China, officially the People’s Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the second-most populous country after India, representing 17.4% of the world population. China has evolved as an enterprising entity where many people launch applications to stay, work and end a living. Her economic prospect has made her a well-sought-after country for visitors and enterprising foreigners China has in recent times become the land of opportunity, not just for Chinese nationals, but for foreign nationals as well. Boasting the second largest economy in the world, many foreigners are choosing China as their destination to further their careers or conduct business. Foreign nationals intending to relocate to China, need to get the right visa and residence permits which allow them to do so.
This article will take you through the stages of acquiring a work visa to China.
Requirement for a Work Visa to China and Where to Apply
Before one is offered a visa to work in China such foreigners will need to obtain a Notification Letter for Foreigners Work Permit in China. For this letter to be obtained, the required documentation must be submitted to the labour bureau by an employer. It takes approximately 3- 4 weeks to obtain a notification letter.
The following documents are required for a Work Permit Notification letter:
- Degree/diploma (legalized and authenticated);
- Police clearance certificate (legalized and authenticated);
- Proof of at least 2 years of work experience in the relevant field;
- Applicants Resume; Work permit application form;
- Passport and ID photo;
- Verification of employment history;
- Verification of education or professional qualifications;
- Copy of contract from employer;
- Criminal record verification;
- Physical examination record; and
- Information concerning any accompanying members.
Upon the receipt of the said letter candidates or foreigners are required to apply for the China work visa (Z visa) at their local visa center or Chinese embassy (this varies in each location).
How to Apply
1. Please carefully read the prompts and requirements of the COVA form system, and complete the entries of the visa application COVA online form step by step, making sure that the information is true, accurate and complete. Please note: Once the application form has been submitted, it cannot be modified in any way.
2. The“location” option for submitting the visa application should be in line with the consular jurisdiction.
3. Basic personal information. Surname, given name, gender, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport type, etc. must be exactly the same as those on the passport information page, otherwise, your visa application will be returned.
4. If you were born in China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), please note:
(1) Application form 1.1D The Chinese name (if applicable) must be entered in Chinese with the Chinese character input method, please do not fill in “Chinese”, “Chinese”, etc.
(2) In the application form 1.6G, select “Yes” for “former nationality”, and then select the nationality information.
(3) Item 1.6H of the application form is required. If the applicant is applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, this entry will be automatically generated during the form-filling process; but if the applicant has previously applied for a Chinese visa, this entry will not be displayed when filling in the online form, and the form must be printed out and supplemented by hand-written Chinese name and other information. This Item cannot be empty.
5. Fill in the work experience and educational background
(1) Please fill in the work experience in the past 5 years.
(2) The “position” and “duty” of the application form 3.2D and 3.2E must be filled in completely.
(3) Please fill in the highest diploma/degree in 4.1, and the diploma/degree and major in 4.1B and 4.1C must be completed.
6. fill in each address
The address of the spouse in 5.5A of the application form must be filled in the address of the current location, not the address of the place of birth. The address must be filled in completely, including street, city, state, and country.
7. If you choose “not applicable” for any entry in the form, you need to state the reason for “not applicable”.
8. Printing and signing. After completing the COVA online form filling, you must print out a full set of application forms, including the “Confirmation of Online Visa application” and “Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China” (depending on the individual filling situation, a total of 8 to 9 pages will be generated). All the pages of the forms must be printed to turn in, and the signature and date on the Confirmation Page and the 8th page of the Visa Application Form of the People’s Republic of China must be handwritten by the applicant himself/herself. Visa applicant under the age of 18 is signed by their guardian, and meanwhile, add a handwritten signature in the “For person filling in the application on the applicant’s behalf”.
Cost of Applying for a Chinese Work Visa.
The cost of a Chinese visa depends on the type of visa and the number of entries it allows, and the fee varies by country:
- Visa fees: The Chinese Embassy or Consulate General charges visa fees, which are tax-exempt.
- Application service fees: The Chinese Visa Application Service Center charges application service fees, which are inclusive of tax.
- Total fee: The total fee is the sum of the visa fee and the application service fee.
Here are some examples of visa fees and application service fees:
- Nigeria: A multiple-entry visa for six months costs 21,000 NGN, and a regular application service fee costs 36,800 NGN.
- Canada: A single, double, or multiple-entry visa costs 114,000.
- Romania: A single-entry visa costs 109,000.
- Philippines: A multiple-entry visa for over six months costs 7,022 pesos.
- United States: A single, double, or multiple-entry visa costs 11,772 pesos.
- Israel: A single, double, or multiple-entry visa costs 4,872 pesos.
The service fee may change due to exchange rate fluctuations. The final payment requested by the Visa Center is what prevails.
Notes:
- Visa Fees are collected on behalf of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General.
2. Application Service Fees are charged by the Centre and they are non-refundable.
3. The total amount of the fees to be paid by an applicant = visa fees + application service fees(VAT included).
4. The above-mentioned service fees are including 7.5% VAT.
5. As per exchange rate fluctuation, service fees will be adjusted accordingly.