Work Permits

The “Guidelines of Tianjin Municipality for Handling Work Permits for Foreigners Visiting China” has been issued by the Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology and Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security for trial implementation. These guidelines aim to simplify administrative procedures and enhance services for foreigners seeking work permits in Tianjin.

GUIDELINES FOR WORK PERMITS

CHAPTER ONE: PREPARATION

-I. Handling system

The application for a work permit for foreigners visiting China is uniformly handled in the Management and Service System for Foreigners Working in China (hereinafter referred to as the “System”) on the government service platform of the Ministry of Science and Technology which can be logged in through the entrance of the Government Service Platform of the Ministry of Science and Technology (website: https://fuwu.most.gov.cn/lhgzweb) or Tianjin Online Office Hall (website: https://zwfw.tj.gov.cn).

The “Service Process” column in the homepage of the System publicly releases the Evaluation Criteria for Foreigners Employed in China (for Trial Implementation) and the Guidelines for Applications for Work Permits for Foreign Experts (For Interim Implementation), and the “Skills Training” column publicly publishes the Operation Manual for the Management and Service System for Foreigners Working in China and the FAQ regarding Work Permits for Foreigners Visiting China V1.0.

The foreigner’s employing unit (hereinafter referred to as the “employing unit”) shall set up a full-time post in charge of handling work permits for foreigners visiting China, and the handler shall first get familiar with the above content, and understand related policies.

-Ⅱ. Registration of the employing unit

The employing unit or the special service agency entrusted shall register an account online prior to using the system. Registration steps and required materials are as follows:

(i) Identity verification

Firstly, the employing unit shall verify the user’s identity with his/her real name in the user registration and record service system, click “Sign up for a company user (legal person)”, fill in the information of the account, the legal person and the principal handler, tick “I have read and agreed to the Registration Agreement for Identity Verification of the Legal Person with His/Her Real Name”, and then click the “Sign up” button.

(ii) Information of the company

When logging into the System for the first time, please complete the information of the company first. Click the “Complete Company Information” button to enter the page for company information. Please truthfully fill in the mandatory columns of the company information. In case of a “white question mark highlighted in blue” mark, hover the mouse to view filling instructions.

(iii) Uploading annexes

After completing in company information, click the “Save” button, and after saved successfully, click “Print Company Registration Form” to allow the System to generate a registration form automatically. The printed and stamped copy shall then be uploaded to the system. The annexes required for company registration are clearly stipulated in the “Annexes of the Company Information” column, please upload the annexes according to the instructions of the System.

(iv) Submit for review

Once complete the above steps, click the “Submit for Review” button. If any supplement or modification is required to the filled content, the staff of the Work Permit Window for Foreigners Visiting China will return the application and note existing problems. If application materials for company registration are complete and eligible, log in to the System and the following words will show “Please bring original application materials such as a Company Registration Form, a Legal Registration Certificate of the Company, an ID card of the handler himself/herself, a letter of authorization to the handler, an industry license, etc., as well as the original or photocopy of the ID card of the legal person and the certificate proving the handler is a regular employee of the employing unit, and go to the windows in Tianjin handling applications for work permits for foreigners visiting China (Address: 58 Jiulong Road, Hexi District, Tel: 23269358, 23269359) for on-site confirmation”. Then please click the “Submit for Review” button again and go to the acceptance window for materials verification. The company registration review is passed after confirmation. During the implementation period of the non-face-to-face approval policy, the employing unit can call the above-mentioned phone number to confirm.

CHAPTER TWO: EVALUATION CRITERIA

-Ⅲ. The Evaluation Criteria for Foreigners Employed in China and the Supporting Materials

Before applying for a work permit for foreigners visiting China, the employing unit shall assess the evaluation criteria of the foreigners. In addition to the mandatory columns required by the System, supporting materials corresponding to the relevant evaluation criteria shall be submitted in the “Other Annexes” column. Specific requirements are as follows:

(i) High-level foreign talents (Category A)

High-level foreign talents mainly include scientists, leading science and technology talents, international entrepreneurs, specialized and special talents and other foreign high-level and rare talents urgently needed in the economic and social development of China who can enjoy “Green channel” and “Acceptance on Incomplete Materials” services.

(ii) Foreign specialized talents (Category B)

Foreign specialized talents urgently needed in the economic and social development of China who conform to the guidance catalogue and job descriptions for foreigners working in China.

(iii) Other foreign personnel (Category C)

Other foreign personnel who meet the needs of the domestic labor market and comply with national policies and regulations.

CHAPTER THREE: HANDLING PROCESS

-IV. The Process and Caution to applying outside the territory of China for work permits for foreigners visiting China (working in China for more than 90 days, excluding 90 days)

In the case that an applicant is outside the territory of China, the employing unit shall apply for a Notice of Work Permits for Foreigners of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as Work Permit Notice) for the applicant, and the applicant shall apply to the Chinese embassy, consulate for a work (Z) visa with the Work Permit Notice to enter China and then apply for a Foreigner Work Permit (hereinafter referred to as Work Permit) afterwards. The employing unit shall click the “apply outside the territory of China for Work Permits for Foreigners visiting China - apply for Work Permit Notice (pre-entry)” button, and fill in the foreigner’s category information, basic information, application information, education background, work experience, information of accompanying dependents, annex information and other content. Filling cautions are as follows:

(i) Category Information

Please verify the supporting materials submitted by the applicant are consistent with the Category the applicant selects in the Evaluation Criteria for Foreigners Employed in China (for Trail Implementation).

(ii) Basic information

1. Passport information such as the surname, name, gender, nationality, date of birth, passport no., date of issue and date of validity of the passport shall be consistent with the scanning copy of the passport;

2. Applicants who have once been granted the Chinese nationality shall fill in the Chinese name;

3. List all the countries that have once granted you a passport: fill in your country of nationality at least;

4. Email address: the email address that can reach the applicant, different from the email address of the handler of the System of the employing unit;

5. Phone number in China: the phone number of the applicant in China, which shall be different from the “fixed-line telephone number of the company”, the “mobile phone number of the person in charge of the business department”, the “mobile phone number of the handler” and other phone numbers filled by the employing unit to sign up in the System.

(iii) Application information

1. In case of entrusting a relevant agency to handle the work permit, the name of the entrusted agency shall be filled in;

2. Job offer, way of employment: no obvious unreasonable information;

3. Consecutive working years in China: it can be queried in the history record of the System;

4. Offer position in China, salary (per month), commencement date and expiry date of the employment contract / certificate of appointment: it shall be consistent with the employment contract / certificate of appointment (including the Letter of Dispatch from a multinational enterprise). In the case that the salary isn’t indicated in the employment contract / certificate of appointment (including the Letter of Dispatch from a multinational enterprise), the employing unit shall submit an additional document to explain the specific salary (per month, accurate to Yuan, if the salary is paid in foreign currency, state specific salary amount as well, with the official seal of the employing unit); The salary shall not be lower than the minimum wage standard in Tianjin.

5. Starting date and ending date of the application for working in China: fill in the date of this application, which shall be within the commencement date and expiry date of the employment contract / certificate of appointment;

6. Years of working (year): in the case the applicant applies for a Work Permit as per points-based system, the working years shall be consistent with the information stated in the Work Qualification Proof;

7. Working time in China per year (Month): it shall be consistent with the employment contract / certificate of appointment (including the Letter of Dispatch from a multinational enterprise);

8. Name and located country of the dispatching enterprise: These two items shall be filled in in the case that the employment contract or certificate of appointment is substituted with the Letter of Dispatch from a multinational enterprise;

9. Name, telephone number and email address of the emergency contact person in China: If filled, the format shall abide by domestic requirements;

10. For the columns from the “Personnel in the management scope of quota system?” column to the “Hold a Chinese vocational qualification certificate (criterion for entry)?” column, please fill in based on the actual conditions of the applicant.

11. For following three items: “Have you ever been arrested or convicted for any crime, even though pardoned or retraction and other similar measures were granted?”, “Have you ever been infected with an infectious disease that has an impact on public health or suffered from a dangerous physical or mental illness?”, “Have you ever violated Chinese laws and been deported by the Chinese government?”, please tick based on the actual conditions of the applicant.

(iv) Education background

Please click “Add Education background”, and fill in the applicant’s highest degree at least, and then click “Save” after completing all the mandatory columns. In the case that the highest degree is “primary school” or “secondary school”, the education background shall be filled in as well. In the case that the applicant is uneducated at all, fill in “None” in the mandatory column of education background, and the employing unit shall issue a statement and upload it to the “Education background” column in the annex information.

(v) Work experience

Please click “Add Work Experience”, and fill in at least one work experience of the applicant, and then click “Save” after completing all the mandatory columns. In the case that the applicant has no work experience at all, fill in “None” in the mandatory column of work experience.

-V. The Process and Caution to applying inside the territory of China for work permits for foreigners visiting China (working in China for more than 90 days, excluding 90 days)

In the case that an applicant is inside the territory of China and meets one of the following conditions, he/she can directly apply for a Work Permit.

(i) The high-level foreign talent (Category A) who has entered China holding another Visa or a valid Residence Permit;

(ii) The foreigner working in China changes his/her employing unit, but his/her position (occupation) remains unchanged, and his/her Residence Permit for Work is within the valid period;

(iii) The foreign spouse or children of a Chinese citizen or the spouse or children of a foreigner permanently residing or working in China, holding a valid Visa or a Residence Permit within the valid period;

(iv) In line with the preferential policies of the free trade zone and the pilot reform zone for all-round innovation;

(v) The employing unit is eligible to enjoy the preferential policies of the headquarters of multinational enterprises in China;

(vi) The flow of personnel within the enterprise group;

(vii) Implementing an intergovernmental agreement or treaty;

(viii) Representative of a foreign institution in China who has entered China holding a Work Visa; the applicant who has been granted the Work Permit (less than 90 days) and is employed by an employing unit inside the territory of China during his/her valid stay in China;

(ix) Others that found eligible by the approving authority.

-VI. The Process and Caution to applying for short-term work permits for foreigners visiting China (working in China for no more than 90 days, including 90 days)

In the case that an applicant is outside the territory of China and is visiting China for short-term work (staying in Tianjin for less than 90 days), the employing unit shall apply for a Work Permit Notice for the applicant, and the applicant shall apply to the Chinese embassy, consulate for a Work (Z) Visa. After entering China, those who will work in Tianjin for no more than 30 days can directly work in Tianjin with a Work Visa; those who will work in Tianjin for more than 30 days but no more than 90 days shall apply to the Exit and Entry Administration Department of Public Security for a Residence Permit for Work (no more than 90 days). The annexes of the application materials for a short-term Work Permit Notice shall abide by the document requirements of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (refer to Annex: 2).