Settling In 83When applying for a working
visa, you need to enter China
with a Z Visa issued by a China
embassy or consulate outside
of China. This will be converted
to a permanent Z Visa within
China once you have registered
with the local police station,
had a resident’s permit issued, obtained a physical from a
locally designated China hospital and filed appropriate
supporting paperwork.
The supporting paperwork required is your resume, a
copy of your employment contract and a letter from your
company confirming that you are filling a role that cannot be
filled by a Chinese national. You will need a number of small
passport-size photos to accompany the paperwork: some will
be used for the resident’s permit, some for the work permit
and some for the records office.
Confirm with the administrator’s office before submitting
your paperwork. Policies vary slightly from city to city. This
typically needs to be finished within 30 days so you should
begin the process soon after you arrive.
It is very important that you are registered with the police
station in the district you are staying once you arrive. If you
are staying in a hotel, the hotel automatically takes care of
this. Most cities penalise you with hefty fines if you have
stayed in a residential area for more than a few days without
registering with the local police.
If you do not enter China on a Z Visa, you will need to
leave China and re-enter with one. This can typically be done
within two working days in Hong Kong or Singapore.
A spousal visa can be converted to a work visa without
leaving China.
Once all of the paperwork has been filed, it normally takes
two to three working weeks to have it processed. During
some of that time, they will need to keep your passport.
Carefully coordinate with the passport office on the timing
if you need to travel. They can issue a temporary paper to
travel with domestically should it be an issue.
If you have not yet secured a
job in China and are coming in
to scout for potential postings,
it is easiest to enter on a tourist
visa. Should you require an
invitation letter, most agents who
specialise in China travel have a
counterpart in country that will
issue one for you.