How can a company establish a physical retail shop after setting up a foreign-invested commercial enterprise (FICE) in China?

For a FICE that has already received permission to be established to open a shop, retail business must be included in its business scope. Moreover, if the FICE premises are not intended for commercial use, its foreign investors will need to rent commercial premises to set up the physical shop. In addition, the FICE must have undergone and passed an annual inspection, and have paid up all of its registered capital. The following documents should be submitted by an already-established FICE to apply for opening a physical shop:

• Written application;
• Revised contract and articles of association (if applicable);
• Feasibility report on the establishment of the physical shop;
• Audit report of the enterprise in the most recent year;
• Capital verification of the enterprise (photocopy);
• Registration certification (photocopy) and legal representative certification (photocopy);
• For shops with size of 3000 sq. meters or larger, land use right certification document (photocopy), and/or lease agreement for the story to be set up (photocopy); and
• Document issued by the local government stating that the physical shop is in compliance with the relevant provisions concerning urban development and urban commercial development. Where documents are not signed by the legal representative, a power of attorney must be presented.