China WORK visa
(Z visa)

To apply for a China Work visa (Z visa, the employer in China and the visa applicant must meet the following basic requirements:

• Employer requirements: Employers must legally comply, offer roles of special necessity where domestic candidates are unavailable, ensure wages meet or exceed local standards, and secure any necessary industry-specific regulatory approvals for foreign employees. 
• Applicant requirements: The potential employees must be aged between 18 and 60 years old and be in good health, have no criminal record, and possess the required skills and a confirmed employer in China for their specific role. Applicants must obtain an official letter of invitation from the sponsor or host. The organisation you will be visiting is responsible for providing the invitation.  

The basic steps to apply for a China Work visa (Z visa) are as follows:

• Secure a job offer in China: You must have a confirmed job offer in China before you can apply for this visa. Your employer in China will need to provide you with an official document for you to submit with your application to prove this.
• Gather the necessary documents: You may be required to submit supporting documents on a case-by-case basis. Documents required could include your passport, reference letters, medical and criminal history reports etc.
• Complete the visa application and pay the fee: You will need to apply for the Z visa at your local visa office or Chinese embassy or consulate – this will vary depending on your country of residence. You will also need to pay the relevant application fees.
• Travel to China: Once your visa application has been approved you will be able to travel to China, where you will need to make the necessary post-arrival applications within 30 days.

The government fee to apply for a China Work visa (Z visa) varies depending on your nationality and the submission location.

Applicants should note that government fees are subject to change at short notice. Please ask Smith Stone Walters for more details on China visa fees.

Most applications for China Work visas (Z visas) are processed within 4 working days. If you require a faster processing time, express services may be available at an extra cost. Please note, the actual processing time remains at the discretion of local authorities and may vary.

The Z visa itself only allows the holder to stay in China for 30 days initially. During this time, the worker and the employer must apply for a residence permit for the duration of the employment contract, up to a maximum of 5 years.