Life of Guangzhou - Regulations for Work Permit Application

Important note: The Work Permit for Foreign Experts Working in China is issued by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs and its provincial divisions.

1. Application Conditions
Foreign experts who work in China shall apply for the Work Permit for Foreign Experts Working in China. Applicants shall agree to abide by Chinese laws and regulations, be in good health, have no criminal records, and belong to any of the following categories:

1) Foreign specialists or managers applying for work in China according to the agreements between governments or international organizations or according to economic and trade contracts between China and foreign countries;

2) Foreign specialists applying for work in China in the fields of education, scientific research, news media, publication, culture, art, hygiene, sports etc. ;

3) Senior foreign specialists or managers applying for work in enterprises in China, assuming the post of deputy manager or above or enjoying the same treatment as one;

4) Foreign representatives in the foreign experts sectors authorized by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs or experts represented by the specialist talent agency in China; or

5) Foreign specialists or managers with unique skill and in dire need in China applying for working in the areas of economy, technology, engineering, trade, finance, taxation affairs, tourism etc.

Foreign experts who are in the second or third category shall have a bachelor degree or above, as well as five years or more of related work experience. (Language teachers shall have a bachelor degree or above and two years or more of related work experience)

2. Supporting Documents
1) Application Form for the Work Permit for Foreign Experts Working in China;
2) Résumé (including education and employment history) ;
3) A copy of the highest degree or professional qualification certificate;
4) Medical certificate issued by foreign health offices authorized by China's embassies and consulates, or a medical certificate issued by health and quarantine departments authorized by Chinese government; and
5) Employment agreement or contract.

Applicants in the first category shall submit the copies of corresponding project agreements or project approval documents.
Applicants in the second category shall submit the copies of the qualification certificate or the reference number of the certificate, as well as the standard employment contract (printed officially by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs) entered into between the foreign experts and the employing units.
Applicants in the third category shall submit a copy of the appointment certificate or the employment contract.
Applicants in the fourth category shall submit copies of the approval documents issued by the foreign talent agents in China, the appointment documents of the foreign representative, or other legally valid dispatching documents.
Applicants in the fifth category shall submit copies of employment agreements or contracts.

3. Application Procedure
1) Application
Foreign experts employed by state departments, by units under the central government, by other public sectors, and by companies shall apply for a Work Permit at the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs. Foreign experts employed by other units shall apply for a Work Permit at the provincial divisions of residence.

2) Acceptance
a. Only application documents in a complete and full manner abiding by the relevant laws and regulations will be accepted.
b. The applicants will be allowed to correct the mistakes in the application documents on the spot. For incomplete application documents or documents in conflict with the relevant laws and regulations, applicants will be given a copy of the Approval of Correction Document at once or within five working days. Applicants will be notified at once or within five working days if correction is needed. If they are not notified, the application will be accepted on the date when the documents are received. Applications that are not corrected after notification will be rejected.
c. Applicants will be notified with a statement of acceptance or refusal with the issuing date. For the rejected applications, applicants will be given the reasons of refusal in the refusal statement.

3) Approval process
The decisions will be made within 20 working days in accordance with the relevant instructions. Under special circumstances, an extension of up to ten working days will be allowed when granted by the leaders of the relevant administrative sector. The stamped extension approval will be given to the applicants. The reason for the extension will be indicated as well.
Under any of the following circumstances, a Work Permit will not be issued:
a. False application documents are provided;
b. Applicants are not qualified to be recruited as foreign experts; or
c. There are other circumstances, under which the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs and its provincial divisions deem it inappropriate for the applicants to be granted a Work Permit.

The State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, when deciding to grant or not to grant a Work Permit, will issue a statement regarding the approval or rejection of the Work Permit with the seal and issuing date. If no approval is granted, the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs will indicate the reasons for rejection in the statement. If approval is granted, the Work Permit printed by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs in a unified way will be issued within 10 working days. The Work Permit will be issued with the seal of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs or its provincial divisions, as well as with the signature of grantee.

4. Other Applications
1) Application for Work Visa (Z)
The foreign expert planning to work in China shall apply for the Work Visa (Z) at Chinese embassies or consulates in their country of residence. To do this they will need the original Work Permit for Foreign Experts Working in China, the visa notification letter, and a valid passport, Chinese embassies or consulates will keep the original Work Permit for Foreign Experts Working in China after issuing Work Visa (Z).

2) Application for the Foreign Expert Certificate and the Residence Permit
Within 15 days after entry into China, Foreign experts who have obtained the Work Visa (Z) shall apply for the Foreign Expert Certificate at the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs or its provincial divisions. Within 30 days after entry into China, Foreign experts who have obtained the Work Visa (Z) and the Foreign Expert Certificate shall apply for the residence permission for foreign nationals at the immigration office in the local Bureau of Public Security.

Please note: the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs reserves the right to interpret the Regulations.