A work permit that holds up at the border
Foreign employees in China need two documents, not one: a work permit from the science and technology ministry, and a residence permit from the exit-entry bureau. Most failed applications miss the second one.
- 20 daysWork permit notice (statutory)
- 15 daysTo apply after entering on a Z visa
- 30 daysTo convert to a residence permit
- 1–5 yrsResidence permit validity
A, B or C — the category decides everything
| Category | Who fits | Key test | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| A — high-end talent | Senior executives, scientists, entrepreneurs above the points threshold | 85+ points on the points test, or salary at 6× the local average, or an incentive-list qualification | Up to 5 years |
| B — professional talent | Most foreign employees of normal companies | Bachelor's degree or above, plus 2 years of relevant experience after graduation; under 60 | 1–3 years, renewable |
| C — temporary / seasonal | Short-term, seasonal, or quota-limited workers | Time-limited need, no degree requirement, strict quotas | 90 days – 1 year |
The degree must be verifiable and the experience must be after graduation. A master's degree with two years of unrelated work does not clear a B application in a technical role.
Four stages, two authorities
Work permit notice
The employer files on the national service system: company licence, employment contract, degree, criminal record check, medical form. Statutory 20 working days, usually 10–15 in Shanghai.
Z visa
With the notice, you apply at a Chinese embassy or consulate for a Z visa. Some nationalities can use the R visa. Do not enter on a tourist visa and try to convert — it is possible but adds weeks and risk.
Work permit card
Within 15 days of entry, the employer converts the notice into the physical permit. This is the document that makes the employment legal.
Residence permit
Within 30 days, apply at the exit-entry administration for a residence permit for work. This replaces the visa in your passport and is what you show at the airport and at the bank.
Sponsoring yourself through your own company
A foreigner who owns a WFOE can be employed by it — the company is the employer, you are the employee. It is legal, common, and much stricter in practice than people expect.
The company must exist properly before it can sponsor anyone: business licence, bank account, tax registration, an actual office, and usually a first tax filing. A shell company with no capital and no activity will be refused.
Salary must be paid through the company account with individual income tax withheld. Paying yourself “nothing” to save tax makes the next permit renewal difficult.
The legal representative does not automatically get a work permit. Being on the licence is a company role; the permit is an employment role. Two separate applications.
The file that clears first time
- Degree certificateVerified by the Chinese service centre for scholarly exchange, or legalised. A scan of a certificate with no verification is the most common refusal.
- Criminal record checkFrom your country of residence, issued within the last 6 months, apostilled or consular-legalised. Some countries issue it only by post — start early.
- Medical examinationDone in China at a designated clinic after entry, or abroad at a recognised hospital. Valid 6 months.
- Employment contractPosition, duties, salary, term. The position must match the degree or the experience, otherwise the file is questioned.
- Company documentsLicence, chops, bank account information, lease, and the foreign investment report.
- Passport & photosSix months validity minimum, plus white-background photos to the required size.
Spouse and children
A spouse and children under 18 can apply for an S1 visa on the strength of your work permit, then convert to a residence permit for family reunion. The permit follows the length of yours.
S1 holders cannot work. A spouse who wants to work needs their own employer and their own work permit.
Children can attend local or international schools; the residence permit is the document schools ask for first.
Parents do not qualify as dependants for S1 in most cases — short visits use Q2 visas.
Why permits get rejected
Wrong category
Applying for B when the salary and position suggest C, or claiming A without the points. The category is assessed, not chosen.
Experience gap
Two years of experience counted from before graduation does not count. Internships do not count.
Company too thin
A newly registered company with no paid-in capital, no staff and no tax record struggles to sponsor its first foreign employee.
Expired criminal check
The certificate must be recent at the moment of filing. A check obtained for a visa application last year is usually stale.
Visa questions
Can I convert a tourist visa into a work permit inside China?
How long does the whole thing take?
Does my company need to be profitable?
What happens when I change employer?
Can I renew before it expires?
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