Z Visa + Work Permit (Category B - Professionals)

Requirements

• Job offer from a China-registered employer that obtains the Work Permit Notification first
• Bachelor’s degree plus 2+ years relevant experience (or 60+ points on the points system)
• Points scored on salary, education, experience, age (26-45 optimal), Chinese language, and region
• Generally under age 60; Category B has enforced this limit strictly since early 2026
• Clean criminal record and health check
• Cities enforce salary floors; Beijing and Shanghai apply roughly 4x the local average wage for Category B

Restrictions

• Work is restricted to the sponsoring employer and registered location
• Category B renewals for workers over 60 are being systematically rejected as of 2026

Time and cost

Processing time

2-4 weeks for the permit notification, ~4 business days for the Z visa, then 2-3 weeks in China for the residence permit; 2-3 months end-to-end

Validity

Z visa is a 30-day entry visa; the resulting residence permit runs 1 year initially (2-3 years on renewal for Category B)

Cost

From $140

Required

• About $140 Z visa fee (US citizens; about CNY 400-800 for other nationalities)
• $0 work permit fee

• Medical exam and document authentication costs also apply.

Path to residency

Chinese permanent residence (the ‘Chinese green card’) exists but is rare; typically requires 4 consecutive years as a high-earning executive/technical lead or Category A status.

Documents

• Valid passport

  At least 6 months validity with blank pages

• Work Permit Notification

  Obtained online by the employer before the visa application

• Authenticated degree certificate

  Apostilled (China joined the Apostille Convention in 2023)

• Authenticated criminal record check

  Apostilled, usually less than 6 months old

• Employment contract

  With the Chinese entity

• Medical examination report

  Physical exam form, verified again in China

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