Do foreigners have to a work permit to work in China?

2024/01/03 15:24:04

As we all know, foreigners who want to work in China can't just get a Z work visa. Usually, they have to get an employment permit and then apply for a Z-visa before entering China, and after entering China with a Z-visa, they also need to obtain an Work Permit and a Residence Permit for Foreigners in order to be legally employed in China. Of course, there are exceptions. According to the "Regulations on the Administration of Foreigners' Employment in China" issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the following cases can be exempted from obtaining employment certificates or permits.

Article 9 of the Provisions on the Administration of Foreigners' Employment in China Any foreigner who meets one of the following conditions shall be exempted from applying for an employment permit or an employment license:

(a) Foreigners who are professional and technical and managerial personnel hired at the direct expense of the Chinese government, or foreigners who are hired at the expense of state organs and institutions, and who have senior technical titles or qualifications for special skills confirmed by national or international authoritative technical management departments or industry associations, and who hold a Foreign Experts Certificate issued by the Foreign Experts Bureau;

(ii) Foreign laborers who are engaged in offshore petroleum operations, do not need to land, and have special skills, and who hold the Permit for Foreigners to Engage in Offshore Petroleum Operations in the People's Republic of China;

(iii) Foreigners holding Temporary Business Performance Permits approved by the Ministry of Culture to engage in business cultural and artistic performances.

Article 10 Any foreigner who meets one of the following conditions may be exempted from applying for a license certificate and apply for an employment permit directly after entering the country on the basis of a Z-visa and relevant certificates:

(I) in accordance with the agreements between China and foreign governments, international organizations, the implementation of Sino-foreign cooperation and exchange projects hired to work in China;

(ii) Chief representatives and representatives of foreign enterprises' permanent representative offices in China

众所周知，外国人想要来中国工作并不是拿到Z字工作签证就可以，通常情况下，入境前要先拿到就业许可然后申请Z字签证，在持Z字签证入境后还要取得《外国人工作许可证》和外国人居留证件，才能在中国境内合法就业。当然也有例外，根据人力资源社会保障部发布的《外国人在中国就业管理规定》，以下几种情况是可以免办就业许可或工作许可证的。

《外国人在中国就业管理规定》第九条凡符合下列条件之一的外国人可免办就业许可和工作许可证：

(一)由我国政府直接出资聘请的外籍专业技术和管理人员，或由国家机关和事业单位出资聘请，具有本国或国际权威技术管理部门或行业协会确认的高级技术职称或特殊技能资格证书的外籍专业技术和管理人员，并持有外国专家局签发的《外国专家证》的外国人；

(二)持有《外国人在中华人民共和国从事海上石油作业工作准证》从事海上石油作业、不需登陆、有特殊技能的外籍劳务人员；

(三)经文化部批准持《临时营业演出许可证》进行营业性文艺演出的外国人。

第十条凡符合下列条件之一的外国人可免办许可证书，入境后凭Z字签证及有关证明直接办理工作许可证：

(一)按照我国与外国政府间、国际组织间协议、协定，执行中外合作交流项目受聘来中国工作的外国人；

(二)外国企业常驻中国代表机构中的首席代表、代表

sources from CNVISA