To attract more high-level foreign talent to China, Chinese government is streamlining current application and administration procedures of working visa, which eases burdens and reducing hurdles to make its workforces more global. The original “alien employment permit” and “foreign expert certificate” will be integrated into one permit called the foreigner work permit. Every foreigner will have one permit number per foreigner work permit, which will be used by the same individual for life. This new work visa policy has come into force nationally since April 1, 2017.
Foreigner work in China are categorized into 3 types, Class A (Top Talents), Class B (General Professionals)， Class C (Short-Term Jobs)
Class A (Top Talents) Encourage
This category applies to overseas creative and outstanding talents. Have selected to the Recruitment Program of Global Experts Program including Thousand Talent Plan, Changjiang Scholars Program，etc. Have internationally recognized professional achievement, Nobel Prize Winner, senior executive of global 500 companies.
Class B (Professional personnel) Control
Have bachelor or higher degree, and 2-years related work experience; Foreign Language teachers who have bachelor or higher degree in his country and over 2-years language teaching experience. 2 years language teaching experience is not necessary as prerequisite for teachers graduated from education, language and teaching majors or have TEFL certificates.
Class C (Short-Term Jobs) Restrict
This category applies to foreigners engaged in short term temporary jobs satisfying the needs of the domestic labor market. Class B Professional personnel are mostly popular category for general public, legalized diplomas, and proof of no criminal record legalized by Chinese Embassy. Foreigner need to go through following steps to work in China,
1. Employer applies for Notification of Work Permit for employee, employee don’t need to come to China.
2. Employer applies for Confirmation Letter of Invitation, employee don’t need to be in China at this step.
3. If you are currently at your country, you will need to go to Chinese embassy or consulate in your country to apply for Chinese work visa. Notification of Work Permit and Confirmation Letter of Invitation are required for submission. If you are currently in China, you may apply for Chinese work visa without leaving the country.
4. Foreigner must go to local Public Security Bureau to fill out the registration Form of Temporary Accommodation for Aliens within 24 hours of your arrival. Please be advised that if you get a new visa or you move to another place, you will need to get the registration form of temporary residence again.
5. If you didn’t do physical examination in your country, you will need to do the physical examination at recognized Chinese inspection & quarantine bureau within 30 days of arrival.
6. Next you apply for Foreigner’s work permit from Chinese Foreign Expert Bureau.
7. Last you apply for residence permit at local Public Security Bureau.
Notes:
The validity period of Residence permit varies from 1 year to 5 years.
Apply at least 30 days before your current permit expires to extend the validity of residence permit, otherwise you will need to apply for it from the very beginning.
If the residence purpose, passport number and residence address has been changed, you will need to apply for a new residence permit within 10 days.
If you jump to a new company, you must apply for a new residence permit. Working at new company with previous residence permit is illegal.
Materials need to be submitted for work permit and residence permit
Following documents are for reference only, government policies are subject to change without prior notice, please check with the relevant department for final confirmation.
- Original passport and work visa of the applicant
- The registration form of temporary accommodation
- Physical examination report
- Original bachelor or higher Degree is needed. If you are graduated from foreign university, meanwhile, an authenticated degree is required.
- Original non-criminal background check from your country (called police clearance letter) is needed. This police clearance letter need to be authenticated and legalized at Chinese embassy or Consulate.
- 3 recent photos （3.5CM×4.5CM）
- 2 or more years work experience proof, if it is in foreign language, it need to be translated to Chinese.
- Copy of enterprise business license, certificate of approval is required as well if company is foreign-investment enterprise.
- The copy of employment contract.
- If branch office recruit foreigners, the head office need to provide authorization letter stamped with official seal.