Foreign employees need a Work Permit (Foreigner's Work Permit card, classes A/B/C) followed by a residence permit. The employer must have registered qualifications; processing takes 4-8 weeks. China also rolled out a 5-year talent visa for top-tier talent.
Process: (1) Employer registers on the Foreigner Work Permit system. (2) Apply for Work Permit Notification (pre-approval) — points-based classification: A (talent, 85+ points, fast-track), B (professional, degree + 2 years experience typical), C (restricted quotas). (3) Employee obtains Z visa at a Chinese consulate abroad using the notification. (4) Enter China, then apply for the Work Permit card and residence permit within 30 days. (5) Documents: apostilled degree certificate, criminal record check, CV, medical exam, employment contract. Typical timeline: 4-8 weeks. Common pitfalls: degree/experience mismatches with the declared position, age over 60 restrictions, and companies without social insurance registration. Note: Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan residents use a separate permit-exempt arrangement with residence endorsement.
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Zhonghui Consulting handles FDI registration, WFOE setup, banking, accounting, and foreign-staff compliance end-to-end — fixed fees, English-speaking team, ICPA-licensed delivery.
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