Since 1 January 2025, China has paid a national childcare subsidy of RMB 3,600 a year for each child under the age of three, whether it is a first, second or third child. It is claimed by a parent or guardian where the child's hukou is registered, it is tax-free, and it is separate from, and no substitute for, child support. Separately, most provinces have extended paid marriage leave well beyond the traditional three days, although the number of days still depends on where you work.
These are policy measures rather than changes to family law, but they matter to families we advise, especially after a separation. This article summarises the position as of September 2026, based on official announcements. Local rules differ, so check with your local health commission, civil affairs office or employer.
The national childcare subsidy
On 28 July 2025, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued the Implementation Plan for the Childcare Subsidy System (育儿补贴制度实施方案). Its main points are:
| Item | What the plan says |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Children under three born in accordance with laws and regulations, from 1 January 2025 |
| Amount | National basic standard of RMB 3,600 per child per year, until the child turns three |
| Children born before 2025 | Children born in 2022 to 2024 who were still under three receive a pro-rated amount for the eligible months |
| Birth order | First, second and third children alike |
| Who applies | One parent or another guardian |
| Where | At the child's hukou location; online channels include Alipay and WeChat, and offline channels are available |
| Tax | Exempt from individual income tax |
| Means tests | Not counted as household or personal income when assessing minimum living allowance or extreme poverty support |
According to official announcements, applications opened nationwide by early September 2025, with the central budget allocating around RMB 90 billion for the first year, and a new application round opened in January 2026. Applicants generally provide the child's birth medical certificate and household registration details, and the money is paid into a bank account, often linked to a social security card. Some cities also offer their own additional childbirth or childcare payments, which are separate from the national scheme.
Children of international couples
Because the application is made where the child's hukou is registered, eligibility generally follows Chinese household registration. A child who has Chinese nationality and is registered in a parent's hukou can generally be claimed for. A child who is treated as a foreign national and has no hukou generally does not appear to fall within the scheme. If your child's nationality is unclear, see our guide to dual nationality and children.
Who claims the subsidy after separation?
The plan allows one parent or another guardian to apply, but it does not set out special rules for separated parents. In practice:
- The subsidy is paid to one account per child, so only one application should succeed.
- Where the parents are separated, the parent with whom the child lives is usually the natural applicant, but there is no rule that automatically gives it to that parent.
- If you are negotiating a divorce agreement, say expressly who claims the subsidy and how it will be used. This avoids a race to apply and later arguments.
If the other parent has already claimed and is not using the money for the child, the issue can be raised in negotiations or in court as part of the wider arrangements for the child. We are not aware of national guidance that deals with this specific situation, so expect local practice to vary.
The subsidy is not child support
This is the most important point for separating families. Child support (抚养费) is a legal duty of both parents under the Civil Code. Under Article 49 of the SPC's Interpretation I on the Marriage and Family Book, a paying parent with a fixed income generally pays 20% to 30% of monthly total income for one child, and generally not more than 50% for two or more children.
The childcare subsidy does not replace that duty:
- It is a public benefit for the child, not a payment by either parent.
- It lasts only until the child is three, while child support generally continues until 18.
- At RMB 300 a month, it is small compared with the real cost of raising a child in cities such as Shenzhen or Guangzhou.
We are not aware of any national rule allowing a paying parent to reduce child support because the other parent receives the subsidy. A court may look at the family's overall circumstances, but you should not assume a deduction. Our child support calculator and our guide to how much child support is in China show how amounts are usually worked out.
Marriage leave: what has changed
China has no single national marriage leave statute for all employees. A 1980 State Council notice allows employers to grant employees one to three days of marriage leave, and provinces set their own rules in their population and family planning regulations. Since around 2021, and particularly in 2025, many provinces have extended marriage leave to encourage marriage and childbirth. Official media reported in mid-2025 that more than 27 provinces had done so.
| Province | Marriage leave (as reported) |
|---|---|
| Shanxi | 30 days |
| Gansu | 30 days |
| Sichuan | 20 days, plus 5 days for a pre-marital medical check before registration (amended November 2025) |
| Guangdong | 3 days under the current regulation; proposals to extend it have been discussed, but check the latest position |
Points to keep in mind:
- Where you work matters. Leave is generally governed by the rules of the province where you are employed, not where you register the marriage.
- Registration is required. Marriage leave generally applies to couples who have registered their marriage, including a Chinese citizen marrying a foreign national.
- Foreign employees. Foreign employees working in China under Chinese labour contracts are generally covered by local leave rules, but check your contract and employee handbook.
- Timing and pay. Leave is generally paid at normal salary. Rules on whether weekends count, and how soon after registration leave must be taken, vary by province and employer.
Key takeaways
- The national childcare subsidy is RMB 3,600 per child per year for children under three, from 1 January 2025, tax-free.
- One parent or guardian applies where the child's hukou is registered; eligibility generally follows hukou.
- Separating parents should agree in writing who claims it and how it is used.
- The subsidy is separate from child support and should not be treated as reducing it.
- Marriage leave depends on the province where you work: up to 30 days in some provinces, while Guangdong remained at 3 days at the time of writing.
Policy benefits and legal obligations are easily confused during a separation. If you want to know how the subsidy, child support and your wider arrangements fit together, book a free, confidential consultation with our team in Shenzhen or Guangzhou.