Article on eChinacities explains: Getting a work visa in China with the new system is a lengthy and exhausting process. From start to finish, you can expect it to take several months. If your employer is used to hiring foreigners, it might be quicker and easier, same goes if they have 关系 (guānxì) with the right people. In our slides we will introduce you our detailed explanation on steps to be conducted before getting the visas and work permit. This information is designed to provide essential insights of visa application process and getting work permit to those who are going to come to China for work. Check the link to the original article: http://www.echinacities.com/articles/jobs/Chinas-Latest-Work-Visa-and-Resident-Permit-Rules

1. eChinacities Explains:
Work Visa and Resident Permit
Rules of China
By Niklas Westerlund,
eChinacities.com Articles
December 14, 2017
Link to The Original Article: http://www.echinacities.com/articles/jobs/Chinas-Latest-Work-Visa-and-Resident-Permit-Rules

2. Introduction
Getting a work visa in China with the new system is a lengthy and exhausting
process. From start to finish, you can expect it to take several months. If your
employer is used to hiring foreigners, it might be quicker and easier, same goes
if they have 关系 (guānxì) with the right people.
In our slides we will introduce you our detailed explanation on steps to be
conducted before getting the visas and work permit. This information is
designed to provide essential insights of visa application process and getting
work permit to those who are going to come to China for work.

3. The New System
What's different compared to the old system?
The new system includes a grading system (see the next slide) of foreigners by several factors, such
as academic background, professional experience and Chinese proficiency. Besides that it aims to
make it easier for foreigner to make through the processes.
What is the main idea of the new system?
The idea is to streamline the process for top-level talent and to identify, and possibly bar, low-level
applicants from entering China to work.
What are the core challenges that it brought to foreigners?
The new system has changed the terminology and requirements of some of the usual steps when
applying for work visas and residents permits in China. Add to that vague translations, and you have
a real headache coming your way.

4. Foreigners Grading System
- Counting the Points
Salary (RMB per month)
0 to 10,000 6 points
10,000 to 30,000 12 points
30,000+ 16 points
Education
Masters, MBA, PhD, etc. 5 points
Degree from low ranked university 6 points
Degree from world top-200 ranked university 12 points
Degree from world top 50-ranked university 16 points
Years of work experience in China
0 to 2 years 6 points
2 to 5 years 12 points
5+ years 16 points
Chinese language fluency
HSK I or below 6 points
HSK V to VI 16 points
HSK II to IV 12 points
Age
Under 25 or over 60 6 points
25 to 45 16 points
46 to 60 12 points
Residency
First-tier cities 6 points
Second-tier cities 12 points
Third and fourth-tier cities/rural areas 16 points
Source: http://www.echinacities.com/china-media/Making-the-Grade-Chinas-New-Foreigner-Visa-System

5. Foreigners Grading System
- Checking Your Category
What's your grade?
0 to 60 points Grade C; 60 to 85 points Grade B; 85+ points Grade A
What does it mean I'm A, B, or C?
Class A will include top professional, [along with] innovative and creative
talent...
Class B will include other professionals who fit with China’s economic
development plans and could fill short-term gaps, especially in management
and technical areas… There will be limits in international trade, sports, culture
and education.
Class C will include unskilled or service industry workers. These should be
‘strictly limited.

6. Application Process Steps
1. Ready Your Documents
2. Legalization and Authentication
3. Apply for a work permit notice (online)
4. Apply for a work visa (outside of China)
5. Enter China, Register Accommodation (at police station)
6. Do health check
7. Apply for a work permit (online and offline, in China)
8. Apply for interim residence permit (if needed)
9. Final Residence Permit Application (using residence permit)
10. Accommodation Registration (again!)

7. 1. Ready Your Documents
List of documents you need to prepare:
• University degree (you need at least a Bachelors)
• Police report (clean and no older than six months. You can easily apply for a
police report online in most Western countries)
• A certificate of employment (an original letter from your previous employer
certifying you’ve worked in a similar industry for at least two years)
• Passport photos (Chinese standard size 48mm x 33mm , white background, at
least six)

8. 2. Legalization and Authentication
Get your documents translated into English by an authorized translator (in case
if your country's official language(s) doesn't include English)
If your documents are issued by a non-governmental institution get therm
notarized by an official notary and then add an apostille to your them.
Send or bring your university degree, police report and (if needed) to the
relevant document legalization department of your home government.

9. 3. Work Permit Notice
Prepared documents hand in or mail everything to your new employer in China
(Before signing a contract with a Chinese company). The prospective employer
can then apply for a work permit notice on your behalf. This is the document
you need to obtain a work visa.
This will take about 10 – 14 days. The document you receive will be called
“NOTIFICATION LETTER OF FOREIGNER’S WORK PERMIT IN THE PEOPLE’S
REPUBLIC OF CHINA”

10. 4. Apply for a work visa
Bring your passport and work permit notice to your closest Chinese embassy or
visa center and fill out a visa application form.
Supporting documents:
• Passport
• Passport photo
• Work permit notice (see above)
• Chinese visa application form
• Arrival slip (if applying in Hong Kong)

11. 5. Enter China,
Register Accommodation
If you’re staying outside of a hotel, you need to register with your local police
station within 24 hours to get an Accommodation Registration Slip
Documents Needed:
• Passport
• Rental contract
• Photo of Landlord’s China ID card

12. 6. Do health check
Find out where your official government health check center is, either by
searching online or asking your employer, and go early in the morning with an
empty stomach. Do tests, pay the fees and wait until the results will be out.
Documents Needed:
• Passport
• 2 x passport photos

13. 7. Work Permit Application
You or the HR team will now make an online application for your Work Permit.
After it’s been approved, you need to go to a designated Ministry of Human
Resources & Social Security with an HR representative from your company and
do an offline application.
Necessary Documents:
• Passport (they won’t take it, though)
• Passport photo
• Health check report
• Application form for foreigner's work permit (your employer/HR should help
you with this one)

14. 8: Interim Residence Permit Application
If your 30-day work visa is running out before you can pick up your Work Permit, use
your receipt from the Work Permit Application to apply for a Residence Permit at your
nearest Exit & Entry Administration Bureau.
Necessary Documents:
• Passport (they’ll take it from you this time)
• Passport photo
• Residence Permit Application form
• Original letter from your employer saying you need to extend your Residents Permit
by three months
• Work Permit Application receipt
• Health report
• Current Accommodation Registration

15. 9. Final Residence Permit Application
Once you collect your work permit (after you get your interim Residence Permit,
if needed), you get a plastic ID card with your picture, some information (such
as which grade of foreigner you are) and a QR code. The work permit is usually
valid for one or two years. Remember to save the paper they give you - you’ll
need it eventually.
After this, you can finally apply for a one-year Residence Permit (for the bargain
price of RMB 900). The processing time will once again be around 10 working
days. You’ll need another letter from your employer, this time saying they will
employ you for a year/two years, but other than that the procedure is the exact
same as that for the interim three-month residents permit).

16. 10. Accommodation Registration
You need to do Accommodation Registration at your local police station (again),
whether you’ve moved or not.
Necessary documents:
• Passport
• Current Accommodation Registration slip
• Work Permit
• Landlord ID and rental contract (only if it’s a new address)

17. Congrats, you are done!