Foreign Expert Working Permit

Foreign experts working in Shenzhen shall acquire a Foreign Expert Work Permit. Foreigners without the permit are forbidden to be employed in the capacity of foreign experts.

Legal basis of administrative permission content

• State Council’s decision on necessary items subject to administrative examination and approval
• Notice of regulations on issuance of Foreign Expert Work Permit issued by the SAFEA in 2004
• Notice of entrusted handling of Foreign Expert Work Permit Application issued by Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of Guangdong Province in 2005.

Who Can Apply(Administrative permission conditions)

Foreign experts shall obtain Foreign Expert Work Permit for the purpose of employment within the territory of P.R. China. Foreign applicants of Foreign Expert Work Permit shall abide by Chinese laws and regulations, be in good health, have a clean criminal record and meet one of the following requirements:

• Being foreign technical and managerial professionals who are employed to work in Shenzhen for the purpose of executing inter-governmental, inter-organizational agreements, protocols, or China-foreign trade contracts;
• Being foreign professionals who are employed to work in Shenzhen in relation to education, scientific research, press and publication, culture, arts, public health and sports:
• Being high-ranking foreign technical or managerial professionals who are employed to take up position above vice general manager or enjoy equivalent treatment in enterprises of Shenzhen;
• Being foreign resident representatives in China of foreign experts organizations or foreign talent agencies approved by State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA);
• Being foreign technical and managerial professionals with extraordinary expertise of which Shenzhen is in urgent need, who are employed to work in Shenzhen in the fields of economy, technology, engineering, trade, finance and accounting, taxation and tourism;

Foreign experts referred to in the above 2 and 3 shall hold a bachelor’s degree or higher degrees and have at least 5-year work experience in related jobs; language teachers shall hold a bachelor’s degree or higher degrees and have at least 2-year work experience in related jobs; professionals receiving the “equivalent treatment” mentioned in the above 3 need to have a certification given by employer.

Required Documents

The following documents shall be submitted as written documents; requested photocopies shall go with an official seal; original copies shall also be submitted for examination if not requested; originals shall be submitted when there is no specific requirement.

• Foreign Expert Work Permit Application Form affixed with the official seal of work unit;
• Business license of work unit or its legal person qualification certificate ( in duplicate)
• CV of the applicant (including education and work experience)
• Photocopies of credentials of highest education qualification or professional qualifications (in duplicate);
• Health documents issued by foreign health and medical institutions certified by Chinese embassies or general consulates, or by health and quarantine authorities arranged by the Chinese government.
• Employment Agreement or Contract (in duplicate)
• Foreign experts who meet the above first qualification shall submit a copy of relevant project agreements and approval documents.
• Foreign experts who meet the above second qualification shall submit a copy of the employer’s qualification certificate, or the serial number of the certificate and the standard employment contracts prepared and printed by SAFEA and entered into with the employer.
• Foreign experts who meet the above third qualification shall submit a copy of the appointment letter or employment contracts entered into with the enterprise.
• Foreign experts who meet the above fourth qualification shall submit a copy of approval documents by the resident representative offices in Shenzhen and the letter of appointment for foreign representatives or other documents with legal effect.
• Foreign experts who meet the above fifth qualification shall submit a copy of employment agreements or contracts

Related Services:

• Alien Employment License
• Alien Employment Permit
• Business Invitation
• Foreign Expert Working Permit
• Foreign Expert Certificate
• Residence Permit For Job