I. Basic information
1. Category: Administrative licensing
2. Processing time: 7 working days
3. Who can apply: Employers that hire foreigners
4. Mailing service: Available
5. Result: People’s Republic of China Foreigner’s Work Permit
6. Inquiry hotline: 0755-88121678
7. Supervising hotline: 0755-12345
8. Service window information:
Address: Windows 57 to 58, East Hall, Administrative Service Hall, Zone B, Civic Center, Fuzhong Road 3, Futian District, Shenzhen
Time: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 2 p.m.-5:45 p.m. (except for public and statutory holidays)
II. Acceptance requirements
1. Basic requirements for employers
(1) The employer should be registered in accordance with the law and have no record of serious violations of law and breach of trust. Foreigners should be employed only for special vacancies where no suitable locals can be found, and employment should not violate relevant regulations. The wages paid to foreign employees should not be lower than the local minimum wage standards.
(2) If the employer operates in an industry that requires pre-approval from an industry authority before employing a foreign talent, such approval should be obtained.
2. Basic requirements for applicants
(1) The applicant should be at least 18 years old, be in good health, have no criminal record, be employed by an employer on the Chinese mainland and possess professional skills or knowledge required to take the job.
(2) The job the applicant takes should be in line with the need of China’s economic and social development, and the applicant should be a professional urgently needed in China.
(3) The applicant should follow other relevant laws and regulations for foreign workers.
3. High-end foreign talents (Category A)
High-end foreign talents are scientists, top technological talents, international entrepreneurs and special talents that are top-notch and needed by the market and whose achievements will contribute to China’s economic and social development. This category also includes talents who score enough points on the work permit points table. High-end foreign talents are free from restrictions on age, educational background and working experience. For detailed information, please see the Classification Standards for Foreigners to Work in China (Trial Version).
4. Foreign professional talents (Category B)
Foreign professional talents are those who meet the requirements in the Catalogue of Guidance for Foreigners Working in China for certain jobs, and who are needed for China’s economic and social development. Talents of this category should hold a bachelor’s degree or above, have more than two years of relevant working experience and are aged under 60. Restrictions on age, educational background and working experience can be eased for innovative and entrepreneurial talents, professional talents, outstanding foreign graduates, those who score enough points on the work permit points table or those who come to China to execute intergovernmental treaties or agreements that are urgently needed. For detailed information, please see the Classification Standards for Foreigners to Work in China (Trial Version).Other relevant regulations concerning special talents and government project staffers should also be obeyed.
5. Other foreign staff (Category C)
Other foreign staff are those who meet the needs of the domestic labor market and the requirements of relevant policies. For detailed information, please see the Classification Standards for Foreigners to Work in China (Trial Version).
6. Approval will be given to applicants
(1)Who are under the jurisdiction of the relevant authority;
(2)Who meet the above-mentioned requirements;
(3)Whose applicationmaterials are true, complete and meet relevant requirements.
7. Rejection will be given to applicants
(1)Whose application materials are not complete;
(2)Whose application materials do not meet relevant requirements;
(3)Whose application materials contain false information;
(4)Who do not meet the conditions to work in China;
(5)Who fall under other circumstances that are not suitable to be issued a Foreigner’s Work Permit.
Note:
The number of high-end foreign talents (Category A) will not be limited.
The number of foreign professional talents (Category B) will be adjusted according to the need of the market.
The number of other foreign staff (Category C) will be limited according to relevant regulations.
The exact numbers can be found on the Service System for Foreigners Working in China (https://fuwu.most.gov.cn/lhgzweb/).
III. Application materials
Required materials for employers or authorized service agencies to register an account at: https://fwp.safea.gov.cn/
No. | Required materials | Original/ Photocopy | Number of copies | Hard copy/ Digital copy | Requirements | Notes |
1 | Information registration form | Original | 1 | Digital | The form should be stamped by the employer. | If, instead of the employer's official company seal, the employer's foreign affairs seal, personnel seal or labor contract seal is to be used, records of authorization should be submitted. |
2 | Legal registration documents | Original | 1 | Digital | These may include the employer's business license, organization code certificate, social insurance registration certificate, registration certificate of foreign enterprise's permanent office in China, or registration certificate of overseas non- governmental organization's office in China. Employers with a unified social credit code should provide their certificate of unified social credit code. | |
3 | Documents to certify the identity of the person in charge and the authorized person | Original | 1 | Digital | | |
4 | Industry licenses | Original | 1 | Digital | If the employer operates in an industry that requires pre-approval from an industry authority before hiring a foreign talent, a letter of approval issued by the industry authority should also be submitted. | |
Please note: (1) If the registration information of the employer has been changed, materials to certify the changes must be provided. The materials may be stamped with the employer's authorized foreign affairs seal or personnel seal. (2) If the office address or economy type of the employer has been changed, materials to certify its legal registration such as a letter of approval issued by relevant administrative departments, its business license, certificate of unified social credit code, or organization code certificate should be provided. (3) If the applicant has become the legal representative or chief representative of the employer, the employer's alterated business license, organization code certificate, social insurance registration certificate, or registration certificate of foreign enterprise's permanent office in China plus the applicant's representative certificate should be provided. (4) If the employer is a multinational, the Chinese headquarters of a multinational (certified by business authorities), an enterprise group (holders of Enterprise Group Registration Certificate, both the mother company and member companies are included), a central State-owned enterprise or its subsidiary, a national high-tech enterprise (certified by science and technology authorities), a recognized enterprise engineering research center (certified by development and reform authorities), an engineering laboratory (certified by development and reform authorities), an engineering technology research center (certified by science and technology authorities), an enterprise technology center (certified by industry and information technology authorities), or a local technological innovation service platform (certified by science and technology authorities) and has submitted relevant certification documents while registering an account, it does not need to submit these materials again when applying for a permit. (5) If the employer authorizes a service agency to apply for work permits for its foreign employees, a letter of authorization issued by the employer specifying the name of the service agency, the authorized person, authorized items, as well as the ID number and phone number of the authorized person should be provided so that the service agency can apply for, extend, alter, cancel or replace a work permit. |
2. Required materials for applying for Foreigner's Work Permit (for a working period of more than 90 days)
a. Required materials for applying for Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit in the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit)
No. | Required materials | Original/ Photocopy | Number of copies | Hard copy/ Digital copy | Requirements | Notes |
1 | Application Form for Foreigner's Work Permit | Original | 1 | Hard copy/ Digital | Fill in the form online and print it for signing. After it is signed by the applicant (the form signed by the applicant is sent back via fax or mail) and stamped by the employer, upload it to the system. | Seals that can be used include the employer's official company seal and its registered foreign affairs seal, personnel seal and labor contract seal. |
2 | Certificates of working experience | Original | 1 | Digital | A certificate of working experience is issued by a former employer of the applicant. The working experience it certifies should be related to the applicant's job in China. The position, the working time of the applicant, and projects the applicant had participated in for the former employer should be stated in the certificate, and the certificate should be stamped by the former employer or be signed by person in charge with a valid phone number or e-mail address provided of the person in charge. | Certain Category A foreign talents are eligible to submit a letter of promise in place of their certificates of working experience.They include: (1) Talents who are included in relevant Chinese talent programs; and (2) Talents whose professional achievements meet internationally recognized standards. Applicants who are classified as Category A talents on the basis of their past working experience are excluded. If the applicant is the recipient of a recognized award in an industry, he/ she may provide the award certificate. If the applicant is an outstanding fresh graduate, he/she may provide a recommendation letter issued by the applicant's university. |
3 | Certificate of highest degre or relevant approval documents; professional qualification certificates | Original | 1 | Digital | If the applicant's certificate of highest degree is conferred by an overseas educational institution, it should be verified by a Chinese embassy or consulate in the country of the educational institution, the country's embassy or consulate in China, or a degree verification institution in China. If the applicant's certificate of highest degree is conferred by an educational institution in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region or Taiwan, it should be verified by a degree verification institution in China or a notary institution in that region. If the applicant's certificate of highest degree is conferred by a Chinese educational institution, it should be verified by the China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center. If the applicant is engaged in an occupation that requires pre-approval from an industry authority or a professional qualification certificate, a letter of approval issued by the industry authority or a professional qualification certificate should be provided. | Certain Category A foreign talents are eligible to submit a letter of promisein place of their certificate of highest degree, relevant approval documents or professional qualification certificates. They include: (1) Talents who are included in relevant Chinese talent programs; (2) Talents whose professional achievements meet internationally recognized standards; (3) Needed talents for the market; and (4) Innovative and entrepreneurial talents. If the applicant is a qualified teacher of a language that is not the applicant's mother tongue, then the applicant's certificate of highest degree should be verified by a degree verification institution in China. Any professional qualification certificate obtained abroad should be verified by a Chinese embassy or consulate in the country where it is conferred or by the country's embassy or consulate in China. Alternatively, it should be notarized by a notary institution. Any professional qualification certificate obtained in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region or Taiwan should be notarized by a notary institution in that region. |
4 | Certificate of no criminal record | Original | 1 | Digital | A certificate of no criminal record should be issued by the police department, security department or court in the applicant's passport country or place of permanent residence and verified by a Chinese embassy or consulate in the country or region or the country or region's embassyor consulate in China. Any certificate of no criminal record issued in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region or Taiwan should be notarized by a notary institution in that region. An applicant's place of permanent residence refers to the last country or region the applicant has lived in for more than one year after leaving the applicant's passport country This should not include the Chinese mainland. The certificate of no criminal record should be issued within six months. | Category A foreign talents are eligible to submit a letter of promise in place of the certificate of no criminal record. Personal declarations of criminal-free records are not accepted. Any non-declaration type certificate of no criminal record issued by diplomatic institutions (including foreign countries' embassies and consulates in China) will be accepted with no extra documents needed. |
5 | Health check certificate | Original | 1 | Digital | This can be a physical check certificate or health check certificate issued by a Chinese inspection and quarantine institution, or a health check certificate issued by an overseas medical institution recognized by a Chinese inspection and quarantine institution. It should be issue within six months. | A list of local medical institutions recognized by Chinese inspection and quarantine institutions can be found at the website of the Chinese embassy or consulate in the country or region. Applicants may submit a letter of promise before entering China and provide a physical check certificate or health check certificate issued by a Chinese inspection and quarantine institution upon collecting the Foreigner's Work Permit in China. |
6 | Employment contract or employment certificate (including letter of location transfer issued by a multinational) | Original | 1 | Digital | A Chinese contract signed by the applicant and stamped by the employer should be provided. Information in the contract should not be altered. If the applicant ca not provide an employment contract before entering China but is employed by an employer that is in the list of large businesses eligible for expedited services or an employer that has no negative credit records for three consecutive years, the applicant may provide an employment certificate before arriving in China and provide the employment contract upon collecting the Foreigner's Work Permit in China. With the exception of pay raise and promotion changes, necessary information in the employment contract and the employment certificate should be consistent, otherwise a new work permit will be required. | The employment contract or employment certificate (including the letter of location transferissued by a multinational) should include information including the applicant's workplace address, title, job responsibilities, salary and duration of work in China, and the signing page. Employment certificates are applicable to applicants who come to China to execute intergovernmental treaties or agreements, who are chief representatives or representatives of the Chinese office of international businesses, organizations or institutions, and who are overseas contract service providers. Letters of location transfer issued by a multinational are applicable to senior management (such as managers) and professional technical staff sent by a multinational from its global or regional headquarters outside the Chinese mainland to its subsidiaries or branches on the Chinese mainland. They should be issued by the global or regional headquarters of a multinational. If certain necessary information in an employment certificate (including the letter of location transfer) is missing, extra materials to explain exceptions should be provided. Senior management (such as managers) and professional technical staff sent from a multinational's headquarters on the Chinese mainland to its subsidiaries or branches on the Chinese mainland should provide a letter of location transfer and an employment contract signed with the multinational's headquarters on the Chinese mainland. Labor contracts signed between foreigners and labor outsourcing businesses should also include information such as the employer that the foreigner will be working for, how long the foreigner will work for the employer and the post the foreigner will take. |
7 | Applicant's passport or other international travel documents | Original | 1 | Digital | Please provide the personal information page on the applicant's passport or international travel documents. | The validity period of the passport should be no less than six months. |
8 | Headshot photo of the applicant taken within six months | Original | 1 | Digital | The photo should be with a white background with no frames. It should show the full face of the applicant and be clearly printed with no spots, flaws or defects caused by ink. It should be a colored 40-120 kb photo in JPG format and sized between 354*472 and 420*560 pixels. The applicant should not wear eyeglasses when taking the photo. | Applicants are suggested not to wear head adornments such as hats or coverings. Those who wear for religious purposes should ensure that the adornments do not cover their face. |
9 | Materials related to accompanying family members | Original | 1 | Digital | These include the personal information page on each accompanying family member's passport or international travel documents, evidence of family relationships (spouse-marriage certificate, children-birth certificate or adoption certificate, applicant's parents or spouse's parents- applicant's birth certificate or marriage certificate or notarization documents), health check certificates (for accompanying family members aged 18 or above) and digital photos. | Accompanying family members include the applicant's spouse, children aged under 18, parents and the parents of his/her spouse. |
10 | Other materials as required | | | | | |
Please note: (1) Except for passports and international travel documents, all materials that are not in Chinese should have a translated version stamped by the employer (materials that are not in English should be translated by a professional translation agency). If the information on a translated version is inconsistent with the original document, the Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality may request the employer to provide a new version. (2) All materials and their translated versions should be scanned and uploaded to the online system. The originals will be checked upon when collecting the Foreigner's Work Permit. According to the work requirements, permit acceptance or decision-making agencies are eligible to verify the authenticity of application materials by conducting interviews, telephone inquiries and on-site investigations as well as adopting other measures. (3) High-end foreign talents should provide certification materials in accordance with the talent classification standards. The application form should be signed by the applicant and stamped by the employer. Applicants should also give consent to allow the Commission to carry out further investigations when necessary. (4) Applicants who are classified as high-end talents according to the point-based system should providematerials including the certificate of highest degree, professional qualification certificates, Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) certificate, certificate of annual income for working in China and certificates of working experience. (5) Applicants who are applying for a work permit by meeting certain income standards should provide a letter of undertaking issued by the employer and stamped by the employer which states the applicant's income. For those who wish to extend or cancel their work permit, materials to certify the applicant's income including tax clearance certificates, bank statements and the employer's payroll records should also be provided. (6) High-end foreign talents whose positions (jobs) are different from the positions (jobs) approved by their work permit should also provide certificates of working experience. If the applicant is engaged in a job that requires pre-approval from an industry authority or requires a professional qualification certificate, a letter of approval issued by the industry authority or a professional qualification certificate should be provided. (7) Applicants whose nationality has been changed should apply for a new Foreigner's Work Permit. (8) For regulations on document certification, please visit http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/ or consult a Chinese embassy or consulate. (9) Overseas contract service providers refer to employees of an overseas business which has no commercial presence (i.e., legal entity) on the Chinese mainland but engages in commercial activities in overseas territories who come to the Chinese mainland to provide temporary services in order to fulfill service contracts their employer has obtained from within the Chinese mainland. Their remuneration is paid by the overseas employer. Such service providers should hold academic qualifications and professional qualifications required in order to provide a service. The number of service providers is determined by the workload stipulated in a contract. In addition to all materials mentioned above, overseas contract service providers should also provide a service contract made on the Chinese mainland while applying for a work permit. Information that should be stated in this contract includes the names of both parties, workplace address, contents of contract service, the applicant's position and job responsibilities, service duration and the signing page. (10) The Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit will be generated by the system automatically. The employer can download and print it whenever needed. |
b. Required materials for applying for Foreigner's Work Permit
No. | Required materials | Original/ Photocopy | Number of copies | Hard copy/ Digital copy | Requirements | Notes |
1 | Applicant's Z Visa, R Visa, orvalid residence permit | Original | 1 | Digital | Please provide the visa page, entry stamp page or residence permit page on the passport or other international travel documents. | Except for special circumstances such as a lost passport, the passport used should be the one that is used for applying for the Notification Letterof Foreigner's Work Permit |
2 | Visas or valid residence permits of accompanying family members | Original | 1 | Digital | Please provide the visa page, entry stamp page or residence permit page on the passport or other international travel documents. | |
3 | Employment contract | Original | 1 | Digital | The contract should include the applicant's workplace address, job responsibilities, salary, duration of working in China, position and the signing page. | This is applicable to applicants who fail to provide the contract when applying for the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit. |
4 | Health check certificate | Original | 1 | Digital | This can be a physical check certificate or health check certificate issued by a Chinese inspection and quarantine institution. It should be issued within six months. | This is applicable to applicants who fail to provide the certificate when applying for the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit. |
Please note: (1) Applicants should fill in the“APPLICATION FOR FOREIGNER'S WORK PERMIT”column in the Application Form For Foreigner's Work Permit. (2) If digital signatures are used in materials submitted for the application for the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit, such as the Application Form for Foreigner's Work Permit and the employment contract, the applicant should submit new versions of these materials with hand-written signatures of the applicant to the online application system. Required materials that the applicant fails to provide when applying for the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit should be uploaded to the system in this step. (3) Applicants should provide the original copies of all materials submitted to the onlineapplication system for verification when collecting the work permit. The digital versions of submitted materials should be identical to their original copies. Photocopies are not required. The original copies of letters of promise are not required. According to the work requirements, permit acceptance or decision-making agencies are eligible to verify the authenticity of application materials by conducting interviews, telephone inquiries and on-site investigations as well as adopting other measures. |
3. Required materials for applying for Foreigner's Work Permit on the Chinese mainland (for a working period of more than 90 days)
Applicants who fall into one of the following categories can apply for a Foreigner's Work Permit on the Chinese mainland. Except those who fall into the category (2) of change of employer, applicants should submit all materials required for the application of the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit and the Foreigner's Work Permit.
(1) High-end foreign talents (Category A) on the Chinese mainland with a visa or a valid residence permit;
(2) Change of employer: foreigners working in China, holding a valid residence permit for work and intending to change an employer without changing the profession;
(3) Foreign spouses or children of a Chinese citizen, and spouses or children of a foreigner with a permanent residence or work permit, who hold valid visas or residence permits;
(4) Applicants qualified for relevant preferential policies of free trade zones and comprehensive innovation and reform pilot zones;
(5) Applicants whose employer enjoys preferential policies for multinational enterprises' headquarters in China;
(6) Applicants who alter a job position within the same enterprise;
(7) Applicants executing intergovernmental agreements or treaties;
(8) Representatives of the Chinese branches of overseas institutions, who have entered the Chinese mainland with valid work visas. Applicants who have acquired a valid Foreigner's Work Permit for a working period of less than 90 days that are legally employed by a Chinese employer during their stay.
(9) Other applicants deemed qualified by the Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality.
Applicants who fall into the category (2) of change of employer should submit the following materials. |
No | Required materials | Original/ Photocopy | Number of copies | Hard copy/ Digital copy | Requirement | Notes |
1 | Application Form for Foreigner's Work Permit | Original | 1 | Hard copy/ Digital | Fill in the form online and print it for signing. After it is signed by the applicant (the form signed by the applicant is sent back via fax or mail) and stamped by the employer, upload it to the system. | Seals that can be used include the employer's official company seal and its registered foreign affairs seal, personnel seal and labor contract seal. |
2 | Certificates of working experience | Original | 1 | Digital | A certificate of working experience is issued by a former employer of the applicant. The working experience it certifies should be related to the applicant's job in China. The position, working time of the applicant for the former employer and projects the applicant had participated in should be stated in the certificate, and the certificate should be stamped by the former employer or be signed by a person in charge with a valid phone number or e-mail address of the person-in- charge. | Certain Category A foreign talents are eligible to submit a letter of promise in place of their certificates of working experience. They include: (1) Talents who are included in relevant Chinese talent programs; and (2) Talents whose professional achievementmeet international- ly recognized standards. Applicants who are classified as Category A talents on the basis of their past working experience are excluded. If the applicant is the recipient of a recognized award in an industry, the applicant may provide the award certificate. If the applicant is an outstanding fresh graduate, the applicant may provide a recommend- ation letter issued by the applicant's university. |
3 | Certificate of highest degree or relevant approval documents; professional qualification certificates (Applicants who have acquired a Foreigner's Work Permit after Nov. 1, 2017 are not required to submit their certificates of highest degree if they change an employer) | Original | 1 | Digital | If the applicant's certificate of highest degree is conferred by an overseas educational institution, it should be verified by a Chinese embassy or consulate in the country of the educational institution, the country's embassy or consulate in China, or a degree verification institution in China. If the applicant's certificate of highest degree is conferred by an educational institution in China's Hong Kong Special Administrati-ve Region, Macao Special Administrati-ve Region or Taiwan, it should be verified by a degree verification institution in China or a notary institution in that region. | Certain Category A foreign talents are eligible to submit a letter of promise in place of their certificate of highest degree, relevant approval documents or professional qualification certificates. They include: (1) Talents who are included in relevant Chinese talent programs; (2) Talents whose professional achievemen- ts meet international- ly recognized standards; (3) Needed talents for the market; and (4) Innovative and entrepreneu- rial talents. If the applicant is a qualified teacher of a language that is not the applicant's mother tongue, the applicant's certificate of highest degree should be verified by a degree verification institution in China. Any professional qualification certificate obtained abroad should be verified by a Chinese embassy or consulate in the country where it is conferred or the country's embassy or consulate in China. Alternatively, it should be notarized by a notary instiution. Any professional qualification certificate obtained in China's Hong Kong SpecialAdministrati-ve Region, Macao Special Administrati-ve Region or Taiwan should be notarized by a notary institution in that region. Applicants who are holders of an Alien Employmen Permit or Foreign Expert Certificate are not required to submit the documents for verification when applying to change the above-ment- ioned documents for a Foreigner's Work Permit. |
4 | Employment contract or employment certificate including letter of location transfer issued by a multinational | Original | 1 | Digital | A Chinese contract signed by the applicant and stamped by the employer should be provided. Information in the contract should not be altered. If the applicant cannot provide an employment contract before entering China but is employed by an employe that is in the list of large businesses eligible for expedited services or an employer that has no negative credit records for three consecutive years, the applicant may provide an employment certificate before arriving in China and provide the employment contract upon collecting the Foreigner's Work Permit in China. With the exception of pay raise and promotion changes, necessary information in the employment contract and the employment certificate should be consistent, otherwise a new work permit will be required. | The employment contract or employment certificate including the letter of location transfer issued by a multinational should include the applicant's workplace address, title, job responsibilit- ies, salary and durationof work in China and the signing page. Employmentcertificates are applicable to applicants who come to China to execute intergovernment- al treaties or agreements,who are chief representati-ves or representati-ves of the Chinese office of international businesses, organizations or institutions, and who are overseas contract service providers. Letters of location transfer issued by a multinational are applicable to senior management (such as managers) and professional technical staff sent by a multinational from its global or regional headquarters outside the Chinese mainland to its subsidiaries or branches on the Chinese mainland. They should be issued by the global or regional headquarters of a multination- al. If certain necessary information in an employment certificate (including the letter of location transfer) is missing, extra materials to explain exceptions should be provided. Senior management (such as managers) and professional technical staff sent from a multination- al's headquarters on the Chinese mainland to its subsidiaries or branches on the Chinese mainland should provide a letter of location transfer and an employment contract signed with the multination- al's headquarters on the Chinese mainland. Labor contracts signed between foreigners and labor outsourcing businesses should also include information such as the employer the foreigner will be working for, how long the foreigner will work for the employer and the post the foreigner will take. |
5 | Applicant's passport or other international travel documents, and valid residence permit | Original | 1 | Digital | Please provide the personal information page on the applicant's passport, international travel documents or residence permit. | |
6 | Headshot photo of theapplicant taken within six months | Original | 1 | Digital | The photo should be with a white background with no frames. It should show the full face of the applicant and be clearly printed with no spots, flaws or defects caused by ink. It should be a colored 40-120 kb photo in JPG format and sized between 354*472 and 420*560 pixels. The applicant should not wear eyeglasses when taking the photo. | Applicants are suggested not to wear head adornments such as hats or coverings.Those who wear for religious purposes should ensure that the adornments do not cover their face. |
7 | Other materials as required | | | | | |
Please note: (1) If an applicant currently working in China wants to change an employer, the applicant's current work permit should first be voided. (2) Alteration of a job position within the same enterprise refers to circumstances when a senior management staffer (such as manager) or professional technician employed by a transnational enterprise's headquarters in China or by an enterprise group moves to a new position either still in the headquarters or in a registered branch of the enterprise in China (including job position alterations or promotions).Theapplicant should apply for a new work permit within 30 days after the original work permit is nullified, submitting documents including an Application Form for Foreigner's Work Permit, an employment contract (or a letter of location transfer), a valid residence permit, the personal information page on the applicant's passport and a nullification certificate. If the applicant moves to a new profession, he or she should also submit related work qualification certificates. (3) High-end foreign talents should provide certification materials in accordance with the talent classification standards. The application form should be signed by the applicant and stamped by the employer. Applicants should also give consent to allow the Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality to carry out further investigation when necessary. (4) Applicants who are applying for a work permit by meeting certain income standards should provide a letter of undertaking issued by the employer and stamped by the employer which states the applicant's income. For those who wish to extend or cancel their work permit, materials to certify the applicant's income including tax clearance certificates, bank statements and the employer's payroll records should also be provided. (5) Applicants who have entered the Chinese mainland but do not fall into any of the above-mentioned category should apply for the permit following the procedures of applying for a work permit outside of China. (6) Applicants should provide the original copies of all materials submitted to the online application system for verification when collecting the work permit. The digital versions of submitted materials should be identical to their original copies. Photocopies are not required. The original copies of letters of promise are not required. According to the work requirements, permit acceptance or decision-making agencies are eligible to verify the authenticity of application materials by conducting interviews, telephone inquiries and on-site investigations as well as adopting other measures. |
4. Required materials for applying for Foreigner's Work Permit or Foreign Expert Invitation Letter (for a working period of 90 days or less)
No. | Required materials | Original/ Photocopy | Numberof copies | Hard copy/Digital copy | Requirements | Notes |
1 | Application Form for Foreigner's Work Permit or Application Form for Foreign Expert Invitation Letter | Original | 1 | Hard copy/ Digital | Fill in the form online and print it for signing. After it is signed by the applicant (the form signed by the applicant is sent back via fax or mail) and stamped by the employer, upload it to the system. | The applicant must promise that he or shehas a clean police record. |
2 | Labor or project contract, cooperation deal or invitation letter issued by the employer | Original | 1 | Digital | The document should include the applicant's name, nationality, workplace address, working duration, and job responsibilities. Clarifications are needed if the applicant has multiple workplace addresses or multiple entries into China. | The employer should clarify the budget for inviting the applicant, promise the authenticity of the employment, and guarantee that the expenses incurred during the applicant's stay in China will be paid. |
3 | Applicant's passport or other international travel documents | Original | 1 | Digital | The personal information page on the passport or other international travel documents should be provided. | |
4 | Other materials as required | Original | 1 | Digital | | Supporting materials of the applicant's qualification for Category A foreign talents should be submitted while applying for a Foreign Expert Invitation Letter. |
Please note: (1) Applicants accredited as high-end foreign talents (Category A) are eligible to apply for a Foreign Expert Invitation Letter. The accompanying personnel of the applicant should also submit their personal information and supporting materials. (2) Applicants of short-term Foreigner's Work Permit (for a working period of 90 days or less) are allowed to work for multiple employers. All the workplace addresses should be listed in the application. (3) Applicants should obey the approved duration of stay. Overstaying is not allowed. (4) Holders of Z Visa (work visa) who may stay in China for less than 30 days do not need to apply for a working residence permit. If the duration of stay is 30 days or more, the holders should apply for a working residence permit in place of the work visa. (5) Holders of Foreign Expert Invitation Letter can apply for F Visa and are not required to apply for a working residence permit after entering the Chinese mainland. (6) If the applicant is engaged in an occupation that requires pre-approval from an industry authority or a professional qualification certificate, a letter of approval issued by the industry authority or a professional qualification certificate should be provided. (7) According to the work requirements, permit acceptance or decision-making agencies are eligible to verify the authenticity of application materials by conducting interviews, telephone inquiries and on-site investigations as well as adopting other measures. (8) Except for passport or international travel documents, all materials that are not in Chinese should have a translated version stamped by the employer provided (materials that are not in English should be translated by a professional translation agency). (9) All materials and their Chinese translations should be scanned and uploaded to the online application system. |
5. Required materials for applying for extension of Foreigner's Work Permit
If a foreigner holds a work permit which is about to expire and the foreigner's current employer wishes to renew the foreigner's contract, the employer should submit an application for the extension of the Foreigner's Work Permit to the Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality at least 30 days ahead of the expiration date of the current permit.
No. | Materials required | Original/ Photocopy | Number of copies | Hard copy /Digital copy | Requirements | Notes |
1 | Application Form for Extension of Foreigner's Work Permit | Original | 1 | Hard copy/ Digital | Fill the form online and print it. After it is signed by the applicant and stamped by the employer, upload it to the system. | |
2 | Employment contract or employment certificate | Original | 1 | Digital | The contract should be in Chinese and should be signed by the applicant and stamped by the employer. No alteration should be made. | |
3 | Applicant's passport, international travel documents, visaor valid residence permit | Original | 1 | Digital | The personal information page, visa page, entry stamp page or residence permit page on the passport or other international travel documents should be submitted. | |
4 | Foreigner's Work Permit | Original | 1 | ID card | | This may include a valid Foreign Expert Certificate and Alien Employment Permit. |
5 | Others materials as required | | | | | |
Please note: (1) If the applicant is engaged in an occupation that requires pre-approval from an industry authority, a letter of approval issued by the industry authority should be provided. (2) If the applicant still works for the same employer but the applicant's position has changed or has been promoted to a managerial position from a professional one, a certificate of the alteration of the applicant's position should be provided when the applicant applies for the extension of Foreigner's Work Permit. (3) Applicants who have their jobs changed should apply for a new Foreigner's Work Permit. (4) Applicants accredited as high-end foreign talents (Category A) should submit relevant supporting materials when applying for the extension of Foreigner's Work Permit. (5) All materials and their Chinese translations should be scanned and uploaded to the online application system. According to the work requirements, permit acceptance or decision-making agencies are eligible to verify the authenticity of application materials by conducting interviews, telephone inquiries and on-site investigations as well as adopting other measures. (6) Applicants aged over 60 should also submit a letter of guarantee issued by the employer on valid health insurance purchased either by the applicant or by the employer. (7) Applicants who applied for a work permit by meeting certain income standards should also provide materials certifying their income including tax clearance certificates, bank statements and the employer's payroll records when applying for the extension. (8) An applicant can apply for the extension of a Foreigner's Work Permit without submitting original copies of documents if the applicant meets the following conditions: -The applicant's talent category remains unchanged; -The extended duration of stay doesn’t exceed the approved duration of stay of the previous work permit; -The applicant's work permit is not applied for by meeting designated income standards or by accumulating points. The employer can use the pick-up and delivery service of designated couriers for the replacement of the applicant's work permit. All the original copies of application documents should be properly kept for potential inspections within the validity duration of the work permit. |
6. Required materials for applying for alteration of Foreigner's Work Permit
If the applicant's personal information (such as name, passport number, job or talent category) or other items are changed, an application should be submitted to the Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality within 10 working days from the date of the alteration.
No. | Materials required | Original/ Photocopy | Number of copies | Hard copy/ Digital copy | Requirements | Notes |
1 | Application Form for Alteration of Foreigner's Work Permit | Original | 1 | Hard copy/ Digital | Fill in the form online and print it. After it is stamped by the employer and signed by the applicant, upload it to the system. | |
2 | Credentials supporting the application for the alteration of related items | Original | 1 | Digital | Please refer to the notes below for specific requirements. | |
3 | Foreigner's Wor Permit | Original | 1 | ID Card | | This may include a valid Foreign Expert Certificate and Alien Employment Permit. |
4 | Other materials as required | | | | | |
Please note: (1) Applicants whose passport or international travel document number has altered should provide the number of the new document as well as the personal information page and visa page of the new passport or international travel document. (2) If the applicant still works for the same employer but the applicant's position has changed or has been promoted to a managerial position from a professional one, a letter of alteration application and corresponding certification materials should be provided. Other documents required by national laws and regulations should be provided accordingly. (3) Applicants who have their jobschanged should cancel the current work permit and apply for a new work permit. (4) All materials and their Chinese translations should be scanned and uploaded to the online application system. Applicants should provide the original copies of all materials submitted to the online application system for verification when collecting the work permit. The digital versions of submitted materials should be identical to their original copies. Photocopies are not required. According to the work requirements, permit acceptance or decision-making agencies are eligible to verify the authenticity of application materials by conducting interviews, telephone inquiries and on-site investigations as well as adopting other measures. |
7. Required materials for applying for cancellation of Foreigner's Work Permit
If a Foreigner's Work Permit is not renewed before it expires, the work permit will be canceled automatically. If a work permit is revoked or withdrawn in accordance with the law, it will be canceled by the Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality. If an applicant deceases, is incapacitated or terminates the contract in advance, the employer should apply for cancellation of the work permit within 10 working days from the date the circumstance takes place. If the employer terminates operation, the applicant may apply to the Commission for cancellation of the work permit.
No. | Materials required | Original/ Photocopy | Number of copies | Hard copy/ Digital copy | Requirements | Notes |
1 | Application Form for Cancellation of Foreigner's Work Permit | Original | 1 | Hard copy/ Digital | Fill in the form online and print it. After it is stamped by the employer, upload it to the system. | |
2 | Documents certifying the termination of employment and contract, or other circumstances related to the cancellation | Original | 1 | Digital | Documents certifying the termination of employment and contract should be signed by both parties. | If an applicant resigns without notifying the applicant's employer and the employer cannot contact the applicant, the employer should provide extra materials for explanation. |
Please note: (1) If an applicant's employer has terminated operations in accordance with the law, the applicant's Application Form for Cancellation of Foreigner's Work Permit does not need to be stamped by the employer, but materials certifying the employer's termination of operations and inability to apply for the cancellation of Foreigner's Work Permit, as well as the applicant's personal statement about the cancellation of the work permit and the applicant's work permit should be provided. (2) If an applicant's Foreigner's Work Permit has been canceled, the Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality will issue a certificate of cancellation upon application. (3) Applicants who applied for a work permit by meeting certain income standards should also provide materials certifying their income including tax clearance certificates, bank statements and the employer's payroll records when applying for the cancellation. (4) All materials and their Chinese translations should be scanned and uploaded to the online application system. Applicants should provide the original copies of all materials submitted to the online application system for verification when collecting the cancellation receipt. The digital versions of submitted materials should be identical to their original copies. Photocopies are not required. According to the work requirements, permit acceptance or decision-making agencies are eligible to verify the authenticity of application materials by conducting interviews, telephone inquiries and on-site investigations as well as adopting other measures. |
8. Required materials for applying for replacement of Foreigner's Work Permit
Applicants who need to apply for replacement of a Foreigner's Work Permit should publish a statement on the Service System for Foreigners Working in China on the date the permit is lost or foundlost, then apply for replacement to the Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality. If the permit is damaged, the applicant must bring with him or herthe current work permit when applying for a replacement.
No. | Required materials | Original/ Photocopy | Number of copies | Hard copy/ Digital copy | Requirements | Notes |
1 | Application Form for Replacement of Foreigner's Work Permit | Original | 1 | Hard copy/ Digital | Fill in the form online and print it. After it is stamped by the employer and signed by the applicant, upload it to the system. | |
2 | Statement about the loss or damage of the work permit | Original | 1 | Digital | | Materials that are not in Chinese should also have a translated version stamped by the employer. |
3 | Foreigner's Work Permit | Original | 1 | ID Card | | This applies to applicants whose work permit is damaged. This may include a valid Foreign Expert Certificate and Alien Employment Permit. |
Please note: All materials and their Chinese translations should be scanned and uploaded to the online application system. Applicants should provide the original copies of all materials submitted to the online application system for verification when collecting the replaced work permit. The digital versions of submitted materials should be identical to their original copies. Photocopies are not required. According to the work requirements, permit acceptance or decision-making agencies are eligible to verify the authenticity of application materials by conducting interviews, telephone inquiries and on-site investigations as well as adopting other measures. |
IV. Application procedures
1. Online application
Employers should log into the system (https://fuwu.most.gov.cn/lhgzweb/), submit application information and upload relevant materials. Those who authorizea service agency to submit an application at a service window should submit online information including the name of the service agency, its legal registration certificate (such as business license, organization code certificate, social insurance registrationcertificateor the certificate of foreign enterprise’s permanent office in China), the authorizedperson and the ID card number and phone numberof the authorized person. A letter of authorizationissued by the employer and documents to certify the identity of the authorized person should also be submitted at the service window.
2. Online preliminary review
The Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality shall conduct a preliminary review of the materials submitted online within 5 working days from the date of submission (the date of submission is not counted). If the materials are not complete or the contents do not meet relevant requirements, the Commission shallnotify the applicant online of the missing materials the applicant needs to provide.
3. Acceptance
The Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipalityshould make a decision regarding the acceptance of the application after a preliminary review of the materials. If an application does not fall within the authority of the Commission, the application will be rejected, and the reason of rejection will be provided. If an application falls within the authority of the Commission and all required materials are complete and meet relevant requirements, the application shallbe accepted and an electronic receipt will be issued. If the application materials are not complete or do not meet certain requirements, the Commission shallinform the applicant of the missing materials he or she needs to provide. The application will be accepted if the applicant later provides all required materials within the allotted time.
4. Review
The Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality shallfurther review the application materials within 7 working days after accepting the application (the date of acceptance is not counted).
5. Decision
A decision on whether to approve the application of a Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit or a Foreigner’s Work Permit will be made. If an application is approved, a Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit will be generated online automatically. Applicants should apply to collect the work permit within 15 days of their entry into the Chinese mainland. The original copies of materials such as employment contract or employment certificate, working experience certificates, certificate of no criminal record, health check certificate and certificate of highest degree should be provided for verification upon collecting the work permit. An applicant’s employer should collect the work permit on behalf of the applicant within10days after the application is approved. Applications that do not meet relevant requirements or standards will be rejected. If it is rejected, a written letter will be issued explaining the reason of rejection and informing the applicant and his/her employer of their rights to apply for administrative reconsideration or to bring an administrative lawsuit according to the law.
The Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality may streamline the on-site materials verification process of certain employers and applicants applying for the extension of a Foreigner's Work Permit based on their credit records.
A flow chart of the procedures of applying for a Foreigner's Work Permit
V. Service charge
Free of charge
VI. Application website
https://fuwu.most.gov.cn/lhgzweb/
VII. Application progress tracking
https://fuwu.most.gov.cn/lhgzweb/or iShenzhen APP
VIII. Application result tracking
https://fuwu.most.gov.cn/lhgzweb/or iShenzhen APP
