Notes: 1. For operations requiring retention of photocopies of identity documents, the handling staff at the housing provident fund service outlet will scan, print, or photocopy such documents on behalf of the applicant.

2. Employees who are expatriates or Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan residents working in Shanghai cannot, for now, apply for housing provident fund online withdrawals for rental payments; employees who are not expatriates or Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan residents working in Shanghai but with such spouses also cannot file such applications.

I. Scope of Application:

Employees (hereinafter referred to as applicants) who rent housing not within the scope of online registration and filing are eligible to apply for the withdrawal of the balance in their and their spouses’ housing provident fund accounts for the purpose of paying rental fees, provided they meet the following conditions:

(I) The applicant has continuously made contributions to the housing provident fund in this Municipality for three months;

(II) The applicant and his or her spouse currently do not own housing in this Municipality and are renting housing;

(III) The applicant currently has no housing provident fund loans, nor any agreements for entrusted withdrawals from the housing provident fund to repay housing loans;

(IV) The applicant and his or her spouse may only withdraw from their housing provident fund accounts to pay for the rental of one apartment;

(V) The applicant’s rental behavior shall comply with the relevant regulations of this Municipality regarding housing rental, and the applicant shall pledge that the leased housing does not fall within the scope of online registration and filing;

(VI) In case two or more individuals who are not married with each other jointly rent housing, only one applicant and his or her spouse may withdraw the housing provident fund for rental payment during the same period.

The spouse of the applicant shall also meet the withdrawal conditions to participate in the withdrawal.

II. Application Materials:

1. Online Application by the Applicant

In the event of application through official online channels [namely, Shanghai Housing Provident Fund Website (www.shgjj.com), “Shanghai Provident Fund” app, and “Suishenban” service platform], the applicant shall follow the online application process, providing such information as identity document information, housing provident fund account information, marital information, address of the rented housing, withdrawal time, withdrawal amount, information of a Class I debit card under the applicant’s name issued by a Chinese-funded bank, mobile phone number, and the address for document delivery.

2. Application by the Applicant at a Service Outlet of the Shanghai Provident Fund Management Center (SPFMC)

(1) The applicant’s original identity document;

(2) The filled-out copy of the Housing Condition Information Inquiry Application Form or valid certificate of no property ownership;

(3) A debit card under the applicant’s name issued by a Chinese-funded bank (it is recommended to bring a Class I debit card);

(4) In case the applicant’s spouse is also participating in the withdrawal, the spouse shall also provide the above-mentioned materials and the original copies of proof materials of relationship with the applicant.

III. Service Methods:

Offline:

Service outlets of the SPFMC

Online:

Shanghai Housing Provident Fund Website (www.shgjj.com), “Shanghai Provident Fund” app, and “Suishenban” service platform.

IV. Processing Period:

In case the applicant provides complete application materials or information, the SPFMC shall make a decision on approval or rejection within three working days from the date of receiving the application (the time required for verifying the applicant’s housing status, housing rental information, and marital information is not counted), and shall notify the applicant of the result. Should there be any doubt about the application materials provided by the applicant, the applicant may be required to further provide valid proof materials.

V. Notes:

1. In case the spouse of the applicant also participates in applying for the housing provident fund withdrawal for rental payment, the withdrawal formalities shall be handled collectively at one time;

2. Where the housing which applicants rent does not fall within the scope of online registration and filing of lease agreements, the monthly withdrawal amount for each household (applicant and spouse) for rental payment shall neither exceed the actual rent expenditure of the month, with a maximum monthly withdrawal limit of RMB 3,000, nor exceed the balance of the applicant’s housing provident fund account (with a balance of at least RMB 0.01). The single withdrawal amount shall not exceed three times the maximum monthly withdrawal limit; 

3. Applicants renting housing not within the scope of online registration and filing in the city shall pledge that if the leased housing is changed and becomes subject to online registration and filing within the city after applying for the withdrawal of the housing provident fund for rental payment, they will promptly terminate the current rental withdrawal business and reapply through the housing rental public service platform after completing the online registration and filing;

4. The applicant shall apply for the housing provident fund withdrawal for rental payment during the rental period, and the application period shall fall within the rental period.

5. In case a withdrawal transfer is initiated and the balance in the applicant’s housing provident fund account is insufficient, the withdrawal transfer shall be suspended;

6. Prior to the initiation of a withdrawal transfer, the SPFMC shall verify the applicant’s information of housing rental and other relevant aspects with relevant departments. Should the rental address information be confirmed correct, the payment time of the withdrawal amount shall not be affected; and should the rental address information be found incorrect, the withdrawal operations shall be terminated according to regulations;

7. The applicant shall confirm the leasing information online annually. In the event of any changes in the leasing information, the applicant shall promptly apply for modification or termination of the withdrawal operations. In case the leasing information fails to be confirmed within the specified period, the withdrawal for rental payment shall be terminated.