China Work Visa Application
for Foreigners.
Apply for a China work visa with end-to-end support from eligibility review and document preparation to work permit application, Z visa guidance and post-entry residence permit coordination for foreigners.
Start your work visa application.
Tell us your nationality, role, employer status, target city and family needs. Our team will respond within one business day.
Can a foreign investor use a China company to sponsor a work visa?
In many founder-led cases, the work visa route depends on whether there is a China-registered company that can act as the legal employer sponsor. For foreign investors, this usually means checking the WFOE or China entity structure, registered role, employment contract, local filings, salary arrangement and the applicant’s eligibility for a work permit.
Asomerit helps foreign investors and founders assess whether their China company can support a work permit application, prepare the employer-side materials, coordinate the Z visa stage where needed, and complete the post-entry residence permit process after arrival in China. Read our complete guide to applying for a China work visa →
Get the company, role and visa route aligned before you relocate to China.
For foreign investors, a China work visa application is often connected to company setup. The key question is not only whether the applicant qualifies, but whether the China company can act as a compliant employer sponsor. We help review the sponsor entity, registered role and timing before the work permit and residence permit process begins.
New employee work visa applications
A foreign investor normally needs a China-registered company to act as the employer sponsor for the work permit application. We help check whether an existing company, WFOE or newly registered entity can support the applicant’s role and visa route.
Founder, legal representative or manager role
For WFOE founders, shareholders, legal representatives and senior managers, the registered role should match the company structure, employment documents and work permit application. We help align the title, contract and sponsor materials before submission. See how a WFOE can sponsor your own work visa →
Work permit and residence permit timing
After the sponsor route is confirmed, the process may involve company setup, employer-side preparation, work permit application, Z visa steps and post-entry residence permit conversion. We help plan the sequence so the investor can relocate and work legally in China.
Choose the right work visa route for your China company setup.
The right route depends on whether you already have a China company, are registering a new WFOE, or are changing from another employer or visa status inside China.
New WFOE sponsor route
For foreign investors who need to register a China company before applying for a work permit. We help coordinate the company setup, sponsor readiness, founder role and visa application sequence.
Best for: investors entering China to build or manage their own business.
Existing company route
For founders, legal representatives, directors or senior managers who already have a China entity and want to use it as the employer sponsor for a work permit and residence permit.
Best for: foreign owners or managers with an existing China-registered company.
Transfer or change route
For foreign applicants already in China who need to move from another employer, change sponsor, update their registered role, or renew their work permit and residence permit.
Best for: investors or employees already living in China who are changing company or status.
What you need for work permit application.
The requirements below cover the core applicant and employer-side materials normally needed before a China work permit, Z visa and residence permit application can move forward.
The documents required for a China work visa application can vary by applicant profile, nationality, city, employer sponsor and document issuing country. Asomerit helps review your required documents, identify missing items and check whether apostille, authentication or certified translation may be needed before submission.
| Requirement | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Passport | The scan of the valid passport bio-data page. |
| A visa-standard photo | White background, taken within 6 months. |
| Employment contract | Signed contract with China employer, including the position, location, monthly salary, starting date and ending date. |
| Education / qualification | Highest degree certificate or professional qualification, with authentication where required. |
| Work experience certificate | Previous work experience certificate issued by the previous employers, which need to match the proposed China role. |
| Non-Criminal Record Certificate | Police clearance from your country of residence, authenticated where required. |
| Physical examination report | Health check report issued within 6 months. |
| Employer documents | China company's business licence, company information, contact person, business scope. |
The timeline and process to obtain China work visa.
Asomerit supports foreign investors who need to connect China company registration with work visa planning. We help structure the sponsor entity, prepare the employer and applicant documents, coordinate the work permit application and guide the post-entry residence permit process.
Eligibility review
Check applicant age, qualifications, experience, employer sponsorship and city requirements. Confirm which work permit Category (A, B or C) applies.
Document preparation
Prepare passport, employment contract, degree, work experience, Non-Criminal Record Certificate and medical documents — including authentication where required.
Work permit notification
Submit the online application to local labour and immigration authorities and obtain the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit.
Z visa entry
Use the notification letter to apply for a Z visa at a Chinese embassy or consulate overseas and enter China within the visa validity window.
Work Permit Card & Residence Permit
Complete post-entry steps within 30 days — medical check confirmation, social insurance registration, Foreigner's Work Permit Card issuance — and convert the entry visa to a Residence Permit.
Want to understand the full process before getting started?
Read the complete China work visa guide →Three factors that shape approval risk and timeline.
Before submitting a work permit application, confirm the applicant profile, sponsor readiness and authentication timeline. These determine how realistic the application path is.
Degree and relevant experience
In most standard cases, applicants need a bachelor’s degree or above and at least two years of relevant work experience to apply for a China work permit. If you do not have a bachelor’s degree, use our points calculator to check whether a points-based route may be available.
Real business activity
If the China company appears to be set up only for a work visa, with no clear business activity, the application may face a higher refusal risk. A detailed business plan, client contracts, invoices, website, office setup or previous business records can help support the sponsor case.
Document authentication
Some overseas-issued documents, such as degree certificates and Non-Criminal Record Certificates, may need notarisation and apostille or consular authentication before submission. Contact us to confirm the exact document requirements for your case.
China work visa at a glance
Free, expert-built tools and downloads for your China hiring and relocation planning.
Whether you're checking eligibility, preparing documents, or planning the year's compliance calendar — we built these so you can make better decisions before you commit.
Work Permit Eligibility Self-Check
Estimate a foreign candidate's likely China work-permit category.
Start self-check →China Work Visa & Work Permit Guide
Review eligibility, document preparation, Z visa and residence permit steps.
Download guide →WFOE Cost Calculator
Plan sponsor-entity, payroll and visa-related setup costs.
Estimate your setup cost →China Compliance Calendar 2026
Track tax filing, social insurance and annual compliance dates.
Download calendar →Frequently asked questions about China work visas.
You have questions, and Asomerit has answers. If we don't cover all your confusions, just let us know.
The Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit is the pre-entry approval used to apply for a Z visa. The Z visa is the entry visa used to enter China for work. After arrival, the applicant completes post-entry steps to receive the Foreigner's Work Permit card and convert the entry visa into a Residence Permit for legal long-term stay and re-entry during the approved period.
Yes. A work visa application normally needs a China-registered employer sponsor. If the applicant will be sponsored by their own WFOE, the company should be incorporated and prepared for local employer filings before the work permit application. Read more: How to sponsor your own work visa with a WFOE →
Core documents usually include the applicant passport, visa photo, signed employment contract, highest degree or professional qualification, work experience certificate, Non-Criminal Record Certificate, physical examination documents and employer-side company materials. Some documents may need apostille, consular authentication or certified translation depending on the issuing country and local authority requirements.
China's foreign work permit system classifies applicants into Category A, B or C based on factors such as degree, salary, work experience, age, role, employer need and local policy. Category A covers high-end talent and may receive priority processing. Category B covers most qualified foreign professionals. Category C is more restricted and often subject to quotas or local approval limits.
A typical China work visa process takes about 4 to 8 weeks from document readiness to Residence Permit completion, depending on document authentication, employer readiness, city processing time, embassy or consulate appointment availability and post-entry conversion steps. Read our complete step-by-step guide →
Yes. Spouses and children may usually apply for S1 or S2 visas and dependant Residence Permits based on the main applicant's work and residence status. Marriage certificates, birth certificates and other relationship documents may need apostille, consular authentication or certified translation.
After entering China with a Z visa, the applicant normally completes medical check confirmation, local registration, Foreigner's Work Permit card issuance and Residence Permit conversion. The post-entry conversion should be completed within the permitted entry-stay window, commonly 30 days.
In many cases, a foreign employee already in China can transfer or modify the work permit when changing employer, role, salary or other registered information. The previous employer's cancellation documents, the new employer's sponsorship materials and local authority review are usually required.
Bring your team to China the right way.
Apply for a China work permit, Z visa and Residence Permit with end-to-end coordination — for founders, executives and employees alike.
No. 17, North Third Ring Road East
Chaoyang District, Beijing