[2024 Latest] For those working in China: Obtaining a work visa/Z visa (Shenzhen)

we introduced a way to enter China without obtaining a visa in advance ( a special zone travel visa at the Shenzhen port

There are many types of visas available depending on the purpose of your visit to China, such as "Tourism (L)," "Exchange/Visit/Inspection (F)," and "Commerce/Trade (M)."

*As of the time of writing this article (January 5, 2024), the "15-day visa exemption" for Japanese nationals has not yet been resumed. Therefore, before traveling to China for purposes other than a job transfer, it may be a good idea to consider using a "tourist visa, special zone travel visa," or "transit visa."

Now, let's get started with the main topic of obtaining a work visa

About work visas (Z visas)

As the name suggests, this visa is for people who are visiting China for the purpose of working

However, to work legally in China, you will also need an "Alien Employment Permit (海外工作许可证)" and an "Alien Residence Permit (海外居留许可)" issued within China's borders

*If you do not have all the necessary permits, you will be considered to be working illegally

(Illegal employment puts both the employer and the company at risk of being detained or fined!)

This time, one of our employees will be stationed and working in Shenzhen, China, so he will obtain a Z visa in advance and apply for an employment permit and residence permit after his visit. There are many documents that need to be prepared for the application, and obtaining the documents takes quite a bit of time. Once the assignment is confirmed, it's best to start preparing as soon as possible

According to official information from the visa center, the required documents for a Z visa are as follows:

Chinese visa type selection and required documents (as of November 16, 2023)

Several materials were listed, but the section that took the most time and energy was "any of the following."

What is a "Notice of Employment Permit for Foreigners (Foreigner Employment Permit)"?

The Foreign Employment Permit is a certificate that allows foreigners to work legally in China

Some people may be confused by the slightly different names, but the one applied for in China is called a "Foreigner Employment Permit (海外工作许可证)," while the one applied for overseas is called a "Foreigner Employment Permit Notice (海外工作许可通知)."

There are three types of work permits for foreigners: "A (Highly Skilled Personnel)", "B (Specialized Personnel)" and "C (Ordinary Personnel)". We will explain how to apply for Type B

Class B personnel are further divided into six types of qualifications

1. Foreign professionals under the age of 60 who hold a bachelor's degree or higher and have at least two years of relevant work experience
2. Those who hold internationally recognized professional qualifications or skilled personnel who are in serious labor shortage
3. Foreign language education personnel
4. Foreign talent whose income is four times or more the regional average income of the previous year
5. Professional personnel and personnel implementing projects in accordance with the regulations of state departments
6. Professional talent with a score of 60 or more

Let's apply~

If you are applying for ① in Shenzhen, you will need to fill out the `` Foreigner Comprehensive Management System '' with your personal information, work permit application information, educational background (starting from higher education), work history, and family information (whether family members will be accompanying you), and then upload the necessary documents.

Once you submit your application online, it will be reviewed by the China Foreign Affairs Agency, and if approved, a work permit will be issued

Step 1. Personal Information

Enter your personal information, upload a photo and you're done

*Required Document 1⃣ Photo of face to upload

(Unlike the visa center's requirements, the photo must be at least 354x472 pixels, 20KB to 120KB in size, and have a blue background.)

Step 2. Work permit application information

After filling out the details of your job after being assigned to China, answer whether you have any qualifications or other benefits that could add points to your score, and you're done

Of course, if you answer "yes" to the bonus points, you'll need to add those explanatory materials later

Step 3. Educational background

Enter your educational background from higher education onwards

#It says, "If you have no history of higher education, please enter your highest level of education," but this applies to cases other than those of foreign nationals with a bachelor's degree or higher (see ①)

*Required Document 2⃣ Proof of highest educational background（Consular authentication from the Chinese Consulate in JapanFrom the Ministry of Foreign AffairsApostilleCertification)

How to obtain: Graduation certificate (school) → Official seal verification (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) → Consular authentication (China Visa Center)

#update

As of November 7th, with the entry into force of the "Treaty Abolishing the Need for Legalisation of Foreign Official Documents" in China, consular legalisation at the visa centre is no longer required, and only an apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is required. (Official seal confirmation is also no longer required.)

Step 4. Work history

Please fill in your employment history (excluding internships) for the past 10 years

*Required materials 3⃣ Employment history (work resume)

How to obtain it: Create a resume detailing your position, length of employment, projects you have participated in, etc., and get the official seal or signature of the person in charge from the companies listed, along with the person in charge's contact information

#Note: Your work history must include at least two years of experience related to (or in the same position as) the job you will be assigned to

#You will also need confirmation and approval from any places you have worked in the past, so think carefully when creating your resume

Step 5. Family information

If you don't have any family in China, you can just skip it

Step 6. Upload files

Required Documents 1⃣ Employment Resume

Required Document 2⃣ Proof of Highest Educational Background

Required Document 3⃣ Criminal Record Certificate (Certificate of No Criminal Conduct)

How to obtain: Apply at Police Department

Please submit the unopened document for official authentication at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and consular authentication at the Visa Center

*From November 7th, only Ministry of Foreign Affairs apostille certification is available.

Required Document 4⃣ Labor contract (with Chinese company)

This is an employment contract written in Chinese, in the name of the applicant and with the official seal of the employing company

Required Document 5⃣ Health Examination Certificate

You will undergo a medical examination for applying for a Chinese residence permit at a hospital designated by the Chinese Embassy and receive a foreigner's physical examination record and attached report

The foreigner physical examination records include X-ray films, electrocardiogram results, blood test reports, etc., so all of these must be digitized and uploaded

By the way, the hospital I used this time was the Japan-China Friendship Hospital

Required Document 6⃣ Passport

You will need a scan or photo of your passport cover photo and personal information page

Required materials 7⃣ Work permit application form (Foreigner's work permit application form)

Once you have completed Steps 1-5, click "Download Application Form (施请表下载)" at the bottom of the "Attachment Information" screen

A work permit application form containing the information you entered will be downloaded

If there are no problems with the contents of the application form, please sign and confirm that the contents of the application are true

Upload the signed copy to the system

Required Documents 8⃣ Other

If you have any supplementary materials, upload them here

Step7. Submit

Please wait after submitting

Officially, it says it takes seven business days, but I actually received a suggestion for revisions three days later, and after I made the revisions and resubmitted it, it was approved for review on the fifth day

(Visiting the airport→Visiting the foreign company)

Foreign work permit notice (work permit notice book) itself

If you pass the final screening, you will receive two Foreign Work Permit Notices in Chinese and English, as shown below

Now you have all the materials you need to apply for a Z visa!!!

🍕Let's go to the center~

end

It took more than four months from preparing the documents to officially obtaining the Z visa

I finally got my visa, so I'll be heading to Shenzhen in January!

Please look forward to the "Foreigner Residence Permit" edition!