China Work Permit 2026: Z Visa, A/B/C Points, Salary Floors & Timeline
Four instruments in a fixed order, a points system with city-specific salary floors, and a work permit that now lives on the Social Security Card — here is what it takes to get one person legally working in mainland China
Short answer: a foreigner may only work in mainland China with a Foreigner's Work Permit (外国人工作许可) and a work-type residence permit, per Article 41 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law. Getting there takes four chained steps — the employer's online Notification Letter, the Z visa, the work permit within 15 days of entry, and the residence permit within 30 days — and the applicant is graded A, B or C on a points scale where 85+ is A and 60+ is B. Since 1 December 2024 the permit record sits on the worker's Social Security Card rather than a separate card, and since early 2026 authorities have been enforcing a Category B salary floor of 4× the local average wage — roughly RMB 49,700 a month in Shanghai. The employer must cancel the permit within 10 working days of termination. The work permit itself carries no government fee. Realistic end-to-end time from signed offer to residence permit: 8–12 weeks. This page is written by the Aniday team that sponsors these applications through our partner entity in China. Verified 7 September 2026.
Which laws govern foreigners working in China in 2026?
Two layers: immigration law sets the residence side, and the work-permit system set up by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) in 2017 sets the employment side. There is no single "work permit law", which is why guides contradict each other — they are quoting different instruments.
| Instrument | What it governs |
|---|---|
| Exit and Entry Administration Law of the PRC (2012, in force 1 July 2013) | Art. 30 residence permit within 30 days of entry; Art. 39 accommodation registration within 24 hours; Art. 41 work permit and work-type residence permit required; Arts. 78–81 penalties |
| Regulations on the Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (State Council Order No. 637, 2013; amended by Order No. 814, effective 1 October 2025) | Visa categories including Z (work), S1/S2 (dependants) and the new K visa |
| Provisions on the Administration of Employment of Foreigners in China (1996, revised 2010 and 2017) | Employer-side rules: the employer applies, the job must match the person's qualifications, and the labour contract must be with the licensed employer |
| SAFEA Notice 外专发〔2017〕40号 and the Service Guide for the Foreigner's Work Permit 外专发〔2017〕36号 (both effective 1 April 2017) | The unified Foreigner's Work Permit, the online Service System for Foreigners Working in China, the A/B/C classification standard and points table, timelines, and the no-fee rule |
| MOHRSS Order No. 16 (2011) — Interim Measures for Foreigners Employed in China to Participate in Social Insurance | Mandatory social-insurance enrolment within 30 days of the work permit |
| Labour Contract Law (2008, amended 2013) Art. 66 and the Interim Provisions on Labour Dispatch (MOHRSS Order No. 22, 2014) | Limits on dispatch — the reason an EOR must be a direct, licensed employer |
Who you deal with. The Foreigner's Work Permit is administered by the foreign-expert or science-and-technology bureau of the city (under the Ministry of Science and Technology, which absorbed SAFEA in 2018) through the national online portal; the Z visa by the Chinese embassy or a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre; the residence permit by the Public Security Bureau's exit-entry administration; and social insurance by the local human resources and social security bureau. Since late 2025 several cities — Shanghai first — run the work permit, residence permit and social-insurance registration as a single online case, but the four legal steps below are unchanged. Governing instruments: Exit and Entry Administration Law 2012; SAFEA Notice 外专发〔2017〕40号.
How do the Notification Letter, Z visa, work permit and residence permit chain together?
In this order, and each one is a precondition for the next. The most expensive mistake an HR team makes is treating the Z visa as the "work visa": it is a single-entry travel document that normally gives 30 days in China, and the person is not lawfully employed until step 4 is done.
| Step | Who files, where | Deadline and processing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit (外国人工作许可通知) | The employer, online, in the Service System for Foreigners Working in China, after registering the company on the portal | Service Guide allows up to 20 working days; Shanghai now reports about 3 working days and the national average about 6. One in-person document check may be required |
| 2. Z visa | The worker, at the Chinese embassy or visa centre in the country of residence, with the Notification Letter | Typically 4–8 working days. Fee set by nationality on a reciprocal basis — check the visa centre's fee table |
| 3. Enter and register accommodation | The worker or the host (hotel, landlord), at the local police station | Within 24 hours of arrival (Art. 39). Hotels do it automatically; private landlords often do not |
| 4. Foreigner's Work Permit | The employer, online, converting the Notification Letter | Within 15 days of entry. 5–15 working days. Since 1 December 2024 the permit is loaded onto the Social Security Card and the e-card in the app; no separate card |
| 5. Work-type residence permit | The worker in person, at the PSB exit-entry administration; the employer supplies the guarantee letter | Within 30 days of entry (Art. 30). 7–15 working days; passport held during processing. Fee RMB 400 under 1 year, RMB 800 for 1–3 years, RMB 1,000 for 3–5 years |
| 6. Social insurance registration | The employer, at the local social-security bureau | Within 30 days of work permit issuance (MOHRSS Order No. 16, Art. 4) |
Two practical points. The 15-day and 30-day clocks both start on the entry date, so a worker who lands on a Friday before a public holiday has already spent part of the window. And the residence permit application takes the passport away for one to two weeks — do not schedule the person's first business trip inside that period. Governing instruments: Exit and Entry Administration Law 2012, Arts. 30, 39 and 41; SAFEA Service Guide 外专发〔2017〕36号.
What are Categories A, B and C, and how are the points scored?
Every applicant is graded on the Classification Standard for Foreigners Working in China: 85 points and above is Category A (high-end talent), 60–84 is Category B (professional talent), and below 60 is Category C, which is quota-controlled and limited to seasonal, short-term and similar work. Category B can also be met without points by holding a bachelor's degree plus at least two years of relevant experience, subject to an age ceiling of 60; Category A has no age, education or experience restriction.
| Criterion | Max points | How it is scored |
|---|---|---|
| Annual salary | 20 | ≥ RMB 450,000: 20 · 350–450k: 17 · 250–350k: 14 · 150–250k: 11 · 70–150k: 8 · 50–70k: 5 · under 50k: 0 |
| Education | 20 | Doctorate or senior technician: 20 · Master's or technician: 15 · Bachelor's or senior worker: 10 |
| Work experience | 20 | 2 years: 5, then +1 per additional year to a maximum of 20 · under 2 years: 0 |
| Annual working time in China | 15 | ≥ 9 months: 15 · 6–9 months: 10 · 3–6 months: 5 |
| Age | 15 | 26–45: 15 · 18–25 or 46–55: 10 · 56–60: 5 · over 60: 0 |
| Chinese language | 5 | HSK 5 or above: 5, scaling down to HSK 1: 1; Chinese-medium degree or former Chinese national: 5 |
| Work location | 10 | Western China, the Northeast or designated poverty-relief areas: 10 |
| Bonus | 5 | Graduate of a leading foreign university, Fortune Global 500 experience, patents, or 5+ years' work in China |
| Provincial incentive | 10 | Discretionary local-shortage points |
Worked example. A 38-year-old with a master's degree, 8 years' experience, a RMB 500,000 salary in Shanghai and no Chinese scores 20 + 15 + 11 + 15 + 15 = 76: a comfortable Category B. The same person at 61 scores 61 and is on the edge — and, as the next section explains, that age is now a practical bar for B regardless of the arithmetic. Direct routes into Category A also exist for holders of national talent-programme awards and recognised international professional achievements. Note that some Shanghai material renders the A threshold as 86; the national standard reads 85 and above. Governing instrument: Classification Standard for Foreigners Working in China (Trial), issued under SAFEA Notice 外专发〔2017〕40号.
What salary is required, and how much does it vary by city?
There is no national figure. Category A's salary route in the classification standard is at least 6× the local average wage of the previous year; for Category B the standard has no multiple, but immigration alerts in February 2026 report authorities enforcing a 4× floor in practice, city by city. Because each city publishes a different average wage every July, the same job clears the bar in Hangzhou and fails it in Shanghai.
| City | Published average monthly wage (2024 base, used from July 2025) | Category B in practice (4×) | Category A salary route (6×) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | RMB 12,434 (Shanghai HRSS Bureau, September 2025) | RMB 49,736 | RMB 74,604 |
| Beijing | RMB 11,937 | RMB 47,748 | RMB 71,622 |
| Guangzhou / Shenzhen (Guangdong provincial figure) | RMB 9,183 | RMB 36,732 | RMB 55,098 |
| Hangzhou | RMB 8,433 | RMB 33,732 | RMB 50,598 |
| Suzhou | RMB 8,254 | RMB 33,016 | RMB 49,524 |
Three things to know before you draft the contract. First, the figure examined is the gross monthly salary in the Chinese-language labour contract, not total compensation with equity or allowances paid abroad. Second, the 4× practice is not written into a national rule we can point you to: it is an enforcement posture reported in early 2026 across Tier-1 cities, so treat it as the working floor and confirm the specific bureau's current stance. Third, the base moves every July when the new average wage is published, and the same figures drive the social-insurance contribution ceiling — for Shanghai, RMB 37,302 per month from 1 July 2025. Governing instruments: Classification Standard (Trial), 外专发〔2017〕40号; Shanghai HRSS Bureau notice on the 2025 contribution base (18 September 2025).
What changed in 2024, 2025 and 2026?
Six changes matter to employers, and the one most guides still miss is that the physical Work Permit Card no longer exists for new applicants.
| Change | Effective | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit integrated into the Social Security Card (社保卡, "Join in Card") and its electronic version in the official app | 1 December 2024; clarified October 2025 that physical Social Security Cards continue to be issued | New applicants receive no separate Work Permit Card. Existing valid cards remain usable and can be upgraded. Employers, banks and landlords who ask for "the work permit card" need to be shown the e-card |
| Apostille replaces consular legalisation | 7 November 2023 | Degrees and police certificates from Hague Convention states need an apostille only; the certified Chinese translation is still required |
| K visa for young science and technology talent | 1 October 2025 (State Council Order No. 814) | Entry without an employer sponsor — but not confirmed as a substitute for a work permit for salaried employment (see below) |
| Salary-floor enforcement at 4× (B) and 6× (A) local average wage | Reported February 2026 | Offers below the city floor are returned; renewals of under-floor contracts are refused |
| Applicants aged 60+ systematically refused for Category B and C, including renewals | Reported February 2026 | Only Category A keeps a 60+ worker employed. Plan succession for senior expatriates two years out |
| Portal formatting rules: gap-free 10-year CV; all uploads except the passport as PDF; names in the 26 Latin letters plus space, hyphen, apostrophe and dot only; a permit that expires while an extension, alteration or cancellation is pending auto-terminates the case | Reported February 2026 | Accented names (Müller, Nguyễn) must be transliterated to match the passport's machine-readable zone; file extensions well inside the 30-day window |
The February 2026 items are drawn from immigration and mobility alerts reporting portal behaviour and bureau practice rather than from a numbered notice; we could not locate a published national instrument for them, and neither could the firms reporting them. They are real at the counter. Governing instruments: SAFEA Notice 外专发〔2017〕40号 (permit system); State Council Order No. 814 (2025); Hague Apostille Convention, in force for China 7 November 2023.
What documents are required, and which need an apostille?
Nine items, of which two — the degree certificate and the police clearance — must be apostilled or legalised abroad, and two — the police clearance and the medical — expire within six months. Because the foreign-issued documents take the longest, they set the timetable.
| # | Document | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Application form | Generated by the portal; signed by the applicant, stamped by the employer |
| 2 | Highest degree certificate | Apostilled in the issuing state (Convention parties, since 7 November 2023) or consular-legalised (non-parties), or verified by CSCSE, the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (4–8 weeks); certified Chinese translation |
| 3 | Police clearance ("no criminal record" certificate) | From the country of nationality or of habitual residence, issued within 6 months, apostilled or legalised, translated. Category A and urgently needed Category B talent may substitute a written commitment |
| 4 | Medical examination | Valid 6 months. Abroad: a physical on the Chinese form; in China: at the local International Travel Healthcare Center (国际旅行卫生保健中心) — the only facility the bureau accepts |
| 5 | Employment contract | In Chinese, with the licensed Chinese employer, stating position, salary and term; duration drives the permit validity |
| 6 | Passport | At least 6 months' validity; the only upload the portal accepts as an image rather than PDF |
| 7 | Photograph | Recent passport-style, white background, in the portal's pixel specification |
| 8 | CV and experience evidence | Gap-free for the last 10 years; reference letters from previous employers proving the 2-year Category B threshold |
| 9 | Employer documents | Business licence, portal registration, and where the bureau asks, the job description showing the role sits inside the employer's registered business scope |
The apostille does less than people hope. It authenticates the signature and seal on the degree, not the degree's content, so the bureau may still ask for CSCSE verification of an unfamiliar institution — which is the 4–8-week item. Start the degree and police certificate the day the offer is agreed. Governing instruments: SAFEA Service Guide 外专发〔2017〕36号; Hague Apostille Convention (in force for China 7 November 2023).
How long is a China work permit valid, how is it extended, and what does it cost?
A first permit is normally issued for one year, tied to the contract term; Category A can run up to five years and staff of employers in good standing up to two. The residence permit matches it. Extension is filed 30 days before expiry, and there is no government fee for the work permit at any stage.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Work permit validity | Not longer than the contract; typically 1 year at first issue, up to 2 for repeat issues to good-standing employers, up to 5 for Category A. The residence permit is issued to match (Art. 30: 90 days to 5 years) |
| Extension | Employer files online 30 days before expiry (not earlier than 90); residence permit extension at the PSB within 30 days before its expiry (Art. 32). A permit that expires while the case is pending auto-terminates it — no grace period |
| Alteration | Changes to passport number, job title, employer name or work location must be filed within 10 working days |
| Change of employer | Current employer cancels the permit; the new employer files a fresh application in its own name; the residence permit is re-issued for the new employer — it does not carry over. Many cities allow the new application while the person remains in China, so no new Z visa is needed |
| Government fees | Work permit: none, for issuance, extension, alteration and cancellation. Residence permit: RMB 400 (under 1 year), RMB 800 (1–3 years), RMB 1,000 (3–5 years). Z visa: by nationality |
| Realistic out-of-pocket per hire | RMB 5,000–15,000 covering apostilles, translations, CSCSE verification, medical and visa-centre service fees, before any agency fee |
Passport renewal is the alteration that catches people. A new passport number invalidates the match between the permit, the residence permit and the social-insurance record; all three must be updated, and the residence permit has to be physically transferred into the new passport. Governing instruments: Exit and Entry Administration Law Arts. 30 and 32; SAFEA Service Guide 外专发〔2017〕36号; Beijing Municipal Government residence-permit fee schedule.
What must the employer do when the employee resigns, is dismissed or leaves China?
Apply to cancel the Foreigner's Work Permit within 10 working days of the employment relationship ending. This is the employer's duty, not the worker's, and it is the step most often skipped when a departure is acrimonious.
| Step | Who | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cancel the work permit | Employer, online plus counter | Within 10 working days of termination. Cancellation form with company seal, proof of termination, the permit (or e-card record), Chinese translations. Processing 3 working days pre-review plus 3 working days; no fee. A Cancellation Certificate is issued |
| 2. Cancel or convert the residence permit | Worker, at the PSB exit-entry administration | With the Cancellation Certificate. The PSB typically substitutes a short humanitarian stay — commonly 30 days — to settle affairs and depart, or the new employer's case proceeds |
| 3. Social insurance and housing fund | Employer | Deregister; the worker may claim the personal pension account balance on permanent departure |
| 4. Tax | Employer and worker | Final individual income tax settlement; for residents, the annual reconciliation for the departure year |
Why the deadline matters beyond the fine. An uncancelled permit stays open against the employer's record on the portal, and the worker's next employer cannot file until it is closed — so a departing employee who needs a permit elsewhere in China will come back to you, and an inspection will ask why a person no longer on payroll is still listed as employed. Governing instruments: SAFEA Service Guide 外专发〔2017〕36号 (cancellation within 10 working days); Exit and Entry Administration Law Art. 30.
Can an Employer of Record sponsor a China work permit, and why must it be a licensed employer?
Only an entity that directly employs the worker, holds a Chinese business licence, and has the role within its registered business scope can sponsor. That rules out the structure many EOR providers quietly use in China — labour dispatch — for core foreign hires.
| Direct employment by the EOR's own Chinese entity | Labour dispatch (劳务派遣, FESCO-style) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is the employer of record | The EOR's licensed entity; labour contract in Chinese with that entity | The dispatch agency, but the worker is placed with a "user entity" |
| Legal limit on use | None specific — the role must fit the entity's business scope | Labour Contract Law Art. 66: temporary (under 6 months), auxiliary or substitute positions only; Interim Provisions on Labour Dispatch (MOHRSS Order No. 22, 2014) Art. 4: dispatched staff capped at 10% of the user entity's total workforce |
| Fit for a foreign client with no Chinese entity | Works — the EOR entity is the sponsor, the client directs the work | Does not fit — a client with no Chinese entity has no workforce to measure 10% against, and a core engineering or sales role is not temporary, auxiliary or substitute |
| Work permit sponsor | The EOR entity files the Notification Letter and the permit; the contract, salary floor and social insurance are all in its name | The agency sponsors; bureaus increasingly question dispatch permits where the real work is for a third party |
| Risk if challenged | Low: the arrangement matches the permit | Reclassification as illegal employment under Art. 80 for the user, and a permit revocation for the worker |
What to ask any provider. Which legal entity will sign the Chinese labour contract, is the job title within that entity's registered business scope, and will that same entity be named on the Notification Letter, the social-insurance record and the payslip? If the answers differ, the person is being dispatched. Aniday sponsors through our partner entity in China as the direct employer. Governing instruments: Labour Contract Law 2008 (amended 2013) Art. 66; Interim Provisions on Labour Dispatch, MOHRSS Order No. 22 (2014) Art. 4; Exit and Entry Administration Law Art. 41.
Is there a digital-nomad or remote-work visa for China?
No. There is no visa that authorises a foreigner to work from China for a foreign employer, and the 2025 K visa does not fill that gap for salaried employment.
| Visa | Permits | Does not permit |
|---|---|---|
| M (business) / F (exchange) / L (tourism) | Meetings, trade, visits, non-commercial exchange | Any employment, including remote work for a foreign employer while physically in China |
| K visa (State Council Order No. 814, from 1 October 2025) | Entry for young foreign science and technology graduates and researchers without an employer or inviter, for education, research, cultural exchange, entrepreneurship and business activities; multiple entries, longer stays | Nothing published confirms it replaces a Foreigner's Work Permit for a salaried job with a Chinese entity. Treat the permit as still required |
| Z visa plus work permit and residence permit | Employment by the sponsoring Chinese entity in the stated role and location | Work for anyone else, including the parent company, without alteration |
A foreign company that wants someone in China for more than a few weeks of meetings therefore has two lawful options: incorporate and sponsor, or hire through an EOR entity that sponsors. There is no third. Governing instruments: Regulations on the Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (State Council Order No. 637, 2013, as amended by Order No. 814, 2025); Exit and Entry Administration Law Art. 41.
What are the penalties for working without a permit or overstaying?
RMB 5,000–20,000 and up to 15 days' detention for the worker; RMB 10,000 per person up to RMB 100,000 for the employer, plus confiscation of gains; and deportation with a 10-year entry ban in serious cases. The figures are in the statute itself, not in guidance.
| Violation | Penalty | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Foreigner working illegally (no permit, or outside the permit's scope) | Fine RMB 5,000–20,000; serious cases 5–15 days' detention plus the fine | Art. 80 |
| Employer illegally employing foreigners | RMB 10,000 per person, capped at RMB 100,000; illegal gains confiscated | Art. 80 |
| Overstay / illegal residence | Warning; serious cases RMB 500 per day capped at RMB 10,000, or 5–15 days' detention | Art. 78 |
| Deportation | Available for serious cases; no re-entry for 10 years from the date of deportation | Art. 81 |
| Late accommodation registration | Warning and a fine of up to RMB 2,000 for the foreigner; higher for the host | Art. 76 |
| Late work permit cancellation, alteration or extension | No fixed statutory fine; recorded against the employer's credit rating on the portal, which slows or blocks future applications | Service Guide 外专发〔2017〕36号 |
The practical sanction is the record, not the fine. The employer's compliance history on the portal determines whether its future applications get the fast track or the full 20 working days, and whether repeat permits are issued for one year or two. Governing instrument: Exit and Entry Administration Law of the PRC (2012), Arts. 76, 78, 80 and 81.
How long does the whole process realistically take?
Eight to twelve weeks from a signed offer to a residence permit in the passport, with six weeks as a best case where the degree is already apostilled and the person is in a city with 3-day Notification processing. The statutory clocks after entry total about six weeks on their own; document preparation abroad is what stretches the front end.
| Step | Realistic duration |
|---|---|
| Apostille or legalise degree and police certificate; translations; CSCSE if needed | 2–6 weeks — the dominant variable |
| Medical (abroad or on arrival) | 2–5 days |
| Notification Letter | 3–6 working days in Shanghai and Beijing; up to 20 working days elsewhere |
| Z visa | 4–8 working days plus appointment lead time |
| Travel, 24-hour registration, work permit conversion | 1–2 weeks (statutory: within 15 days of entry) |
| Residence permit | 7–15 working days; passport held (statutory: apply within 30 days of entry) |
| Total | 8–12 weeks typical; 6 weeks best case |
If the start date is fixed at 60 days out, the only way to hit it is to have the degree apostille and police certificate in hand before the offer is signed. Everything after that is measured in working days and cannot be compressed. Governing instruments: SAFEA Service Guide 外专发〔2017〕36号; Exit and Entry Administration Law Art. 30.
Why do China work permit applications get rejected or delayed?
Three causes dominate in 2026: a salary below the city's enforced floor, a role that does not match the degree or the employer's business scope, and portal formatting errors that stall the case before anyone reads it.
| Cause | Prevention |
|---|---|
| Salary in the Chinese contract below 4× (B) or 6× (A) the city average | Check the current published average for the city of the employer's registration, not the city where the person will sit |
| Role outside the sponsoring entity's registered business scope | Read the business licence before drafting the job title; amend the scope first if needed |
| Degree or experience does not support the job title | Match the title to the degree field or document the 2-year experience threshold in reference letters with dates and scope |
| Applicant over 60 applying for Category B | Test the Category A routes first; otherwise plan a local successor |
| Police certificate or medical older than 6 months at filing | Obtain these last, after the degree apostille is back |
| Gaps in the 10-year CV; non-PDF uploads; accented characters in names | Account for every month (study, travel, unemployment); export everything to PDF; use the passport's machine-readable-zone spelling |
| Degree from an institution the bureau cannot verify from the apostille | Order CSCSE verification in parallel rather than waiting to be asked |
| Extension filed too close to expiry, permit expires mid-process, case auto-terminates | Calendar the 90-day window at issuance and file at day 45 |
| Previous employer never cancelled the old permit | Obtain the Cancellation Certificate from the last employer before the new application |
| Accommodation not registered within 24 hours | Use a hotel for the first nights; register a private lease at the police station the day the person moves in |
How does Aniday handle China work permits for clients?
Aniday sponsors through our partner entity in China as the direct, licensed employer: it signs the Chinese labour contract, files the Notification Letter and the Foreigner's Work Permit in its own name, guarantees the residence permit, and enrols the person in social insurance — so a foreign company can place someone in China without incorporating and without relying on labour dispatch for a core role.
- Category and salary test first. Before any document is ordered we score the candidate on the points table, test the offer against the city's current 4× or 6× floor, and confirm the job title sits inside the partner entity's business scope.
- Document date-mapping. The degree apostille or CSCSE verification starts on day one; the 6-month police certificate and medical are scheduled to land inside the window at filing.
- The four-step chain, run as one case. Notification Letter, Z visa support letter, 24-hour registration, work permit within 15 days, residence permit within 30 days — with the social-insurance registration filed inside its 30-day window.
- Departure discipline. Cancellation within 10 working days of termination, the Cancellation Certificate handed to the employee, social insurance and tax closed out.
- Extension calendar. We file inside the 90-to-30-day window so that no case is pending when the permit expires, and we flag the age-60 rule two years ahead for senior assignees.
Aniday is trusted by 5,000+ companies and works with a network of 50,000+ headhunters, combining EOR, payroll and hiring in one place. Read about Employer of Record services, how to expand without a local entity, or our executive search practice for senior China hires.
Legal sources
- Exit and Entry Administration Law of the PRC (2012), Arts. 30, 32, 39, 41, 76, 78, 80, 81 — English text
- Regulations on the Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, State Council Order No. 637 (2013), as amended by State Council Order No. 814 (7 August 2025, effective 1 October 2025)
- SAFEA Notice 外专发〔2017〕40号 on comprehensively implementing the Foreigner's Work Permit system, with the Classification Standard for Foreigners Working in China (Trial); SAFEA Service Guide for the Foreigner's Work Permit (Interim), 外专发〔2017〕36号, effective 1 April 2017 — Service System for Foreigners Working in China
- Shanghai Municipal Government, Points-Based Classification FAQ (17 December 2023) and Hongkou District Service Guide for Foreigners Working in Shanghai (4 February 2026) — points table at english.shanghai.gov.cn (en-FAQHome, 17 December 2023)
- Jinan Science and Technology Bureau, Foreigner's Work Permit Service Guide (2026) — 20-working-day statutory processing, extension 30 days before expiry, cancellation within 10 working days, no fee
- Beijing Municipal Government, residence permit service guide (fees RMB 400 / 800 / 1,000) and work permit cancellation guide — english.beijing.gov.cn (Most Requested → Residence Permit; Service Guides → Work → Cancelling Work Permits)
- Shanghai Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, notice adjusting the 2025 social-insurance contribution base (18 September 2025): average wage RMB 12,434; floor RMB 7,460; ceiling RMB 37,302
- MOHRSS Order No. 16 (2011), Interim Measures for Foreigners Employed in China to Participate in Social Insurance; Social Insurance Law 2010 (amended 2018) Art. 97
- Labour Contract Law 2008 (amended 2013) Art. 66; Interim Provisions on Labour Dispatch, MOHRSS Order No. 22 (2014) Art. 4
- Fragomen, "Mainland China: Work Permit and Social Security Cards Integrated" (30 October 2025); China Briefing, "Foreigners' Work Permit in China: 2026 Updates" (12 February 2026); China Briefing on State Council Order No. 814 and the K visa (2025); MOHRSS statement on the 13 signed bilateral social-security agreements
- Aniday — Work Visas hub
Last verified 2026-09.
China work permits — frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Z visa and a work permit?
The Z visa is the single-entry travel document issued on the strength of the employer's Notification Letter. Lawful employment requires the Foreigner's Work Permit (within 15 days of entry) and the work-type residence permit (within 30 days, Art. 30). All four chain in that order.
How many points do you need?
85 and above is Category A, 60–84 is Category B, under 60 is Category C. Category B is also met by a bachelor's degree plus 2 years' relevant experience, up to age 60.
What salary is required in 2026?
No national figure. Category A: at least 6× the local average wage. Category B: a 4× floor enforced in practice since early 2026 — about RMB 49,700 a month in Shanghai and RMB 47,700 in Beijing on the 2024 bases used from July 2025.
Is there still a physical work permit card?
Not for new applicants. Since 1 December 2024 the permit is loaded onto the Social Security Card and its e-card; existing cards remain valid. Physical Social Security Cards continue to be issued (clarified October 2025).
What must the employer do when someone leaves?
Cancel the work permit within 10 working days of termination; the worker then cancels the residence permit at the PSB, which typically grants a short stay — commonly 30 days — to depart.
Do foreign employees pay social insurance?
Yes, under MOHRSS Order No. 16 (2011), registered within 30 days of the permit; enforcement varies by city but Shanghai and Beijing enforce it. Nationals of the 12 totalisation-agreement countries can be exempted from pension and unemployment with a certificate of coverage.
Can an EOR sponsor?
Only as a licensed direct employer with the role in its business scope. Labour dispatch is limited to temporary, auxiliary or substitute roles and 10% of the host's workforce, so it does not fit a core foreign hire for a client with no Chinese entity.
Is there a digital-nomad visa?
No. Remote work on an M, F or L visa is unauthorised, and the K visa (from 1 October 2025) is not confirmed as a substitute for a work permit for salaried local employment.
How much does it cost?
The work permit is free at every stage. The residence permit costs RMB 400 (under 1 year), RMB 800 (1–3 years) or RMB 1,000 (3–5 years); the Z visa fee depends on nationality. Budget RMB 5,000–15,000 per hire for apostilles, translations, verification and medicals.
Do foreign employees pay social insurance in China, and which countries are exempt?
Yes, by national rule since 2011; unevenly enforced by city; and partly waived for nationals of the 12 countries with a totalisation agreement in force. The employer must register the worker within 30 days of the permit being issued, and the contribution is calculated on a city base with a floor and a ceiling.
Budget the employer contribution at roughly 27% of the capped base. In Shanghai that is about RMB 10,000 a month on top of any salary at or above the ceiling — a material line in an EOR quote that some providers omit until invoice. Governing instruments: MOHRSS Order No. 16 (2011); Social Insurance Law 2010 (amended 2018), Art. 97; Shanghai HRSS Bureau notice on the 2025 contribution base.