Include support you can claim: China’s national childcare subsidy is RMB 3,600 per child per year until age three
The scheme described here covers children born on or after January 1, 2025 who are under three. A parent applies where the child is registered. The payment is RMB 3,600 per child each year until age three. It is exempt from personal income tax and is not counted as household income when eligibility for assistance such as the minimum living allowance is assessed.
What it takes
Applying is free. The source describes applying where the child’s household registration is held, usually in one visit.
What you may gain
The implementation plan issued by the General Offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council specifies RMB 3,600 annually for each eligible child under three born from January 1, 2025. One parent or another guardian applies. The subsidy is exempt from personal income tax and excluded from household or individual income in relevant social-assistance assessments.
Context & considerations
This is the nationally established minimum. Some provinces and cities offer additional local support that can be combined with it. Three annual payments total RMB 10,800, a small share of the cost of raising a child. The subsidy alone is not a sound basis for deciding whether to become a parent.
Research & references
General Office of the CPC Central Committee and General Office of the State Council (2025). Implementation Plan for the Childcare Subsidy System. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2025/issue_12206/202508/content_7035435.html