Policy Information

The information required for applying for a work residence permit:

1. Application Form for Foreigner's Work Permit in China

2. Work qualification certificate

3. Certificate of highest education level

4. Certificate of No Crime and Certification

5. Health examination certificate

6. Unit Employment Contract

7. Applicant's passport

8. Registration Form for Temporary Accommodation of Foreigners in China

What are the time requirements for applying for a work residence permit?

Criminal Record Check

Foreigners working in China must have no negative records in the past and must comply with the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China.

The validity period of the certificate of no criminal record is 6 months (in some countries it is 3 months), and the validity period of no criminal record is calculated from the date of issuance of the certificate, rather than the certification date. For example, if the certificate of no criminal record is issued on December 16th and the certification completion date is February 1st of the following year, then this certificate will expire on June 16th, not August 1st.

l The certificate of no criminal record must be issued by the police, security, court, notary office, and other departments of the applicant's country of nationality or habitual residence (the country and region where the applicant has resided continuously for more than one year since leaving the country of nationality).

l The certificate of no criminal record needs to be authenticated by the embassy or consulate of the country of nationality in China or our embassy or consulate abroad. If the applicant's passport has already joined the Hague contracting state, they should apply for Hague authentication without the need for further authentication by the embassy or consulate.

l A certificate of no criminal record issued in the Hong Kong, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan region should be notarized by the local notary public.

l The time for issuing a criminal record should be within 6 months.

l The notarized and certified copy of the certificate of no criminal record and the notarized and certified seal must be fully uploaded.

l Non Chinese proof materials must provide a Chinese translation.

Notarization of Certificate of No Criminal Record and Embassy Certification

1. After the successful application for the certificate of no criminal record, the document will be notarized at the local notary office

2. After the notarization is completed, the first level authentication will be carried out by the relevant local government departments

3. After the first level of certification, the second level of certification is carried out in the foreign affairs department of the country

4. After the second level certification, the third level certification (or Hague certification) can be conducted at the Chinese embassy in the local area

Starting from November 7, 2023, China officially launched the Hague certification process, and member states of the Hague contracting parties can directly use non criminal documents for Hague certification. If not a member of the Hague Convention, the original certification process still needs to be maintained.

Health examination certificate

The health examination certificate is valid for six months from the date of issuance. According to the Guidelines for Foreigners Applying to China, a medical examination certificate for foreigners is a mandatory document, and foreigners can only undergo medical examinations at designated institutions within the country. Otherwise, providing medical examination certificates issued by other institutions is invalid. Therefore, if the medical examination certificate for foreigners adopts a commitment system before entering the country, a commitment letter must be provided, promising to supplement the health examination certificate issued by domestic inspection and quarantine institutions and bear the risk after entering the country.

When applying for the Foreigner's Work Permit of the People's Republic of China after entering the country, a health examination certificate issued by the inspection and quarantine agency within China must be submitted in addition.

Registration Form for Temporary Accommodation of Foreigners

According to the Regulations of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China

1. Foreigners who stay in hotels, restaurants, guesthouses, schools, and other enterprises, institutions, government agencies, organizations, and other Chinese institutions should present a valid passport or residence permit and fill out a temporary accommodation registration form. Accommodation in non open areas requires presenting a travel permit.

2. Foreigners staying at the homes of Chinese residents in urban areas must, within 24 hours of arrival, report to the local public security organs and fill out the temporary accommodation registration form with the host or the host's passport, identification documents, and household registration book; In rural areas, they must report to the local police station or registered residence office within 72 hours.

3. Foreigners who reside in foreign institutions in China or at foreign households in China must, within 24 hours after the arrival of the host, report to the local public security organs with the host's passport or residence permit, and fill out a temporary accommodation registration form.

4. Foreigners who temporarily reside in mobile accommodation facilities must report to the local public security organs within 24 hours. Institutions or individuals providing venues for mobile accommodation for foreigners should report to the local public security organs within 24 hours.

Passport valid for less than six months

According to general national regulations, the validity period of the passport held by incoming guests must be longer than six months.

A passport with a validity period of less than 6 months means that the current passport is less than 6 months away from its expiration date. The validity period of a passport is less than six months, which will affect the application for a work residence permit. It is recommended to apply for a new passport replacement at the Chinese embassy or consulate if it is valid for nearly one year.