China work visa is a travel document for you to enter China for a specific period which allows you to work legally in China. Before you pack your bags and board the plane, you need to obtain a China work visa, also known as a Z visa, which is the legal authorization for foreigners to work in China.
A China work visa is issued to expats who have a paid job offer or a commercial performance contract in China. It is valid for 30 days from the date of arrival in China, during which time you and your employer must apply for a long-term residence permit that allows you to stay and work for the duration of your contract, up to a maximum of five years. The work visa is usually a single-entry visa, which means you cannot leave and re-enter China without applying for a new residence permit upon your arrival in China.
Getting a China work visa can be a complicated and lengthy process that requires careful preparation and planning. This guide will explore the six steps to help you to apply for a work visa and work permit in China.
Interested in teaching English in China? Check How to apply for China work visa as a foreign teacher for details.
Eligibility for a China Work Visa
To qualify for a China work visa, you must meet specific criteria:
- Be at least 18 years old and in good health.
- Have a clean criminal record.
- Possess a job offer from a specific employer in China with an accompanying work permit.
- Demonstrate the required skills and work experience for the job.
- Hold a valid passport and necessary travel documents.
What are the Benefits of a China Work Visa?
Obtaining a China work visa comes with several advantages, including:
- Legal authorization to work and receive a salary in China.
- Access to the social security and health insurance system.
- Freedom to travel within China and internationally with a valid passport.
- The ability to bring a spouse and children under a dependent visa.
- Opportunities to immerse in Chinese culture and lifestyle.
How to Apply for a China Work Visa?
STEP 1. Apply for a Notification letter of China work permit
A notification letter of work permit is required for applying for a work visa(Z) at Chinese Embassy or Consulate the first time. Notification letter of work permit shall be provided by your employer in China. The employer will request the notification letter of work permit on the website of service system for foreigners working in China.
Document Checklist: Application for a Notification letter of Chinese work permit
- Passport
- Two-inch photo with white background
- Certificate of physical examination
- Proof of working qualifications and translation
- Highest degree certificate (requires to be authenticated by Chinese Embassy/Consulate or apostilled by the country’s foreign ministry, Supreme Court, or state government)
- Certificate of no criminal record (requires to be authenticated by Chinese Embassy/Consulate or apostilled by the country’s foreign ministry, Supreme Court, or state government)
- Employment contract or employment certificate
- Work permit application form and visa application form
- If you intend to bring family members, you need to provide Relevant supporting documents for accompanying family members.
Out of above-mentioned documents for work permit notification request, the essential documents you need to prepare in advance is the authentication of degree Police Clearance Certificate. Because China has acceded to the Hague Treaty. If your country has not, you need to have your degree certificate authenticated by the Chinese Embassy.
Note: On November 7, 2023, China officially became a member of the Apostille Convention. the authentication process for foreign public documents will be greatly simplified. A foreign public document issued in another Hague Convention Countries can be used in China after being affixed with an Apostille by a competent authority in the state of origin. There is no need to apply for Chinese Embassy or Consulate’s legalization anymore. For documents issued in non-Hague convention Countries, Chinese Embassy or Consulate’s legalization is the still required process.
The procedure for authentication varies from country to country.
Certificate of no criminal record
Certificate of no criminal record issued from your home country need to be apostilled by a competent authority or legalized by Chinese Embassy in the state of origin
How to apostille Police Certificate issued in USA?
How to apostille Police Certificate issued in UK?
How to apostille Certificate of Clearance issued in Australia?
How to legalize Certificate of Clearance issued in Canada?
Degree/Diploma Authentication
For request of Notification of China Work Permit, you shall get the overseas degree apostilled by a competent authority or legalized by Chinese Embassy/Consulate in the state of origin or accredited by Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) of the Ministry of Education (MOE).
See Degree/Diploma authentication and apostille for China work visa in China for details.
Steps to apply for China Work Visa
China Work Visa Categories
Point Scoring Calculation
STEP 2. Apply for a work visa(Z) for entry
Upon obtaining the notification letter of work permit, you are ready to move forward to apply for a work visa(Z) at Chinese Embassy or Consulate. Airline ticket to China is recommended to book after you have obtained the work visa.
Document Checklist: Application for a Chinese work Visa (Z)
- Passport
- Visa application form and photos
- One recent passport-type photograph
- Proof of legal stay or residence (applicable to those who do not apply for a visa in their country of citizenship)
- Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to those who once had Chinese nationality and naturalized in a new country)
- Chinese Work Permit or Notification letter of Chinese Work Permit
STEP 3. Temporary Accommodation Registration (must be completed within 24 hours upon arrival in China)
If you stay in a hotel in China, don’t worry, the hotel will register your accommodation for you in accordance with relevant regulations, and report your accommodation registration information to the local police station. However, if you live in a residence other than a hotel, you must register with the police station for temporary accommodation. This can be handled either by you or the person who offers you the accommodation within 24 hours upon your arrival in China.
STEP 4. Physical examination
In addition to registering for accommodation, physical examination is another important document for application of work visa. The Physical Examination Record for Foreigners shall be completed by official designated Medical Center or Travel Health Care Center. Please kindly be reminded that alcohol is prohibited on the day before the physical examination and remember do not to eat or drink in the morning of the physical examination.
STEP 5. Apply for a China work permit
The next step is to apply for a China work permit on the website of service system for foreigners working in China. The application takes about 5-10 working days to be approved.
Document Checklist: Application for a Chinese work permit
- The applicant’s visa (Z or R) or valid residence permit.
- Employment contract (if it has been submitted when applying for a notification letter of work permit, it is not necessary to provide it again).
- Certificate of physical examination.
Here are the most common types of employment visas that allow foreigners to work in China. This guide will explore the most common types of China work visas and eligibility criteria for each specific category.
1. Foreign high-end talents (category A)
Scientists, scientific and technological leading talents, international entrepreneurs, special talents and other “high-level, elite, top-notch, and urgently needed personnel”, who fulfill the national key and catalogue of foreign talents introduction and one of the following conditions, fall in Category A.
1) Those selected for the domestic talent introduction plan.
2) Those who meet the internationally recognized standards for professional achievement recognition, such as Nobel Prizes, academicians of various national academies, and executives at the headquarters of Fortune 500 companies.
3) Foreign talents who meet the needs of market-oriented incentive positions.
4) Innovative and entrepreneurial talents.
5) Outstanding young talents.
6) Those with a point-based score of 85 or more. (See Point Scoring System of China Work Permit at the bottom of this page for point calculation)
2. Foreign professionals (category B)
Those who meet the guidance catalogue for foreigners working in China and job requirements, are foreign professionals urgently needed for the development of China’s economic and social undertakings, and fulfill one of the following conditions, are identified as Category B.
1) Foreign professionals with a bachelor’s degree or above and those with 2 years or more of relevant work experience.
2)Have an international general vocational skills qualification certificate or urgently needed skilled talents.
3) Foreign language teaching staff. Foreign language teaching staff should teach their native languages, having a bachelor’s degree or above, and with more than two years’ experience in language education. Those who have obtained a bachelor’s degree or above in education, language, or normal education, or alternatively have either obtained a teaching qualification in their country or a qualified international language teaching certificate, such as TESOL, TEFL, CELTA, may be exempted from work experience requirement.
4) Foreign talents whose average salary income is not less than 4 times the average social salary income of the previous year in the region.
5) Special personnel who meet the regulations of relevant national departments and personnel who implement the project.
6) Professionals with more than 60 points. (See Point Scoring System of China Work Permit for point calculation)
3. Other foreign personnel (Category C)
1) Foreigners who meet the current regulations on the management of foreigners working in China.
2) Foreign personnel employed on temporary, short-term (not more than 90 days) work.
3) Personnel under quota system management, including foreign youths who come to China for internships according to intergovernmental agreements, foreign students who meet the prescribed conditions, foreign graduates from overseas universities, foreigners working in special fields such as ocean fishing, etc.
To apply for a Z visa, you should submit the work permit and other certification materials in accordance with the regulations. So what documents are required for the whole process of applying for a visa? You can refer to the following:
Materials required by the employer or the entrusted specialized service agency:
1) Information registration form
2) Registration certificate
3) Identity certificate of the person in charge and the agent
4) Industry license documents
Materials required by individuals:
1) Passport
2) Two-inch photo with white background
3) Certificate of physical examination
4) Proof of work qualifications
5) Highest degree certificate (required to be authenticated by Chinese Embassy/Consulate or apostilled by the country’s foreign ministry, Supreme Court, or state government)
6) Certificate of no criminal record (required to be authenticated by Chinese Embassy/Consulate or apostilled by the country’s foreign ministry, Supreme Court, or state government)
7) Employment contract or employment certificate
8) Work permit application form and visa application form
9) If you are planning on bringing family members, you need to provide relevant supporting documents for accompanying family members
STEP 6. Apply for a residence permit (within 30 days after arriving in China)
Now take one more step which is the last one needed to work legally in China. To apply for a work-type residence permit allows you to settle in China for an extended period. The work visa (Z) requires that you apply for a residence permit at the Public Security Bureau within 30 days upon your arrival in China. You must go to the local Exit and Entry Bureau in person to submit appropriate documents for request of China residence permit.
Holders of a residence permit can make unlimited number of round trips to cross the border without Chinese visa during its validity period. During the current COVID-19 period, some types of residence permits cannot be used for free entry and exit of China, fortunately, at present, individuals who hold work-type residence permits can cross into China freely.
Document Checklist: Application for a Chinese resident permit
1. A valid passport or other international travel document.
2. Foreigner visa application form and photos.
3. Certificate of physical examination (issued by the local health and quarantine department or the health and medical department at or above the county level).
4. Chinese work permit.
5. Letter of employment certificate issued by the employer.
If you have completed above six steps successfully, now you have obtained a residence permit. Congratulations! A residence comparably gives more rights than a visa. You can live in the country, purchase real estate, do business, work, study, or travel with residence permit.
If all of this work visa procedures sound complicated and intimidating, don’t worry! We are here to help you to complete the application and guide you all the way to the finish line. Explore more ways to reside in China, please read “Can foreigners work in China without a work visa? “
Point Scoring System of China Work Permit
Tips and Advice for Applying for a China Work Visa
- Make sure you have all the required documents ready before you apply for the work permit notice and the Z visa. Some of the documents may take time to obtain, especially if they need to be apostilled by a competent authority or authenticated by the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country.
- Check the latest requirements and regulations for the work permit notice and the Z visa on the official websites of the Chinese authorities. The requirements and regulations may change frequently.
- Keep copies of all the documents you submit for the work permit notice and the Z visa. You may need to present them again when you apply for the work permit and the residence permit in China.
- Check the validity and accuracy of your work permit notice and your Z visa. If you find any errors or discrepancies, contact your employer or the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country as soon as possible.
- Follow the rules and regulations of your work permit and your residence permit. Do not overstay, work for another employer, or engage in any illegal activities. If you violate the rules and regulations, you may face penalties, such as fines, detention, deportation, or a ban from entering China again.
With over 6 years of experience on China Work Visa, Aofan Consulting will save you a lot of time for document preparation and make it easy to complete your application. We are here to help you to complete the China work permit application and guide you all the way to the finish line. Please do not hesitate to contact us at info@intrz.com.