Q1. What is the scope of application for work permit for foreigners in China?

Foreigners who are already in China on work, business or visit visas may apply for the work permit for foreigners in China.

Q2. What is the scope of application of the notification and commitment system of the work permit for foreigners in China?

For applicants who meet the conditions of foreign high-end talents (Category A) specified in the Classification Standard for Foreigners Working in China (Trial), according to the Service Guide to the Foreigner's Work Permit in China (Interim), the "notification and commitment system" applies to the documents such as work experience certificate, the highest academic certificate and certificate of no criminal record. For career-creating foreigners or foreign professionals (Category B) urgently needed for Chinese science and technology-based enterprises as confirmed by the department of science and technology, the "notification and commitment system" applies to the work experience certificate and the certificate of no criminal record. Applicants are not required to submit relevant supporting documents, provided that a letter of commitment is issued by the applicants and verified by their employers. For other foreign professionals, if an applicant's highest academic certificate and professional qualification certificate, certificate of no criminal record and other materials have been submitted but not certified by the embassy, the applicant may submit an application for acceptance notwithstanding temporary lack of some documents, and make up other application materials at the time of applying for the Foreigner's Work Permit in China or applying for extension of the Foreigner's Work Permit.

Q3. How to apply for the work permit for fresh foreign graduates and fresh foreign students?

1. For fresh foreign graduates with bachelor's degrees or above from overseas high-level universities (based on the List of Top 500 Universities in the World on the home page of the Service System for Foreigners Working in China), if they are engaged in mother tongue teaching, the criteria of "foreign language teachers" specified in the Classification Standard for Foreigners Working in China (Trial) may be followed. Otherwise, they should apply abroad for the work permit for foreigners in China according to the criteria of "foreign professionals with bachelor's degree or above and 2 or more years of relevant work experience". In this case, the applicants are not required to submit the work experience certificate.

2.For outstanding fresh foreign students with bachelor's degree or above from key institutions of higher education in China (based on the list in the World First Class University and First Class Academic Discipline Construction announced by the Ministry of Education) or institutions of higher learning in Tianjin, if they are engaged in mother tongue teaching, the criteria of "foreign language teachers" specified in the Classification Standard for Foreigners Working in China (Trial) may be followed. Otherwise, they should apply in China for the work permit for foreigners in China according to the criteria of "foreign professionals with bachelor's degree or above and 2 or more years of relevant work experience". In this case, the applicants are not required to submit the work experience certificate.

Q4. What are the basic qualifications for foreign nationals to work in Tianjin?

1. To work in Tianjin, foreign nationals should be at the age of 18 or above, in good health, without criminal records, get employed by a confirmed employer, and should be qualified for the job with the necessary professional skills or appropriate expertise.

2. Foreign nationals should be urgently needed talent engaging jobs in line with the needs of China’s economic and social development.

3. Other laws and regulations concerning foreign nationals coming to work in China should be complied with, if applicable.

Q5. What are the types of visas that can be applied for?

C visa for crewmembers, F visa for business and visit, G visa for transit, J-2 visa for news-coverage on a short-term basis, L visa for tourism or visiting relative, M visa for commercial and trade activities, Q2 visa for a short-term reunion, R visa for talent, S2 visa for short-term private affairs, X2 visa for short-term study, work residence permit, journalist residence permit, private affairs residence permit, reunion residence permit, study residence permit, and stay certificate.

Q6. What is the maximum period of validity of the People’s Republic of China Foreigner’s Work Permit applied each time?

No more than five years for the work permit issued to high-end foreign talent (category A); no more than two years for the work permit issued to foreign professionals (category B); no more than one year for the work permit issued to other foreign nationals (category C).

Q7. How can foreign nationals apply for an extension of work permit?

If the applicant’s work permit is about to expire and the applicant is still working in the original employer, the employer shall apply for the extension of the work permit for the applicant in the system 30–90 days before the expiration of the certificate. For a work permit valid for less than 30 days and without an extension application, the system will no longer accept the application for extension.