Getting Work Permit In China
If you are a foreign student in China and want to work here, you need to apply for a Foreign Expert Work Permit. In this article, I will talk about the application process, requirements and rule changes that may affect your ability to get a Work Permit.One of the most important things for a foreigner is to get a work permit in China. Work permit in China is an important document that allows you legally working in China. A work permit gives foreigners temporary permission to work, live, and be employed in China.
Getting Work Permit In China
Work permit is a legal document issued by the Chinese government to hire foreign entity organizations or individuals. Any organizations planing to hire foreign skilled workers or professionals must obtain a work permit from the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) in China as per relevant policies for the management of foreign talents.China has become one of the most popular countries for graduates and students to find work and internships. While the chance to travel and earn money might seem like an opportunity that cannot be passed up, there are some very specific conditions you must meet if you are looking to work in China. While many other websites may not tell you the whole story, I’m going to level with you. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
China Work Visas & Permits
When your company decides to expand to China, you’ll need to look at all the different visa types and determine which work best for your employees. For example, do they need a permanent residence visa, work permit, or both? What details and documents do they require to apply for a residence permit? All of these questions, along with several others, are important to ensure that you’re staying compliant and can work quickly.
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When your company decides to expand to China, you’ll need to look at all the different visa types and determine which work best for your employees. For example, do they need a permanent residence visa, work permit, or both? What details and documents do they require to apply for a residence permit? All of these questions, along with several others, are important to ensure that you’re staying compliant and can work quickly.
Types of Work Visas in China
China uses abbreviations with letters and numbers to designate certain visa types. For example:
- Z visa: A visa for workers staying in China for longer than six months.
- X1/2: The X stands for xuéshēng, which means student, and the numbers indicate how long someone will stay. This visa is for students, and the X1 is for those staying longer than 180 days, while X2 is for a period shorter than that.
- J1/2: The J is from jìzhě, or journalist. This visa is meant for foreign journalists staying for a specific period.
- M: A business visa meant for stays of 30 to 60 days.
- F: A visa for exchange students, visitors, and study tours lasting 30 to 90 days.
- S1/2: This visa is meant for people visiting family members who are non-residents.
- Q1/2: China gives this visa to individuals visiting family members who are from or living in the country.
Other letters to watch for include “C” for chuányuán, or crew, “L” for lǎowài, or foreigner/tourist, and “G” for guòjìng, or transit.
Requirements to Obtain China Work Visas
The requirements to get a work visa can vary based on the type of visa. However, most Chinese visa applications need a passport, photograph, health certificate, and official employment license from the Chinese authorities.
As of June 6, 2022, China has waived the special invitation letter requirement for work visas.
All foreigners with a visa must comply with the Chinese Exit-Entry Administration Law and register with the Public Security Bureau (PSB). They must do so within 24 hours of arriving in the country. Here’s how each of your employees can comply:
- Go to the nearest police station
- Show a passport
- Show a deed or lease to a home or host’s household registration
- Complete a temporary residence registration form
After registering, your employee will get an approved Registration Form of Temporary Residence. This form can help when they’re trying to obtain a permanent Chinese residence permit.
Application Process
Applying for a work visa in China requires going to the closest Chinese Visa Application Service Center or Chinese embassy. Your employee will need to provide basic documents. China also scores work permit applications based on the value the applicant brings to the country with factors such as salary, qualifications, work experience, age, Mandarin proficiency, and more. Depending on how high an applicant scores, they may get additional benefits. We recommend applying for a visa about one month before planning to enter China.
Many of your employees will apply for Z visas and need to obtain a Chinese Residence Permit within 30 days of arriving in China. They must apply for this permit by:
- Going to the nearest Exit-Entry Administration Service Center
- Providing a passport
- Filling out a registration form
- Filling out a Foreigner’s Visa and Resident Permit Application form
- Providing a passport photo
- Showing an official health certificate
- Providing supporting documents as necessary
Other Important Considerations
When your employees submit their working visa application form, they can state how many entries they want — single, double, or multiple. This number will show how often and in which time period they can enter China. For example, returning from a visit to Macao or Hong Kong is counted as a new entry, requiring a double-entry or multiple-entry visa. If your employees don’t plan to go abroad while in China, a single-entry visa will work for them and cost less.
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At this moment, Globalization Partners does not offer support processing work visas or permits in this particular location.
For any other inquiries about our global employment platform, contact us today.