Ihsan Ullah, a Pakistani resident of Chongqing, shops at a supermarket using his "Join in Card." (Photo/Xinhua)

Chongqing - Ihsan Ullah from Pakistan, one of the first foreign talents to receive the “Join in Card” in Western (Chongqing) Science City recently, said, “Previously, I had to carry multiple documents like my work permit, social security card, and passport. Now, whether it's medical care, shopping, taking public transport, or borrowing books, one card handles it all.”

The “Join in Card,” issued by the Chongqing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, integrates the holder's Foreigners’ Work Permit information with their social security card into a multifunctional card. It provides foreigners working in China with a “one-card-for-all” service in dealing with government paperwork, finance, healthcare, transportation, and tourism.

On December 3, 2024, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, issued China's first integrated “Join in Card.” Since earlier this year, cities like Hangzhou, Tianjin, and Ningbo have also begun rolling out the card.

Chongqing has now started offering this type of card for its foreign residents. “Foreign professionals working in Chongqing can apply by submitting their passports at a social security card service center after obtaining the electronic one loaded with work permit information. The physical ‘Join in Card’ will then be issued within a few business days,” said Deng Yuji from the issuance office of the social security card in Chongqing.

Ullah, a PhD graduate from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, joined the Jinfeng Laboratory in Western (Chongqing) Science City through talent recruitment in April this year. He remarked that now this card not only streamlines paperwork but also gives him a tangible sense of local identity and the city's inclusiveness.

In daily life, the “Join in Card” has brought Ihsan many pleasant surprises: it serves as an ID for museum and scenic spot access, allows borrowing books at community libraries, enables purchasing local specialties at supermarkets, and facilitates direct real-time settlement for medical services without upfront costs.

Beyond functions like claiming talent subsidies and paying utility bills, the card also enables opening bank accounts linked to social security cards.

“To address cross-border financial needs, we provide convenient online and offline foreign exchange services. We also offer tailored travel facilitation for different talent categories,” said Feng Cui, deputy general manager of the personal finance at Bank of China's Chongqing Branch.