Foreigners Living in Tianjin Know Everything- Employment

(I) New Q&A

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.

What are the requirements for acceptance notwithstanding temporary lack of some documents in the application for work permit for foreigners in China？

During the COVID-19 pandemic, if the highest degree (academic) certificate or certificate of no criminal conviction cannot be provided temporarily due to the reasons attributable to Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, the mode of acceptance notwithstanding temporary lack of some documents may be applied. If a foreigner fails to provide his/her certificate of physical examination temporarily due to reasons attributable to inspection and quarantine institution, the work permit for foreigners with a period of validity not more than 6 months can be issued, provided that he/she can provide evidentiary materials proving his/her queuing-up process for physical examination at the inspection and quarantine institution.

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.

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.

(II) Handling Procedure

On which website can foreign nationals handle a permit for working in China？

https://fuwu.most.gov.cn/lhgzweb

The service system for foreign nationals working in China, https://fuwu.most.gov.cn/lhgzweb.

Locations and hotlines of the offices for handling work permits for foreigners in Tianjin:

How can foreign nationals handle procedures for working in Tianjin？

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.

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.

(III) Extension of Work Permit

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).

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.

(Ⅳ) Handling of Foreign Resident ID Card

Which authority in Tianjin can handle the formalities of foreign resident ID cards？

1.Exit-Entry Administration of Tianjin Municipal Public Security Bureau: 2F, Haitai Building, 6 Meiyuan Road, Huayuan Industrial Park; Tel.: 022-12367.

2.Exit-Entry Management Detachment of Binhai New Area Public Security Bureau: Auxiliary Building B, Glorious Oriental Plaza, at the intersection of Yingbin Avenue and Jihua Road, Binhai New area;Tel.: 022-66977401.

What are the types of residence permits？

For work, journalist, private affairs, reunion, and study.

What kind of entry visa can be used to apply for a work residence permit？

Foreign nationals who enter China with a Z visa can apply for a work residence permit in accordance with the relevant provisions; for those who come to China with other visas, have been employed by enterprises and public institutions in China, have completed the work permit, and have no time to leave the country to apply for a work visa can apply for a work residence permit.

How long is the maximum period of validity of a work residence permit？

Qualified foreign nationals can apply for a work residence permit with a validity period of not more than 5 years.