Article 1 These Regulations hereof are formulated in order to further the opening up to the outside and standardise the administration of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises in accordance with such laws and regulations as the Construction Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Sino-Foreign Cooperative Joint Ventures, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises, the Regulations on Administration of Construction Engineering Quality and the Regulations on Administration of Reconnoitring and Designing of Construction Projects.
Article 2 These Regulations shall apply to the establishment of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises within the territory of the People’s Republic of China, the application for construction and engineering design enterprise qualifications and the administration and supervision of the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises.
The term ‘foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise’ mentioned in these Regulations refers to a wholly foreign-owned construction and engineering design enterprise, or a Sino-foreign equity construction and engineering design joint venture or a Sino-foreign cooperatively construction and engineering design enterprise established within the territory of the People’s Republic of China in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations.
Article 3 A foreign investor, which intends to establish a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise within the territory of the People’s Republic of China and carry out construction and engineering design business shall, in accordance with laws, obtain the foreign-invested enterprise approval certificate from the relevant foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department and register with the State Administration of Industry and Commerce or its authorised administration of industry and commerce at local levels, and also obtain the qualification certificate of construction and engineering design enterprise from the relevant construction administration department.
Article 4 Foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises shall abide by the laws, regulations and rules of the People’s Republic of China when carrying out construction and engineering design activities within the territory of the People’s Republic of China.
The lawful operation of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises and their legal rights and interests within the territory of the People’s Republic of China shall be protected by Chinese laws, regulations and rules.
Article 5 The foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council shall be responsible for the administration of establishing foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises. The construction administration department of the State Council shall be responsible for the administration of the qualifications of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises.
The foreign trade and economic cooperation administration departments of the people’s government of provinces, autonomous regions or directly administered municipalities shall be responsible for the administration of establishment of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises within their authorized jurisdiction ; the construction administration departments of the people’s government of provinces, autonomous regions or directly administered municipalities shall, in accordance with these regulations, be responsible for the administration of the qualifications of the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises within their administrative region.
Article 6 The application for and the examination and approval of the establishment of a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise and the qualifications shall be managed by a grading and categorization system.
Where an applicant is to apply for Grade A qualifications for construction and engineering design or other Grade A or Grade B qualifications for construction and engineering design, the establishment of the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise shall be examined and approved by the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council and its qualifications shall be examined and approved by the construction administration department of the State Council. Where an applicant is to apply for Grade B qualifications for construction and engineering design or other Grade C or lower qualifications for construction and engineering design, the establishment of the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise shall be examined and approved by the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the people’s government of the province, the autonomous region or the directly administered municipality and its qualifications shall be examined and approved by the construction administration department of the people’s government of the province, the autonomous region or the directly administered municipality.
Article 7 The procedures for the establishment of a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise and the application for construction and engineering design qualifications or other Grade A or B engineering design qualifications shall be:
(1) The applicant shall submit an application to the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the people’s government of the province, the autonomous region or the directly administered municipality where the proposed foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise is to be established.
(2) The foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the people’s government of the province, or the autonomous region or the directly administered municipality shall complete the preliminary examination within 30 days of receiving the application, and shall, if it grants the preliminary approval, submit the application to the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council for further approval.
(3) Within 10 days of receiving the application for further approval, the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council shall forward the application to the construction administrative department of the State Council for review and comments. The construction administration department of the State Council shall provide its opinion in writing within 30 days of receiving the request. Within 30 days of receiving the response, the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council shall decide whether or not to approve the application and express such a decision in written form. If the application is approved, a foreign-invested enterprise certificate shall be granted; if the application is not approved, reasons for the disapproval shall be given in written form.
(4) Within 30 days of receiving the approval certificate, the applicant shall carry out enterprise registration with the relevant registration department.
(5) After obtaining business license for the legal entity, if the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise is to apply for the construction and engineering design enterprise qualifications, the application shall be carried out in accordance with the Regulations on Administration of Construction and Engineering Design Enterprise Qualifications.
Article 8 The procedures for the establishment of a construction and engineering design enterprise and the application for Grade B qualifications and Grade C or lower qualifications for engineering design shall be administered by the construction administration department and the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the people’s government of the province, or the autonomous region or the directly administered municipality based on local conditions with reference to Article 7 of these Regulations and Regulations on Administration of Construction and Engineering Design Enterprise Qualifications.
Examination and approval of the qualifications of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises by the construction administration departments of the People’s government of provinces, autonomous regions or directly administered municipalities shall be put on file with the construction administration department of the State Council within 30 days after the approval is given.
Article 9 The application by a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise to upgrade its qualifications or to add additional engineering qualifications shall be made to the relevant construction administration department in accordance with relevant regulations.
Article 10 An applicant which intends to establish a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise shall submit the following documents to the relevant foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department:
(1) Application forms to establish a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise signed by the investor’s legal representative;
(2) The feasibility study report prepared or accepted by the investor;
(3) The contract for establishment of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise and the articles of association signed by the investor’s legal representative (only the the articles of association are required for the establishment of a wholly foreign-owned construction and engineering design enterprise);
(4) The notification of pre-verification of the name of the enterprise;
(5) Documentary evidence of legal entity registration of the investor to carry out construction and engineering design in its home country or region and its bank credential letter;
(6) Appointment letters and documentary evidence of the investor’s designated chairman and members of the board of directors, managers and technical managers etc.; and
(7) Balance sheets and profit and loss accounts of the investor over the past three years audited by a certified accountant or an accounting firm.
Article 11 The applicant applying for foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise qualifications shall submit the following documents to the relevant construction administration department:
(1) Application forms for the qualifications for a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise;
(2) The approval certificate for the establishment of the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise;
(3) The business license for the legal entity;
(4) Documentary evidence of legal entity registration of the investor to carry out construction and engineering design in its home country or region and its bank credential letter;
(5) Professional qualification certificate issued by his home country or region and the individual or enterprise construction and engineering design track record and documentary evidence of its reputation issued by the relevant governmental department or professional institution, association or notary public; and
(6) Other documents as required by Regulations on Administration of Construction and Engineering Design Enterprise Qualifications.
Article 12 All materials required to be submitted by an applicant under these Regulations shall be in Chinese. If the original documentary evidence is in a foreign language, a Chinese translation shall be provided.
Article 13 The foreign investor or the foreign service provider of a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise shall be an enterprise engaged in construction and engineering design or a certified architect or a certified engineer in his or her home country.
Article 14 The total capital contribution of the Chinese party to a Sin-foreign equity construction and engineering design joint venture or a Sino-foreign cooperatively construction and engineering design joint venture shall not be less than 25% of the registered capital.
Article 15 The criteria of grading of qualifications of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises shall be in accordance with the requirements of grading of qualifications of construction and engineering design enterprise issued by the construction administration department of the State Council.
Where a wholly foreign-owned construction and engineering design enterprise applies for the construction and engineering design enterprise qualifications, its foreign service providers who have been qualified as certified architects or certified engineers in China shall not be less than 1/4 of the total certified professionals required under the qualification grading criteria, and the foreign service providers who have the relevant design experience shall not be less than 1/4 of the total key technical personnel required under the qualification grading criteria.
Where a Sin-foreign equity construction and engineering design joint venture or a Sino-foreign cooperatively managed construction and engineering design enterprise applies for the construction and engineering design enterprise qualifications, its foreign service providers who have been qualified as certified architects or certified engineers in China shall not be less than 1/8 of the total registered professionals required under the qualification grading criteria, and its foreign service providers who have the relevant design experience shall not be less than 1/8 of the total key technical staff required under the qualification grading criteria.
Article 16 Each of the architects and engineers certified in China and the key technical personnel of the foreign service provider in a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise shall reside within the territory of the People’s Republic of China for no less than a cumulative period of 6 months each year.
Article 17 Where a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise carrying out construction and engineering design activities within the territory of the People’s Republic of China violates the Construction Law of the People’s Republic of China, Regulations on Administration of Construction Engineering Quality, Regulations on Administration of Prospecting and Designing of Construction Projects and Regulations on Administration of Construction Engineering Prospecting Design Enterprise Qualifications and other relevant laws, regulations and rules, it shall be penalized in accordance with relevant provisions.
Article 18 Investors from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region or Taiwan shall establish construction and engineering design enterprises and carry out businesses in other provinces, autonomous regions or directly administered municipalities in accordance with these Regulations, unless it is otherwise provided by laws, regulations and the State Council.
Article 19 The timing for accepting and processing the application for establishment of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises shall be determined by the construction administration department of the State Council and the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council.
Article 20 The construction administration department of the State Council and the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council shall be responsible for interpreting these Regulations in accordance with their functions.
Article 21 These Regulations shall go into force on 1 December 2002. Regulations on Administration of Establishment of Sino-Foreign Project Design Joint Venture (File No. 180, 1992) shall be repealed at the same time.
杨春宝一级律师简介
杨春宝一级律师，大成上海高级合伙人、资本市场部主任、国资基金研究中心主任，大成中国区私募基金专业带头人、科技与文化法律研究中心联合牵头人。执业30余年，长期从事私募基金、投融资、并购重组法律服务，尤其对对赌研究颇深且具有非常丰富的实战经验，并专注于金融机构股权投资业务。2004年起多次入选The Legal 500"私募基金"和"公司与商业"等境内外各类律师榜单，代理的中国法院首例适用外国法律审理外国公司的董事损害小股东权益纠纷案入选上海高院发布的《上海法院域外法查明典型案例》和威科先行"要案头条"。入选上海涉外法律人才库、上海市司法局鼎新法治人才库、上海国有企业改制法律顾问团，具有上市公司独立董事任职资格，系多家知名高校的兼职教授或兼职研究生导师及上海市商务委跨国经营人才培训班讲师。出版《私募股权投资基金风险防控操作实务》等16本投融资法律专著。了解更多常见法律问题
外商投资建设工程设计企业的定义及准入条件是什么？
外商投资建设工程设计企业是指在中华人民共和国境内依法设立的全资、中外合资及中外合作建设工程设计企业。准入条件上，外国投资者不能仅凭工商登记即开展业务，必须满足双重准入要求。首先，需向外经贸主管部门申请并取得外商投资企业批准证书，随后完成工商注册登记取得营业执照。其次，在取得法人资格后，还必须向建设行政主管部门申请并取得建设工程设计企业资质证书。实务中，常见的风险点在于投资者往往忽视了资质许可的必要性，误以为取得营业执照即可执业，导致无资质承揽工程的违法风险。此外，企业开展设计活动必须严格遵守中国法律法规，同时其合法经营权及权益也受中国法律保护。建议投资者在项目前期规划阶段，务必将设立审批与资质申请同步纳入时间表，避免因资质未获批而无法开展实际业务。
外商投资建设工程设计企业的设立与资质审批由哪些部门负责？
外商投资建设工程设计企业的监管实行设立与资质相分离的双轨制管理体制。在中央层面，国务院外经贸主管部门负责全国范围内该类企业设立的审批管理，而国务院建设行政主管部门则负责全国范围内的企业资质审批管理。在地方层面，省级外经贸主管部门负责其授权范围内企业设立的审批，省级建设行政主管部门则负责本行政区域内企业资质的审批。这种双轨制意味着外国投资者需要分别向两个不同的系统提交申请并接受审查。实务操作中，最大的争议焦点在于部门间沟通协调的时间成本，特别是申请甲级资质时，国务院外经贸部门在审批前需征求国务院建设部门的意见。风险提示方面，投资者应当充分预估跨部门审批带来的周期延长风险，在材料准备上务必确保同时符合两套审查标准，避免因一处材料瑕疵导致整个审批流程停滞。
申请不同等级的设计资质在审批程序上有何区别与流程要求？
外商投资建设工程设计企业资质实行分级分类管理，不同等级对应的审批机关和程序差异显著。若申请甲级工程设计资质或其他甲级、乙级资质，设立需由国务院外经贸部门审批，资质由国务院建设部门审批；若申请乙级及丙级以下资质，则均在省级对应部门审批。以申请甲级等高级别资质为例，具体流程为：首先向省级外经贸部门提交申请；省级部门在三十日内完成初审，同意后上报国务院外经贸部门；国务院外经贸部门在十日内转交国务院建设部门征求意见，后者需在三十日内出具书面意见；国务院外经贸部门在收到意见后三十日内决定是否批准并书面通知；获批后申请人在三十日内办理工商登记；最后凭营业执照按相关规定申请设计资质。实务指引中，投资者需特别注意各环节的法定期限，如初审三十日、征求意见三十日等，合理安排项目进度。常见风险是未能在规定期限内完成工商登记或资质申请，导致前期批准失效。建议企业配备专人跟踪审批节点，确保在法定时限内完成各项登记与申报工作。
以上内容仅供参考，不构成法律意见。如需专业法律服务，请联系杨春宝一级律师：chambers.yang@dentons.cn
