Foreigners who come to China for working should enter China with a Z visa first, and then obtain a work permit and a residence permit after entry, otherwise they will be punished for illegal employment. A work visa usually refers to a work permit and a work-type residence permit.
But, instead of work visa, many foreigners enter China with other visas, such as business visas and family visit visas. What should they do if they want to work in China? Is it needed for them to leave the country and apply for a Z visa before reentry?
No need! If foreigners with other visas in China want to work legally, they can directly change their existing visas to work visas (work permit + residence permit). They do not need to apply for new visas outside China.
01 X Visa ➡ Work Visa
To get a work visa, proof of over 2 years of work experience is needed, which is exactly what international students who have just graduated do not have. But don't worry. Qualified foreign graduates still can transfer their student visas (or X visa) into work visas without leaving China.
According to the c of B talents in the classification standard for foreigners working in China, foreigners who have obtained bachelor's degree or above in education, language or normal education, or have obtained the teacher qualification certificate of the country where they are located, or have obtained a qualified international language teaching certificate (TEFL in China 120 hours) can be exempted from the work experience requirement.
That is to say, if foreign graduates stay in China as foreign teachers, they can change their student visas to work visas and apply for Category B work permits and corresponding residence permits.
What if you do not want to be a foreign teacher? It is also possible to get a work visa, but the work permit should be applied for as a C-category talent. According to the regulations, international students in China and foreign graduates from overseas universities within one year of graduation can directly apply for C-category work permit.
For the first application of a C work permit, only six-month validity can be applied, but it can be extended with no limit on the number of times.
If you are a foreigner who comes to China with a X visa to study language, you can also apply for a Category B work permit by providing a completion certificate, proof of 2 years of work experience and your undergraduate diploma.
02 M Visa ➡Work Visa
The transfer from a M visa to a work visa is relatively simple. As long as your employer has the qualification to hire foreigners, can issue relevant certificates, and at the same time, you also meet the conditions of working in China, you can directly apply for a work visa.
If you can't find a suitable employer, you can also open a company in China. You will be your own employer and be qualified to apply for a work visa for yourself.
03 Q/S Visa ➡ Work Visa
If foreign spouses or children of Chinese citizens and spouses or children of foreigners permanently residing or working in China are holding a valid visa or residence permit within the validity period, they are absolutely able to apply for a work visa.
In short, those with immediate family members in China can directly apply for work permit in China, and proof of family relationship is required.Marriage Certificate
Immediate family members: spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, grandchildren
If you are not a direct family member or cannot provide proof of family relationship, you cannot directly apply for the work permit. You need to apply for a work permit notice first, then apply for the work permit, and finally apply for the residence permit. In this case, whether foreigners need to exit and re-enter the country depends on the relevant policies and requirements of various cities.
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