

באדיבות עמיתתנו בסין,  Reloc8, גב' Shelley Warner, מומחית בכירה עם עשרות שנות ניסיון בסין.

עסקים בסין לא עושים עם חובבים. בשאלות בנושא שירותים לסין ובסין - אנא פנו למשרדנו.