China Business Visas

Foreign nationals visiting China need to acquire a visa before entering the country, except for special circumstances allowing for visa-free entry.

Contributing Advisor

Fuki Fu

Manager, Human Resources

There are several visa categories, depending on the reason for entry into China. In this section, we discuss the visa categories according to the purpose of the visit and the procedure to hire foreign employees.

Types of visas

Administrative procedures for hiring foreign employees

Hiring foreign employees in China entails several steps and procedures, just like any other country.

To be eligible for work in China, foreigners should meet  the following basic criteria:

• Attained 18 years of age and are healthy;
• Possess the requisite professional skill and the corresponding work experience for the work;
• Have a work and resident permit;
• Have no criminal record;
• Has a confirmed employer in China; and
• Hold a valid passport or any other international travel document.

In addition to a written labor contract, a foreign employee must obtain a work permit and a resident permit to legally work in China. Only in this way will an expatriate be deemed to have established a labor relationship in China and be protected by Chinese labor laws. 

Without a work permit and resident permit, the provision of labor to a company in China means the expatriate is illegally employed, which may lead to penalties for both the company and the foreign employee. Should a dispute arise between the foreign employee and the employer, it falls out of the scope of labor arbitration and will be subject to other general laws and regulations.

According to the Administrative Regulations on the Employment of Foreigners in China and the Entry-Exit Regulation, the due procedures for a company to hire foreign employees who will work in China for over 90 days include:

• Applying for Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit in China;
• Applying for a Z-visa or R-visa;
• Applying for a Foreigner’s Work Permit; and
• Applying for Resident Permit.

Citizens of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan do not need to go through the administrative procedures for hiring foreign employees – they are under the same treatment as mainland Chinese in employment management.

Applying for a notification letter of foreigner’s work permit in China

The Notification Letter of a Foreigner’s Work Permit in China shows the company's intent to hire a specific foreign national. The application process needs the cooperation of both the employer and the employee.

After registering successfully, the company can submit the application for the Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit in China, along with other required documents, through the online service platform of the Ministry of Service and Technology.

Upon acceptance of the application, the decision-making body will review the materials and make a decision within 10 working days to approve or decline the employer’s request to hire a foreign worker. A Notification Letter of the Foreigner’s Work Permit in China will be produced online upon approval. For Tier A talents, the time could be reduced to five working days.

The company should help the employee apply for the Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit in China before their entry into China and then apply for the Foreigner’s Work Permit within 15 days of their entry. If the employee is already in China, the company can help the foreign employee apply for the Foreigner’s Work Permit directly.

Applying for Z-visa or R-visa

After obtaining the Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit in China for the foreign nationals it intends to hire, the company needs to make sure that the expatriates are entering China with the proper visa.

Among the 12 types of visas stipulated in the Entry-Exit Regulation 2013, both Z-visa and R-visa can be used as work visas, while the requirements for the latter are considerably higher than the former.

• A Z-visa is the most commonly used visa for employment. It is used by foreigners who are actually employed by a company that has been incorporated in China (either domestic or foreign-invested), or who plan to undertake any commercial performance in China;
• An R-visa is a relatively new type of visa issued to high-level foreign personnel and those possessing skills that are in shortage in China. Under China’s tiered talents system, the R-visa is usually applicable to Tier A talents; and
• The M-visa is known as a "business visa". Although it cannot be used for employment purposes, it enables companies to invite foreigners to China for commercial and trade activities and may thus be useful for doing business in China.

The following documents will be required when applying for a Z-visa or R-visa:

• Application form;
• Passport valid for at least six months;
• Recent passport-size photo; and
• Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit in China.

Under the unified work permit system, the official ‘letter of invitation’ is no longer required to apply for a Z-visa or R-visa.

The visa application may take around five working days, depending on the working procedure of each embassy. Once the visa is granted and the foreign employee arrives in China, they will require a Work Permit and a Resident Permit in addition to registering their Temporary Residence (Accommodation Address).

How many foreign employees can a company hire?

No regulation explicitly stipulates the number of expats a single company can hire in China. In practice, however, local government agencies tend to refuse applications if they think the company unnecessarily hires too many foreign employees. When assessing the necessity of hiring foreigners, the authorities consider the applicant’s business scope and size, registered capital, internal structure, and the specific position in question. However, there are no firm rules on the matter, and companies are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Applying for a foreigner’s work permit

The unified work permit system

Previously, China’s work permit system included two different kinds of work permits - the Alien Employment Permit and the Foreign Expert Permit.  Under this system, it was unclear which work permit the candidates should apply for. Moreover, the application system was largely paper-based and highly bureaucratic, resulting in months-long turnaround times.

The government introduced a unified work permit system to streamline the foreign employment system and avoid deterring high-quality foreign candidates from working legally in China. Under this new single work permit system, a unified model is administered by the State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs (SAFEA) and its local branches, thereby eliminating the confusion and inconformity of the two-permit system.

In this new system, each applicant is assigned a unique ID number that does not change, regardless of permit renewal or change of employer. Documentation requirements are standardized and reduced by nearly 50 percent, with submissions like personal CVs and application letters no longer required.

The tiered talents system

A tiered talent classification system was also introduced with the unified work permit system to attract more high-level foreign talents. Under this system, foreign workers are classified into three tiers:

• Tier A - highly qualified top talents;
• Tier B - professional talents in line with labor market demand; and
• Tier C - other foreign talents in line with labor market demand.

The classification is based on the desirability and eligibility of the expats through a comprehensive evaluation system. This evaluation system includes a point-based system, a catalog for guiding foreigners working in China, a labor market test, as well as a quota administration system. Applicants are also assigned points based on their educational background, salary level, age, past achievements, work experience and length, and Chinese language level. Applicants applying to work in less developed areas may receive additional points. The State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) has released detailed scoring criteria and other specific standards to evaluate ex-pats on the online service platform of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The three-tiered talents are subject to different administrations. Applicants placed in Tier A are eligible for service through a “green channel”, which offers paperless verification, expedited approval, and other facilitation measures. Tier A talents are not limited by age, education, degree, or working experience. However, applicants placed in Tier B are controlled according to the labor market demand, and applicants placed in Tier C are strictly limited by quotas and other relevant rules.

Temporary residence registration

According to the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China, all foreigners in China are required to register their place of residence or temporary accommodation with the local police within 24 hours of arrival at the address. This applies to all foreign nationals in China, as well as Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents, whether you are in China for a short-term visit, such as for tourism or business, or living in China long-term for work, study, or family. Failing to register in time may trigger a warning or even a fine of up to RMB 2,000 (US$274) in serious cases. 

Online application for foreigner's work permit

Within 15 days of entering China, the company should apply for a Foreigner’s Work Permit for their foreign employee. The application should be filed through the Service System for Foreigners Working in China by submitting the following documents:

• Application form for Foreigner’s Work Permit;
• Verification of past employment;
• Verification of education or a verification of professional qualification;
• Criminal record certificate;
• Physical examination record for foreigners or overseas Chinese;
• Copy of the job contract or appointment letter;
• Passport;
• ID photo; and
• Information of accompanying members.

Documents required by the applicant’s employer:

• Download publications Guide to HR Compliance and Best Practices in China
  Registration form;
• Business license and organization code certificate;
• ID information of the employer/agent who is responsible for the registration; and
• Industry license documents.

It takes 10 working days for the SAFEA in charge to verify the documents and decide whether to approve them. For Tier A talents, the time could be reduced to five working days. The Foreigner’s Work Permit in China shall be issued on-site upon approval.

The validity period of an employment permit

The Foreigner’s Work Permit in China is normally valid for one year. The validity period can be raised to two years for Tier B talents and five years for Tier A talents. However, the validity of the following documents may not be exceeded:

• Employee’s passport;
• The term on the company’s business license; or
• The registration certificate of the employer.

The Foreigner’s Work Permit in China will also be subject to annual review.

For foreigners switching companies or changing nationalities during the validity of their Foreigner’s Work Permit in China, they should deregister their old permit first and then apply for the new one without leaving China, as mentioned above. If only the personal information - name, passport number, and position - is changed, the Foreigner’s Work Permit in China could be simply amended instead of re-applied for.

Obtaining a resident permit

After the employee is granted a work visa and has successfully entered China, the hiring company must help them apply for a resident permit within 30 days of the entrance. Receipt of a resident permit signifies the completion of the administrative procedures for hiring foreign employees, allowing the employees to travel into and out of China as regularly as they require.

The application takes about five to 15 working days. The application procedures vary from city to city. For example, in Shanghai, the applicant is required to show up in person at a government office to take a digital picture to confirm it is the same person as the passport holder from the application.

The term of validity of the resident certificate is determined in accordance with the validity of the Foreigner’s Work Permit in China, which is usually up to one year. Certain foreign employees can apply for five-year resident permits in some cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, subject to higher qualifications.

Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card

The Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card in China is a legal identity document for foreigners granted permanent residency, serving as their primary identification. It streamlines administrative tasks by allowing cardholders to register for accommodations and purchase transportation tickets for cars, boats, and planes without presenting a foreign passport. This card improves the living experience in China by simplifying various legal and administrative processes for permanent foreign residents.

Benefits of Chinese permanent resident status

Renewal of foreigner’s work permit in China

Renewing the Foreigner’s Work Permit in China is not as difficult or time-consuming as making the initial application. However, companies must be organized enough internally to know when each foreign employee’s visa will expire. If the Foreigner’s Work Permit in China is not renewed upon expiry, it will be deregistered automatically.

To renew the Foreigner’s Work Permit in China, the employing company should apply to the SAFEA in charge 30 days prior to the expiry date, with the following documents submitted:

• Application form for renewal;
• An employment contract or other proof of employment;
• Visa or other valid resident permit; and
• Foreigner’s Work Permit in China.

The renewal process takes around five working days. It is recommended that visa applications and renewals be coordinated by a reliable agent unless your organization is already structured to manage the visa effectively.

Latest travel requirements for China

China Briefing tracks the very latest policies and requirements for international travelers seeking to navigate China's complex travel and immigration requirements.  

Visa relaxation

China has introduced several preferential visa policies aimed at promoting people exchange and enhancing its business environment. Notably, the number of countries eligible for China's 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy expanded to 54 in November 2023, with Norway included in the updated list.

Effective from December 1, 2023, China unilaterally offers 15-day visa-free travel to holders of ordinary passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia.

It’s important to note that citizens from these countries must still apply for a visa if they plan to stay in China for more than 15 days or intend to study, work, settle, or attend interviews in China.

China has expanded its unilateral visa-free travel policy to six additional European countries including Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg, during the period from March 14 to November 30, 2024. Ordinary passport holders from the above countries may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days.

Additionally, from December 11, 2023, to December 31, 2024, China will reduce visa fees by 25 percent across the board for foreign travelers. Moreover, China and Singapore are in discussions to establish a mutual 30-day visa-free travel arrangement, aiming to enhance people exchanges between the two countries.

These measures collectively contribute to making business travel to China more accessible, easier, and more convenient.