Work visa options for China

Visa for commercial and trade activities: meetings, negotiations, trade fairs, and site visits. Not valid for employment.

Processing time

About 4 business days standard, 2-3 days express

Validity

Single entry to 10-year multiple entry (US citizens commonly get 10 years); stays typically 60-90 days per entry

Government fees

Approx. USD 140 for US citizens; CNY 200-800 for most others depending on entries and reciprocity

Requirements

• Invitation letter from a Chinese company or trade partner
• Genuine commercial purpose (meetings, sourcing, fairs)
• Passport valid 6+ months
• Note: 30-day visa-free entry already covers business trips for exempt nationalities

Documents you will need

• Valid passport: 6+ months validity, blank visa pages
• Invitation letter: From the Chinese business partner, with company details
• Visa application form: Completed online via the CVASC portal
• Proof of previous China visits (optional): Helps secure longer multiple-entry validity

Worth knowing

• Visa-exempt nationals (UK, most EU, Australia, Canada, etc.) do not need an M visa for trips under 30 days through end-2026
• US citizens should request the 10-year multiple-entry option
• Productive work during repeated long M-visa stays may be treated as illegal employment. Use a Z visa for employment

Restrictions

• No employment or hands-on work permitted

The standard employment route: a points-based Foreigner’s Work Permit (Category B, 60-84 points) obtained by the employer, a Z visa for entry, then conversion to a work-type residence permit within 30 days of arrival.

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)

Government fees

Z visa approx. USD 140 for US citizens (CNY ~400-800 elsewhere); work permit itself free, medicals/authentications extra

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

Documents you will need

• 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

Worth knowing

• Convert the Z visa to a residence permit within 30 days of arrival
• Start degree and police-check apostilles early; they are the slowest step
• Z visa checks tightened in 2026, making complete and consistent documents especially important
• Changing employers requires a new work permit; do not resign before the transfer is mapped out
• Dependents should apply for S1 visas in parallel to arrive together

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

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.

Expedited work permit tier for applicants with at least 85 points, a high salary, a senior role, a major award or a place on a listed talent program.

Processing time

Permit notification often takes 5-10 business days, faster than Category B

Validity

Work permits up to 5 years; residence permits up to 5 years

Government fees

Same visa fees as Category B; expedited channels at no extra government cost

Requirements

• 85+ points, or automatic qualification via salary of ~6x local average wage
• Alternatively: senior management/technical role at a recognized enterprise, major international awards, or inclusion in a national talent plan
• Standard authenticated documents (degree, criminal record, medical)

Documents you will need

• Valid passport: 6+ months validity
• Evidence of talent status: Salary contract, awards, patents, or talent-program listing
• Authenticated degree: Apostilled
• Authenticated criminal record: Apostilled
• Employment contract: With the Chinese entity

Worth knowing

• No age limit and no quota applies to Category A
• Category A holders get priority processing and longer permit durations
• A spouse and children may apply for S1 visas
• Category A permits can have longer terms and fewer renewal conditions than Category B permits

Visa aligned with work-permit Category A for applicants China classifies as high-level or urgently needed talent. It can be issued for multiple entries without an existing employment contract.

Processing time

About 4-10 business days once the talent confirmation is issued

Validity

Multiple-entry, 5 or 10 years, up to 180 days per stay

Government fees

Standard visa fee (approx. USD 140 for US citizens); talent confirmation free

Requirements

• Recognition as high-level talent under Category A criteria (awards, distinguished research, senior leadership)
• Confirmation letter for high-level foreign talent from provincial authorities
• Intent to work or engage in exchange in a field China urgently needs

Documents you will need

• Valid passport: 6+ months validity
• Talent confirmation letter: Issued by the provincial foreign expert authority
• Evidence of achievements: Awards, publications, patents, or executive record
• Visa application form and photo: Standard consular requirements

Worth knowing

• An R visa does not replace a work permit. Full-time employment requires Z visa and work-permit status
• Multiple-entry validity suits advisors and researchers who visit China repeatedly
• Provincial authorities differ in responsiveness; the host institution should drive the confirmation letter