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Visa &
Immigration Solutions

Seamlessly establish your team in China. From Z-Visas for foreign talent to Corporate Residence Permits, we securely navigate the Public Security Bureau (PSB) on your behalf.

Deploying foreign talent to Mainland China requires strict adherence to a multi-agency regulatory system. The immigration framework is managed by local bureaus under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) for work permits, and the Exit-Entry Administrations of the Public Security Bureau (PSB) under the guidance of the National Immigration Administration (NIA) for residence permits.

Failing to secure proper work authorization is a severe compliance violation. We manage the entire lifecycle of corporate mobility—from credential legalization and Work Permit Notification Letters to Z-Visa procurement, physical Residence Permit conversions, and expat family relocation support.

Core Immigration Pathways

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China Z-Visa (Work Entry) The single-entry visa secured at overseas Chinese embassies, utilized solely to enter China for employment.
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Foreigner's Work Permit The official employment license (外国人工作许可证) categorized under Class A, B, or C talent classifications.
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Work Residence Permit A multiple-entry permit (外国人工作类居留许可) affixed to the passport by the local PSB Exit-Entry Administration.
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M/F Visas (Business & Visit) Short-term visas for trade talks or academic exchanges. Working on business visas is strictly prohibited.
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S1/S2 Dependent Visas Dependent visa sponsorship allowing immediate family members of expat workers to reside in China.
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Permanent Residence (PR) Strategic advisory for the highly restricted Foreigner's Permanent Residence Permit (China Green Card).

Tiered Work Permit System

China manages foreign talent through a three-tiered points and criteria system. Points are calculated based on parameters such as educational credentials, monthly salary levels, age thresholds, Chinese language proficiency, and geographic region.

Class A (High-End Talent)

Scoring 85+ points, or meeting specific elite criteria (such as PhDs from top-500 universities, top-tier executives, or annual incomes exceeding 600,000 RMB depending on region). Class A applicants are exempt from standard age (over 60) and experience minimums, enjoying expedited digital processing.

Class B (Professional Talent)

Scoring 60 to 84 points, or meeting standard criteria: a Bachelor's degree and at least 2 years of relevant post-graduate work experience, or annual salary exceeding 4 times the local average. Age is generally capped at 60 years.

Class C (Other Foreigners)

Scoring under 60 points. This tier is reserved for temporary workers, interns, or international students under specific bilateral programs. These permits are strictly quota-controlled and subject to local government approvals.

Key Compliance Milestones

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Work Permit Notification Letter The crucial pre-approval (外国人工作许可通知) generated online via the MOST portal before the employee enters China. Required for the Z-Visa.

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Healthcare Verification A mandatory physical exam conducted at, or verified by, the local International Travel Healthcare Center (ITHC) to secure clearance.

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Accommodation Registration Filing the Accommodation Registration Form for Aliens with the local police station (Paichusuo) or self-registration portal within 24 hours of entry.

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Work Permit Card & PSB Permit Obtaining the physical Work Permit Card and converting the entry Z-Visa into a multi-entry Residence Permit at the local PSB within 30 days.

Corporate Immigration Services

We support multinational corporations and Foreign-Invested Enterprises (FIEs) in managing their foreign talent compliance across Mainland China:

New Work Permit Applications End-to-end guidance from online pre-vetting of documents to Z-visa notifications and final in-country permit conversions.
Work & Residence Permit Renewals Managing extensions efficiently. Extension filings must be submitted online 30 to 90 days before permit expiration.
Employer Transfers (In-Country) Transferring work permit sponsorships for expats changing employers within China, bypassing the need to exit the country.
Position & Information Changes Updating passport details, changes in job title, or corporate address modifications in the foreign experts database.
Family Visa Sponsorship (S1/S2) Sponsoring visas for expat spouses, children, and parents, including dependent residence permit conversions.
Permanent Residency Advisory Structured analysis of eligibility criteria for the Foreigner's Permanent Residence Permit (China Green Card) for senior leaders.

Global Mobility & Relocation

Relocating key stakeholders to China involves significant logistics beyond basic immigration paperwork. Our mobility services support expat integration and corporate transitions:

Executive Transfers & Relocations

Dedicated VIP mobility services for C-suite officers and directors, including personalized customs clearing for household shipments, pet relocation guidance, and tax residence onboarding.

Family Support & Schooling

Comprehensive local schooling guidance, linking families to accredited international schools and bilingual academies, navigating local enrollment documentation, and arranging family healthcare plans.

Housing & Local Settlement

Neighborhood matching, commercial lease vetting (safeguarding valid property certificates for police registration), local bank account opening, utility setups, and Chinese mobile registration.

Cultural & Orientation Programs

Practical orientation covering China's essential digital tools (WeChat Pay, Alipay, local maps), basic business language courses, and community integration networks.

Corporate Immigration Compliance Framework

Expat compliance in China requires proactive management. The local administration coordinates closely with the tax bureau and labor departments to audit foreign employees.

Credential Legalization Requirements Academic degrees and national No Criminal Record checks must be legalized via the Apostille process (or Chinese consular attestation for non-member nations) prior to starting a work permit filing.
Employer Sponsorship Obligations Expat work permits are employer-specific and position-specific. The sponsoring employer must hold a valid corporate business license and maintain good standing with local tax and social security bureaus.
Proactive Renewal Timelines Extensions must be filed online at least 30 days before expiration. Late filings freeze the system, forcing the employee to exit China and re-apply for a new Z-visa from scratch.
Accommodation Registration Mandate Foreigners must register their stay with local police stations (Paichusuo) within 24 hours of entry (or after changing residences in China). Failure leads to administrative warnings or fines.

Common Corporate Immigration Risks

The National Immigration Administration (NIA) and local police conduct routine physical and digital audits of foreign workers. Non-compliance results in severe consequences for both companies and individuals:

1. Working on M or F Business Visas Using a business visa for daily office operations, technical training, or physical engineering work constitutes illegal employment. It leads to fines of 5,000 to 20,000 RMB, immediate deportation, and corporate fines up to 100,000 RMB.

2. Overstaying and Expired Permits Failing to renew a Residence Permit on time results in an overstay violation. Fines accumulate at 500 RMB per day, capped at 10,000 RMB, and can lead to administrative detention or a travel ban.

3. Delayed Renewal Lockouts Missing the online work permit extension deadline (30 days before expiration) blocks the automatic transfer system. Expats must cease work immediately and exit China to begin a new entry visa process.

4. Sponsorship & Address Mismatches Registering employees under an incorrect affiliate entity or utilizing virtual office leases for visa sponsorship can trigger physical inspections. Mismatches lead to permit cancellations and corporate blacklisting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely not. Business (M) and Visitor (F) visas are strictly limited to business meetings, trade talks, and non-commercial exchanges. Engaging in operational work, system deployments, or daily office duties on these visas is classified as illegal employment. It triggers severe personal and corporate fines, deportation, and a corporate blacklist.

Class A (Tier A) talent is defined by a points score of 85+ or specific achievements (such as PhDs from top-500 global universities, senior executive roles, or annual income exceeding 600,000 RMB). Class A applicants are exempt from standard age (over 60) and experience (2 years minimum) restrictions, and enjoy expedited pre-vetting and digital applications under "Green Channels."

Applicants must authenticate their highest academic degree certificate and a national No Criminal Record check (issued within the last 6 months). For member nations of the Hague Convention, these must undergo the Apostille process. For non-member nations, consular legalization by the local Chinese embassy remains mandatory.

An in-country transfer is permitted if the expat changes employers but remains in the same job category (e.g. Class B Professional). The process requires a formal Work Permit Cancellation Certificate from the previous employer, and the transfer application must be submitted to the new employer's portal within 10 days of the cancellation. This avoids the need to leave China.

Extensions for the Foreigner's Work Permit must be submitted online between 30 and 90 days prior to expiration. If the filing is delayed past the 30-day pre-expiry window, the system locks out extension attempts, forcing the employee to exit Mainland China and re-initiate the entire Z-Visa process from overseas.

Need to Secure Work Authorization in China?

From Class A talent vetting to group transfers and family relocations, contact our global mobility team today.

Contact Corporate Mobility Team

Visa & Immigration Solutions