Which is better, Hong Kong permanent residency or Shanghai household registration, in terms of housing purchase qualifications, children's education, and settlement conditions?

Advantages of Shanghai household registration

Housing purchase qualifications
Single individuals with Shanghai household registration can buy one property without owning any, and after marriage, they can buy another. Non-Shanghai residents cannot buy property in Shanghai, and married couples must provide proof of five years of social insurance to purchase property.
Children's education

Shanghai residents can attend nearby schools and may consider private schools if conditions allow.

One parent of non-Shanghai residents must hold a Shanghai residence permit. However, obtaining a residence permit requires a lot of effort; the points application needs a lot of materials, and the annual review is very troublesome! If you want your child to take the high school entrance exam in Shanghai, the residence permit points are also essential!

Employment advantages
Shanghai residents have priority for civil service and public institution jobs. Unemployed individuals can receive unemployment benefits, and those giving birth can receive maternity allowances and medical subsidies from the local government. After retirement, they can enjoy pensions based on the average salary of local employees from the previous quarter.

Non-Shanghai residents have relatively narrow job-seeking channels, and some units only hire locals. Unemployed individuals cannot receive unemployment benefits, and maternity allowances and subsidies can only be enjoyed during employment; after retirement, they must return to their hometown to receive pension benefits.

Advantages of Hong Kong identity

Educational resources
Hong Kong's international education started early and is well-developed, with a number of well-known international schools such as: English Schools Foundation, Harrow, German Swiss, Han Academy, and Hong Kong International School. These schools are also popular among many parents in Shenzhen, but having a Hong Kong identity is a prerequisite for admission!

After obtaining Hong Kong permanent residency, children can participate in the Hong Kong-Macau-Taiwan joint examination or take the Hong Kong DSE exam to easily enroll in prestigious universities in China.

①Enjoy 15 years of free international public education in Hong Kong;
②It is easier to enroll in local universities in Hong Kong, as 90% of the places are reserved for Hong Kong residents; applying to international schools is also simpler.
③Hospitalization costs are low.

Hong Kong has advanced medical technology, with the highest lung cancer cure rate in the world, and the second highest rates for breast cancer and liver cancer. For major surgeries that can cost hundreds of thousands or millions, having a Hong Kong identity can save a lot!

High salaries
In recent years, more and more people from the mainland are working in Hong Kong, with positions and salary benefits comparable to the local job market, which is one of the main conditions for the Hong Kong Immigration Department to accept their applications.

In 2017, among the professionals who came to Hong Kong through the "Talent Import Scheme," 30.9% had a monthly salary of over 40,000 HKD, while 39.1% earned between 20,000 and 39,999 HKD, and 30% earned below 20,000 HKD.

Difficulty of settling down

Shanghai implements a points-based household registration system.
You must score at least 120 points to apply for a Shanghai residence permit. This comes with a series of conditions, and only after meeting many conditions can points start to accumulate, leading to long waiting times becoming the norm!

Hong Kong maintains a welcoming attitude.
Whether "wealthy" or "talented," there are clear criteria and uncomplicated channels that allow you to easily obtain a Hong Kong identity.