Work permits and residence permits

The Z visa

The Z visa is the work visa. It is issued only after a Foreign Expert work permit has been approved by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs. Your employer drives the process — you don't apply for a Z visa speculatively.

Document requirements (typical)

Passport.
Apostilled / authenticated degree certificate (university degree).
Apostilled criminal record check from your home country (or a country where you have lived for 6+ months in the past 5 years).
Apostilled CV / employment record.
Recent passport photo.
The employer's invitation letter (ru zhi tongzhi shu) and the work permit notification.

Apostille is the multilateral certification that makes documents accepted by foreign governments. Countries that are not part of the Hague Apostille Convention need consular legalisation (slower).

Pre-arrival

The employer applies for the work permit notification. With that you apply for the Z visa at a Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country (or a country where you legally reside).

On arrival

You enter on the Z visa (single-entry, 30-day validity from issue date). Within 30 days of arrival, the employer sponsors the residence permit conversion:

1. **Medical exam** — at a designated international travel health centre. 2. **Work permit card** — issued by the Foreign Experts Bureau. 3. **Residence permit** — issued by the local Public Security Bureau exit-entry administration. Valid 1–5 years; multi-entry.

The residence permit replaces the Z visa as your stay document. With it, you can leave and re-enter China freely for the duration.

Categories (A / B / C)

The Foreign Expert work permit is graded A, B or C — A is the most senior (high-end talent), B is professional/managerial, C is entry-level. Visa policy and renewal terms differ. Most teaching, IT, engineering and management roles are B. PhD-required research and senior-executive roles are A.

Renewal

Residence permits renew via the local PSB exit-entry administration. Process takes 7–14 days; bring the same documents plus the renewed work permit notification.

Quitting and switching jobs

Quitting cancels the work permit and triggers a typical 30-day grace period. New employer must sponsor a new work permit before the grace period expires.

Common pitfalls

Apostille processing can take 8–12 weeks at home; start early.
Some industries are restricted to Chinese nationals; the Foreign Experts Catalogue lists eligible roles.
Working on a tourist or business visa is illegal and carries significant fines and re-entry bans.