ChinaWork residence permit

Z work visa in China

The Z visa entitles a foreign national to enter China to work for a local employer. It is issued only to those who already hold an official work permit notice from a Chinese employer, and after entry it serves as the basis for obtaining a work-type residence permit.

Visa term

Z visa 30 days; conversion into a residence permit (~1 year) within 30 days, renewable

Threshold

No personal threshold; the employer confirms its financial standing

Processing time

Work permit 2-4+ weeks; Z visa 4-7 working days

Work

Work only for the sponsor in the approved position

Source: nia.gov.cn — procedure for applying for visas and residence permits, Z visa and work residence permit

Who can obtain a Z visa and which residence permit follows

The category of residence permit issued after entry depends on the worker's qualifications and on the employer's standing.

High-level talents and investors

Status is confirmed by the competent Chinese authorities against the criteria for high-level talents, urgently needed professionals or investors
The residence permit issued after entry is valid for up to 5 years

Employees of registered organisations in good standing

The employer is registered (备案) with the local authorities and has no record of violations
The residence permit is issued for up to 2 years

All other employees

Standard route: a work permit from the local human resources and social security authority plus a letter of confirmation from the employer
The residence permit is issued for up to 1 year

Documents to gather

The core package — for the Z visa and for the work-type residence permit after entry

"Notice for the Work Permit for Foreigners" — the work permit notice, mandatory when applying for a Z visa
Valid passport or other international travel document
Visa or residence permit application form and a photograph of the prescribed format
Work permit from the local human resources and social security authority or the authority for foreign experts — for the residence permit
Letter of confirmation from the employer
Health certificate from the quarantine service or a medical institution at county level or above — if the residence permit is issued for 1 year or longer

How the process runs

From the Z visa to the work-type residence permit

1
The employer obtains the work permit
Before applying for a Z visa you need the "Notice for the Work Permit for Foreigners"; without it the embassy will not accept the visa application.
2
Applying for the Z visa at a Chinese embassy or consulate
4 working days under the standard procedure, 3 under the express one
The period is counted from the day the passport is lodged with the visa section; individual applications may take longer.
3
Entering China on the Z visa
After entry you must register your actual place of residence, as required by the exit and entry law.
4
Applying for the work-type residence permit
within 30 days of entry
The application is filed with the exit and entry department of the police at the intended place of residence, together with the work permit and the employer's letter.
5
Receiving the work-type residence permit
decision no later than 15 working days after the application is accepted
Validity depends on the category: up to 5 years for high-level talents and investors, up to 2 years for employees of organisations in good standing, up to 1 year for everyone else.

Who you can bring with you

Family members have no status of their own under the Z visa — they enter on a separate visa

Spouse, parents, children under 18, parents-in-law

An S1 visa if they intend to stay in China longer than 180 days; a private-affairs residence permit must be obtained within 30 days of entry

The same relatives for a short visit

An S2 visa — if the trip does not exceed 180 days, no separate residence permit is obtained

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Police registration within 24 hours

The application to extend a work-type residence permit is filed no later than 30 days before it expires, together with documents justifying the extension. If the grounds are found sufficient, the permit is extended; if not, you must leave China within the prescribed period.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Z work visa	R visa for foreign talents	China's green card
Visa term	Z visa 30 days; conversion into a residence permit (~1 year) within 30 days, renewable	Often a multiple-entry visa for up to 5 years, renewable	Permanent residence card valid for 10 years (adults), 5 years (minors), renewable
Grounds	Employment	High-level qualifications	Merit / investment / needed skills
Money	No personal threshold; the employer confirms its financial standing	No fixed threshold; usually a high-paying offer or recognised contribution	For the investment and employment categories — minimum investment, tax or salary thresholds
Work	Work only for the sponsor in the approved position	Work for the designated employer / host	Work without a separate permit
Residence	Police registration within 24 hours	A residence permit is obtained after entry	Residence for a substantial part of the term

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Long employment may support permanent residence; there is no automatic upgrade

Route to citizenship

No direct route; naturalisation is rare

Frequently asked questions about Z work visa

Who can obtain a Z visa?

The Z visa is intended for foreign nationals travelling to China to work for a local employer. The mandatory condition is the "Notice for the Work Permit for Foreigners", the work permit notice arranged by the employer before the visa application is filed.

How long does it take to obtain a Z visa?

The Chinese embassy in the USA issues the visa in 4 working days under the standard procedure and in 3 working days under the express one; the count starts from the day the passport is lodged. Timelines may differ at other consulates.

What must be done after entering China on a Z visa?

Within 30 days of entry you must apply for a work-type residence permit at the exit and entry department of the police at your place of residence. The decision is taken no later than 15 working days after the application is accepted.

For how long is the work-type residence permit issued?

For high-level talents, urgently needed professionals and investors — up to 5 years; for employees of registered organisations in good standing — up to 2 years; for other workers — up to 1 year.

Can the family come together with the Z visa holder?

Family members have no status of their own under the Z visa. A spouse, parents, children under 18 and parents-in-law enter on an S1 visa if they intend to stay longer than 180 days, or on an S2 visa for a shorter visit.

How does the Z visa differ from the R visa for high-level talents?

The Z visa is needed for ordinary employment and requires a standard work permit. The R visa is intended for confirmed high-level foreign talents, whose status is certified by a Confirmation Letter for High Level Foreign Talents.

How is a work-type residence permit extended?

The application is filed no later than 30 days before the residence permit expires, together with documents justifying the extension. If the grounds are sufficient, the permit is extended; if the application is refused, you must leave China within the prescribed period.

Other ways to move to China

Every route in one list — migration programmes: China.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.