There are 9 frequently asked questions in “Service Guide for Foreigners’ Work Permit in China (Trial) English Version“, if you have any more questions about Work Permit for foreigners in China, please leave your comment or send a message to us, and we will try our best to help you.
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1, What does “Integration of Two Permits两证整合” mean for foreigners to work in China?
On December 30, 2015, the State Council’s office of examination and reform officially replied to the Ministry of human resources and social security and the State Administration of foreign experts on the opinions on the integration of foreigners’ work permits in China (SGB [2015] No. 95), agreeing to integrate “foreigners’ entry and Employment Permit” and “foreign experts’ work permit in China” into “foreigners’ work permit in China”, The State Administration of foreign experts is responsible for the implementation of the license.
For those who have worked in China for more than 90 days, the “integration of two permits” means that the original work permit for foreign experts and the employment permit for foreigners are unified into the notice of work permit for foreigners, which is in electronic form and can be printed online by the employer and the applicant; The original “foreign expert certificate” and “foreign employment certificate” are unified as “foreign work permit”. The work permit for foreigners is a legal document for foreigners to work in China. Those who work in China for less than 90 days (including 90 days) may apply for a work permit for foreigners or an invitation letter for foreign experts to come to China.
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2, What are the conditions for foreigners to apply for work permits in China?
(1) Basic conditions of the employer
It is established according to law and has no record of serious violation of laws and bad faith; The posts employed by foreigners should be those with special needs, suitable candidates are temporarily unavailable in China, and do not violate the relevant provisions of the state; The wages and salaries paid to the employed foreigners shall not be lower than the local minimum wage standard. If the laws and regulations require the industry competent department to pre approve, approval shall be obtained.(2) Basic conditions of the applicant
They should be at least 18 years old, healthy, have no criminal record, have a certain employer in China, and have the professional skills or appropriate knowledge level necessary for their work. The work is in line with the needs of China’s economic and social development, and it is a professional who is in urgent need in China. Where laws and regulations provide otherwise for foreigners to work in China, such provisions shall prevail. -
3, What is the specific process of employing foreigners to work in China (working in China for more than 90 days)?
1) The employer or the entrusted special agency shall register the account number in the management service system for foreigners to work in China, submit the permit application online, and print the notice of foreigners’ work permit online after approval.
2) Foreigners shall apply for Z-visa, F-visa or r-visa at the embassies and consulates of the people’s Republic of China in foreign countries by virtue of the notice of work permit for foreigners and other necessary materials.
3) Within 15 days after an alien enters the country with a valid visa, the employer shall apply for the alien work permit online and obtain the certificate from the local alien work administration department.
4) Within 30 days after entering the country with a valid visa, foreigners need to go to the entry-exit administration agency of the local public security organ where the employer is located to apply for work type residence certificates.
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4, What proof materials should be submitted to apply for a foreigner’s work permit (work in China for more than 90 days)?
Application form for foreigner’s work permit in China, work qualification certificate, highest degree (academic degree) certificate or relevant approval document, professional qualification certificate, no criminal record certificate, medical examination certificate, employment contract or employment certificate (including letter of dispatch from multinational company), etc.
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5, What proof materials should be submitted for those who apply to work in China for less than 90 days (including 90 days)? What is the specific process?
The application form for work permit for foreigners or invitation letter for foreign experts to China should indicate the fee arrangement for inviting foreigners and the applicant’s commitment that he / she has no criminal record; The work contract, project contract, cooperation agreement or invitation statement of the inviting unit shall indicate the fee arrangement of the invited foreigners, make a commitment to the authenticity of the invitation and guarantee the payment of the expenses of the invited foreigners in China.
The acceptance agency shall conduct preliminary examination and acceptance of the materials submitted online within 5 working days (the date of submission is not included in the period) from the date of submission of the materials. If the materials are complete and meet the requirements, it shall be accepted and an acceptance notice shall be generated online. After the online acceptance by the accepting institution, the decision-making institution shall review and make a decision within 5 working days from the date of acceptance. For those who apply for a foreigner’s work permit in China (working in China for less than 90 days, including 90 days), if they meet the conditions and standards, they shall make a decision to grant the administrative permit and generate the notice of foreigner’s work permit online; Those who apply for the invitation letter of foreign experts to China shall obtain the paper invitation letter of foreign experts to China from the issuing agency. The whole process is handled online, and there is no need to submit paper materials for verification.
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6, Under what circumstances can a foreigner apply for a work permit in China (working in China for more than 90 days)?What materials will be submitted?What is the specific process?
1) Foreign high-end talents who have entered China with other visas or valid residence certificates (Class A);
2) Foreigners working in China change their employers, but their jobs (occupations) have not changed, and their working residence permits are within the validity period;
3)Foreign spouses or children of Chinese citizens, or spouses or children of foreigners who reside or work permanently in China, holding valid visas or residence permits within the validity period;
4) In line with the relevant preferential policies of the free trade zone and the comprehensive innovation and reform pilot zone;
5) The employer complies with the relevant preferential policies of the regional headquarters of multinational companies in China;
6) Personnel within the enterprise group move;
7) Implementing intergovernmental agreements or agreements;
8) Representatives of the agencies in China who have legally entered the country with work visas; Foreigners who have been granted work permits to work in China for less than 90 days and are legally employed by domestic employers within the validity period of their stay in China;
9) Other examination and approval authorities recognize that the conditions are met.
Those who apply for a work permit for foreigners in China (working in China for more than 90 days) and are approved can directly obtain a work permit for foreigners. Before the expiration of the valid visa or residence permit, the employer shall apply for the work type residence certificate at the entry-exit administration institution of the local public security organ where the employer is located.
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7, What are the convenient measures for foreign high-end talents (Class A) to apply for work permits for foreigners in China?
1) For the direct acceptance through online pre-examination, the acceptance institution shall give an electronic receipt for acceptance. The applicant does not need to provide paper materials for verification before entering the country;
2) Foreign high-end talents selected into the relevant domestic talent plan can be processed online through the whole process without submitting paper materials for verification;
3) Foreign high-end talents (Class A) (I) who meet the classification standards for foreigners to work in China are selected into the relevant domestic talent plan; （2） If it meets the internationally recognized professional achievement recognition standards, the work qualification certificate adopts the commitment system;
4) Foreign high-end talents (Class A) (I) who meet the classification standards for foreigners to work in China are selected into the relevant domestic talent plan; （2） Meeting internationally recognized standards for professional achievement recognition; （3） Foreign talents who meet the needs of market-oriented encouraged posts; （4） For innovative and entrepreneurial talents, the highest degree (degree) certificate adopts the commitment system;
5) No criminal record certificate adopts commitment system;
6) Those who have entered China with other visas or valid residence certificates may apply for work permits for foreigners in China;
7) Where an application for a foreigner’s work permit in China, an application for extension or cancellation of a foreigner’s work permit in China is made, the decision-making body shall examine and make a decision within 5 working days.
8) Those who apply for working in China for less than 90 days may apply for an invitation letter for foreign experts to come to China, and other foreign experts may accompany them. After receiving the invitation letter of foreign experts to China, you can apply for visa F, and you can enter and exit the country for many times. After entering the country, you do not need to apply for a working residence certificate.
9) Foreigners with a maximum term of 5 years may be granted work permits to China.
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8, Do foreigners need to handle invitation letters or invitation confirmation letters when they apply for visas at foreign embassies and consulates after obtaining the notice of work permit for foreigners?
According to the decision of the Ministry of human resources and social security on Amending the regulations on the administration of foreigners’ employment in China (Order No. 32) on March 3, 2017, after obtaining the notice on foreigners’ work permit, no invitation letter or invitation confirmation letter will be handled at the authorized unit.
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9, What basic information should be provided for verification if foreigners’ work permits in China are reflected through 12333, Internet and other channels and need to be transferred to functional departments for further processing?
Foreigners’ work in China involves many departments such as foreign affairs, public security, industry and commerce, taxation and social security, and has a direct bearing on national security and local stability. In order to timely verify the work information, solve the difficult problems in the consultation and acceptance work, improve the service quality, establish and improve the credit evaluation mechanism of the employer, and provide the true and complete information such as the name of the employer, the business application code, the name of the reflector, the ID card number, and the relationship between the employer and the employer.
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10, How can a foreigner get a work permit in China?
1, The employer creates an account online (https://fuwu.most.gov.cn/lhgzweb), applies online, and submits materials
2, Preliminary review
3, Provide paper application materials to the nearest Foreigners’ Work Permit Acceptance Spot
4, Paper application materials review
5, Print Foreigners’ Work Permit Notice online
6, Provide Z or R, or F visa information
7, Applicant applies for Work Permit online and submits paper materials
8, Materials review
9, Collect the “Foreigners’ Work Permit” at the nearest Foreigners’ Work Permit Acceptance Spot
10, Don’t forget to apply for Work-type Residence Permits -
11, How long does it take to get a work permit China?
About 15 to 25 working days