Procedure for obtaining a work visa (Z) to China for Russians

The rapid development of the PRC economy has led to the emergence of vacancies in many areas - pharmacological and educational, in the oil and space industries. The People's Republic of China lacks its own specialists for a number of reasons, so some companies invite foreign experts to work. But Chinese laws are tough on migrant workers and are strictly enforced. Therefore, it is worth finding out in advance how to get a work visa to China and taking the trouble to collect the necessary package of documents.

Who can get it?

The decision of the Chinese side to issue a permit or to refuse it depends on how correctly the fields of the application form are filled out and other conditions for submitting papers are met. You should not work in China without a special visa - illegal work activity is strictly punishable there, and violating the visa regime can result in a fine, deportation from the country or imprisonment.

Citizens of the Russian Federation apply for a work visa to China at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow or at the Consulates General of the Republic located in Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok and Khabarovsk.

Any law-abiding citizen 18 years of age or older who meets the requirements of the Chinese side and presents the necessary documents has the right to obtain a work permit in China.

Chinese visas in post-Soviet countries

A work visa to China for Ukrainians is issued at the Chinese Embassy in Kyiv (M. Grushevsky St., building 32), or at the Consulate General in Odessa (Nakhimov lane, building 2). There are no Chinese visa centers in Ukraine.

In Minsk (Republic of Belarus) there is a Chinese Embassy and a visa center (Minsk, Berestyanskaya str., building 22).

Work visas for citizens of Kazakhstan are issued at the Chinese Embassy in Nur-Sultan (Astana) on the street. Kabanbay Batyra, building 28, as well as at the Consulate General in Almaty (Baitasov St., building 12).

The application form can be downloaded from the following sites:

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Application forms for Kazakhstanis and Ukrainians are offered on the Embassy websites only in Chinese and English. The Belarusian website, like the Russian one, has a visa application form in Russian.

Main requirements

It is worth carefully reading the requirements that the country imposes on applicants for work in China. The applicant must be:

• by an invited Chinese employer in accordance with the regulations on work permits in China;
• having a foreign passport with a validity period of at least 6 months and with one or two blank pages;
• having no criminal record, debts on alimony, fines and loan payments in the country of residence;
• possessing a document of higher education with a degree of at least a bachelor's degree and 2 years of work experience in the specialty;
• or – owning a business with an income of $1,000 per month or a bank account with the corresponding amount;
• or – having guarantees from a guarantor (sponsor) in the PRC.
• Another important condition is that an applicant for a work visa to China must present documents confirming physical health and not have infectious or chronic diseases.

All these requirements must be accompanied by documentary evidence.

Documents for visa application

Documents for a Chinese work visa are submitted to the consular department. In order to make an application, you will need to provide:

1. A foreign passport valid for at least six months. It must have one blank page. In addition to the original passport, you need to attach a photocopy of it.
2. Completed questionnaires in the amount of 2 pieces. Each sheet of the application form must be printed separately. A sample application form for a visa to China can be downloaded here.

   Sample of filling out the first page of the China visa application form

3. A color photograph measuring 3 * 4 cm. The visa photo requirements have become more stringent.
4. Original and photocopy of the citizen's passport.
5. Photocopies of visas to China that were issued earlier, if any.
6. A photocopy and original job offer from the employer. In addition, confirmation of the invitation must be attached.

A certain part of the documents will need to be sent to the employer in advance so that he can issue a job offer. Documents for a Z visa to China include:

1. Photocopy of higher education diploma.
2. Photocopy of a foreign passport.
3. A resume written in English or Chinese.
4. One photo 3 * 4 cm.
5. A photocopy of the work record translated into English or Chinese.
6. Photocopy of medical certificate.

For employment in certain specialties, it is necessary to provide additional documents:

• If a foreign national plans to work in offshore oil fields, he must obtain a permit from the China Offshore Petroleum Corporation.
• If a foreigner is sent for business purposes to work in a branch of a Russian company located in China, it is necessary to provide a document confirming the registration of the enterprise. Permission to create a branch is obtained from the Trade Department.
• If the work is related to touring, the citizen plans to enter the country as an artist, he will need to provide a permit for commercial touring, which is issued by the Ministry of Culture of China.

Getting a job in China

It should be understood that any attempts to obtain a visa to China for work (Z visa) without an invitation letter from a Chinese employer are doomed to failure. This request is the main condition for starting to collect the remaining documents and submit them to the consular mission. Therefore, the first thing an applicant needs to do is find a job in China.

To do this, applicants for vacancies use the following services:

• special recruiting agencies;
• official website of the Chinese Embassy;
• the organizations themselves that provide the vacancies.

On some job search sites you can not only post your resume, but also use the function of sending a portfolio to a potential employer.

Another important point is that not every Chinese employer has the right to invite foreign specialists. The organization or enterprise offering a vacancy must have permission from the Government of the People's Republic of China to attract employees from abroad.

The employer will have to send a copy of the permit to the applicant along with other documents. But to get to this point, you will first need to post your own resume on job search sites or independently find an employer’s advertisement and contact him in any available way.

It is worth mentioning that you can find work in China not only by obtaining a work visa, but also by enrolling in a university (students are allowed to work part-time) or by finding an internship in China in your field (the so-called internship).

Procedure for obtaining a work visa (Z) to China for Russians

The rapid development of the PRC economy has led to the emergence of vacancies in many areas - pharmacological and educational, in the oil and space industries. The People's Republic of China lacks its own specialists for a number of reasons, so some companies invite foreign experts to work. But Chinese laws are tough on migrant workers and are strictly enforced. Therefore, it is worth finding out in advance how to get a work visa to China and taking the trouble to collect the necessary package of documents.

Unlike other types of permits, a visa for those employed in the PRC requires multi-level and rather painstaking preparation.

You should be prepared for the fact that obtaining a work visa when traveling to China requires advance provision at the place of employment of the documentation of the Russian being accepted into the organization.

This will then allow you to obtain official consent to work, which is necessary to obtain a work visa to China. And after this, the applicant’s dossier is submitted to the visa center or consular mission.

Required documents

If the employer is interested in the applicant's candidacy, he will ask to send him a set of documents:

• scanned copies of a foreign passport, higher education diploma, work record book and medical examination;
• translations of diploma and work report into English and/or Chinese, certified by a notary office;
• resume written in English;
• photograph in passport format.

According to reviews from those who have ever applied for a Z visa, the greatest problems arise with the medical commission, since Form No. 082, previously used for Russians, may not be suitable. This point should be immediately clarified with the employer or the consular mission. The medical form should be filled out in English and Latin, making sure that all seals and stamps are clearly visible.

The collected package of papers is sent to the employer by express mail, so that he can issue a work permit on the spot and send the applicant an invitation for a work visa. On average, a permit is issued in 10-14 days, but experienced employers can do everything necessary in less than a week.

Having received an invitation from the employer, you can apply for a work visa at the consular office. To do this, you should prepare a package of papers, which includes:

• original and photocopy of a foreign passport with one or two blank pages and at least 6 months of validity (it is advisable to make copies of all pages with marks);
• form V2013 completed with reliable data in two copies;
• passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation (for Russians) and its photocopy;
• original and photocopied duplicate of an invitation to work in China sent by the employer, with confirmation of the right to work from the Ministry of Labor of the People's Republic of China;
• if applicants have already applied for visas to China before, photocopies of these documents must also be attached;
• a color passport photo that meets the new requirements of the Chinese side.

Recently, the Chinese Migration Service introduced new rules regarding visa photographs. According to these requirements, the height of the photo card is not 40, but 48 mm, the width is 33 mm, and the size of the face in the photo fits 28-33 mm. The Chinese migration services do not explain why there are such difficulties, but when the goal is to obtain a visa, the requirement must be strictly fulfilled.

Documents for a work visa to China

An applicant who meets all the conditions imposed by the Chinese government on foreign citizens wishing to obtain a work visa is required to collect a fairly impressive package of documents and obtain permission to work within the country.

Mandatory list of documents required to obtain a Z visa:

• original passport, with two blank pages (minimum). The document must not expire earlier than 6 months from the date of application;
• photocopies or scans of passport pages with personal data and photograph;
• medical report on health status;
• photocopies of previous passports with Chinese visas in them (if any);
• photos;
• a completed visa application form with a photo attached.

Additional documents include a work permit issued by the relevant authority and an invitation from the employer. Depending on the type of work activity, this may be:

1. a permit issued by the State Administration for Foreign Professionals of the People's Republic of China or the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security;
2. registration certificate of a foreign representative office of a company (organization) issued by the administrative authority responsible for industry and trade in the PRC;
3. an invitation from the Chinese side to conduct offshore oil operations, signed by the China National Petroleum Corporation;
4. permission to carry out commercial activities issued by the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China.

The package of documents must include a photocopy of all existing university diplomas and advanced training courses.

Visa application form: form and sample to fill out

The applicant's application is a form - Form V.2013, approved by the Migration Service of the People's Republic of China in 2013. Until now, the questionnaire has not undergone any changes and remains relevant. The form can be downloaded from the official website of the Chinese Embassy or from the link.

All items are written in Chinese and Russian. Accordingly, it is allowed to fill out the form in these languages ​​by entering information on the computer.

The form is a questionnaire consisting of 4 sections:

1. Personal information of the applicant.
2. Information about trips abroad, including China.
3. Additional Information.
4. Consent to data processing and signatures.

The questionnaire contains truthful information; inaccuracies and incorrectly entered information are not acceptable.

A sample of the completed application can be found below:

After verification, the completed visa application must be printed, pasted in a photo and signed.

Photo

The photo requirements for a Chinese visa are slightly different from European ones. This is especially true for size: instead of the usual 35x45 mm, 33x48 mm is needed. The image should be strictly in the middle and occupy more than 80% of the photo. The background is only in white or light beige. Headdresses (only for religious reasons) and jewelry are not allowed. Photos taken no later than six months are accepted.

Work permit

Having received approval of his candidacy for the desired position in one of the Chinese companies, a foreign citizen is obliged to send or bring personally (this depends on the rules established by the government of the province or administrative region) to the future employer a set of the following documents:

• scanned passport;
• a resume written in the official language of the People's Republic of China;
• photo;
• copies of all diplomas in Chinese, certified by a notary;
• a certificate from the place of employment indicating the last position held. The document is printed on the company's letterhead, certified by the signature of the manager and a wet seal. The certificate also requires translation and notarization;
• body check;
• certificate of no criminal record in Chinese. It can be ordered at the Embassy or Consulate of the People's Republic of China, then legalization of this document will not be required;
• employment agreement (contract) with a Chinese company.

A diploma obtained from a Russian or other foreign university (except Chinese) requires legalization. This can be done through an intermediary company or independently: upload the scanned diploma to a special Chinese state website: https://www.cscse.edu.cn/publish/portal0/. Here you must enter the requested information about the university. Legalization is paid, the price is 360 yuan. The documents will be ready within 20 days. They are sent by mail, only within the PRC, so it is better to immediately indicate the postal address of the employer.

You can also legalize your diploma on the territory of Russia. This requires a notarized Chinese translation of the document. It should be submitted to the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China for certification and a seal. This is a rather long process and is only possible in the capital.

The employer uploads all documents sent by the applicant into a special national system for foreigners. After processing the data and checking it, a work permit is issued.

Design details

To obtain exactly the visa that is required, you should familiarize yourself with the details of this procedure. There are several nuances that should be taken into account when filing a petition:

• for a stay in China for a period of more than 90 days, a Z1 visa is issued;
• for up to three months – Z2 visa;
• future workers in deep sea oil developments must obtain permission from the China Offshore Petroleum Corporation;
• artists planning to tour China coordinate permission for commercial activities with the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China;
• employees of branches of Russian companies located in China provide confirmation of company registration received from the Department of Trade.

Warning for applicants: when sending documents to the consulate, they must provide their originals and copies for verification. After checking the copies with the originals by consulate employees, all originals, including the working permit, should be taken away, since upon arrival in China all original documents must be in the hands of the person entering the country.

List of documents

The list of required documentation (originals and copies) can be found on the official website of the embassy or at a personal reception.

In addition to the specified list, you should also prepare documentation for the receiving party (employer), which includes:

1. A document of education that has undergone the legalization procedure.
2. Medical certificate.
3. Work record book confirming your work experience.
4. Summary.

Algorithm of actions

Summarizing the information presented, you can form the following algorithm of actions for obtaining a work visa to China.

1. Search for vacancies in China.
2. Interview with the employer (via Skype or other types of communication).
3. Sending the required documents to the employer.
4. Receiving an invitation from an employer to obtain a work visa;
5. Submission of documents to the consular mission.
6. Obtaining a Z visa.
7. Dispatch to your destination.

If the applicant submits reliable data and complies with other requirements, the Chinese side usually has no grounds for refusing a visa.

Types of work visas

The Chinese Embassy offers only two types of visas that allow a foreign citizen to enter the country for business reasons:

1. 
   Work visa to China category M

   Category M (allows a foreigner to conduct business, organize his own enterprise and conduct business in China, open branches of existing companies; can be one or two-time with a stay of 1-3 months).

2. Visa category Z (issued if there is an invitation to permanent work from a company officially registered in the PRC - issued to both the applicant and his family members).

The second of the above types of permissions may have a duration of validity:

1. One year from the date of entry.
2. Three months.

Timing and cost

The standard processing time for a Z visa is 7 working days. The price of the document varies depending on the urgency and for a standard period is 1.5 thousand rubles. A higher cost must be paid if the visa is issued in an expedited manner - within 2 days. The correlation of prices with the speed of obtaining a visa is presented in the table.

The cost of the consular fee is usually calculated as 2.5% of the visa price, but in some regional consular departments it can be higher.

Validity periods

The validity period of the visa depends on how many months the contract with the applicant is concluded for. Most Chinese employers are interested in long-term cooperation. Therefore, employers try to attract workers for periods ranging from 12 months to two years.

The number 000 is used to indicate the validity period of a visa, which should not be alarmed. It means that a foreigner is granted a one-time entry into the state with a further extension of the period of stay.

To finally legitimize his presence in China, a foreign employee is required to contact the state security authorities or the migration police of China within 30 days and register there for the required period.

To work in the country for more than 12 months, registration with the Department of Labor, registration of a Chinese work book and a residence permit (residence permit) in China are required.

Business in China

To conduct business, Russians need to obtain a Z visa. It is provided for a business trip or travel for other business purposes. Issued for both a single visit to the country and several trips across the state border of China. A business visa is issued for a period of no more than 3 months .

China's immigration rules are quite strict and are constantly becoming stricter. Those who risked coming to the country on a tourist visa and remained to run their own business or hired a job during the next inspection will be arrested and sent to prison. This is followed by a ban on visiting the country for 5-10 years and a corresponding mark in the international passport. So those who seriously work with China or have established a business should not take risks.

Other preparation points

When preparing to obtain a work visa to China, you should be careful and not entrust the application process to numerous visa centers if you can do it yourself. To understand why, just compare the prices, how much the registration costs at the consular department, and how much the visa center will have to pay:

• for obtaining a visa in 5 days – 4300 rubles;
• two-day registration – 6900 rub.;
• visa within 24 hours – 9900 rub.

Those applicants who decide to apply for a work visa while already in China turn to the services of specialized centers. But other experience shows that no one can solve this problem better than the employer himself. If the employer is interested in cooperation, he will take on most of the hassle of providing a visa.

Peculiarities of employment in China

Since 2015, the rules for obtaining a short-stay business visa have changed significantly.

Now it is necessary to apply for a work visa for everyone who enters the Chinese state for business and work matters, even for a short period. These categories include:

• Participants in various business meetings, exhibitions and sales;
• Creative groups - musicians, dancers, models and fashion designers, theater troupes;
• Sports teams and individual sports representatives;
• Scientists who come to symposiums, seminars and other meetings to exchange experiences and achievements.

Specifics of applying for and obtaining a work visa

A business visa is issued on the basis of an invitation received from the employer of a Chinese company or organization. In addition to the invitation, you must submit to the embassy a copy or original of the contract concluded with the employer.

Obtaining a visa is possible only if you provide a complete package of documents, which includes:

• Completed application or standard form;
• An open passport valid for at least six months;
• Photographs of the established size and sample;
• Results of examination by the current medical commission.

This list of documents can be supplemented depending on the circumstances and characteristics of the situation that requires a work visa. With a quick collection of documents and prompt preparation for the registration process, a permit to enter China can be issued within a week.

Chinese ID card

To obtain the Z category visa most convenient for permanent work, you need to collect the list of documents established by the Chinese embassy. This type of visa requires:

• Invitation from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce;
• License or permit to work in China. To do this, you must have education and work experience in the required specialty;
• If the period of work is more than six months, a medical examination of the established form must be completed.

Applying for this type of visa will take an average of a week.

Most in-demand workers

It is also useful to know which professions are in particular demand in the labor market in China. Today, English teachers remain the most in demand. Many Russians are engaged in teaching activities in China and receive high salaries. To teach, you must have a document of higher education with at least a degree in “teacher of Russian language and literature” and speak not only English, but also Chinese. Also in demand:

• translators (from Chinese into English and other foreign languages);
• specialists in financial, logistics and HR fields;
• programmers, IT managers;
• marketing and sales experts;
• fashion designers;
• models (of any gender).

However, do not forget that the employer is obliged to provide the Ministry of Labor with evidence of the need to hire a foreign worker for the vacancy. Therefore, the applicant must demonstrate the highest professional qualities.

Reasons for refusal

All documents submitted to the consular department must be filled out clearly, legibly and without errors. No corrections are allowed - they are considered errors, and this may result in refusal to issue a visa. Other reasons why the Chinese Migration Service may refuse a visa:

• submission of inaccurate information about the applicant (this may include a small error in writing passport data, and gaps in the application form, where all points must be filled out);
• absence of at least one of the required documents in the package;
• lack of permission from the employer to hire foreign employees;
• suspicions from the Chinese side of an attempt to illegally migrate to the country for permanent residence (applies to applicants applying for visas for the whole family).

To avoid refusal, you must carefully fill out the forms (if there is no information on a certain column, it is better to write “no” than leave the column blank), monitor the quality of the submitted copies and the correct fulfillment of the conditions on the part of the employer.