CHINA – New Work Permit System
As of 1 April 2017, there is a new unified nationwide work permit system in China.
Employers who wish to sponsor foreign national workers in China must now be registered to use the new online application system. Those who have not yet registered should do so as soon as possible.
We anticipate increased processing times for Chinese work permits due to extra steps and system implementation as well as the, requirement to submit legalized educational diplomas and police clearance certificates.
The visa application process should however be eased now that an invitation letter from the Chinese authorities is no longer required in support of a consular Z Visa application (only an invitation letter from the host company in China).
What is the New Work Permit System?
A new integrated work authorization policy was launched on 1 October with a trial in nine pilot provinces/cities (Anhui, Beijing, Guangdong, Heibei, Ningxia, Shandong, Sichuan, Shanghai and Tianjin). It consolidates the previous employment permit issued by the Labor Bureau, and the Foreign Expert Certificate issued by the Foreign Expert Bureau, into a single, unified work permit.
Under the integrated system, foreign nationals working in China are categorized into one of three groups (A, B and C) that identify the holder as high-end personnel, professional personnel, or temporary and seasonal personnel in the service or non-technical sectors.
Criteria such as salary, educational background, length of time services, Chinese language proficiency, age, and work experience are evaluated in determining the applicable group. The total “scores” will be added, with a score of below 60 for group C, 60 and over for group B and 85 and over for group A.
Action Items
- Employers sponsoring foreign national workers in China, or sending employees on assignment to China, should expect significant delays to work authorization procedures in the coming months.
- Employers who have not yet registered with the new online system should do so as soon as possible. Please reach out to your immigration advisor at McCown & Evans LLP for support.