You do not apply for a Z visa first. Your employer in China first obtains a work permit notification letter for you. You then apply for the Z visa at a Chinese embassy or consulate. After you enter China, you collect your work permit within 15 days and apply for a residence permit within 30 days.
Once your documents are ready, the whole process usually takes about one to two months.
The six steps
- Check that you qualify
Your category (A, B or C) decides which conditions apply. Estimate your points or read how the categories work.
- Prepare your documents
Usually your passport, photo, degree certificate, criminal record certificate, proof of work experience and employment contract. Degrees and criminal records issued abroad normally need authentication. These take the longest, so start here.
- Your employer applies for the work permit notice
The employer submits your application online through the Service System for Foreigners Working in China. When it is approved, they print the Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit and send it to you.
- Apply for the Z visa abroad
Apply at the Chinese embassy or consulate (or visa centre) that covers where you live, with your passport, photo, application form and the notification letter. Some consulates ask for more, so check their list.
- Enter China and collect your work permit
Within 15 days of arriving, your employer applies for and collects your Foreigner’s Work Permit. A health check may be required, depending on the city.
- Apply for your residence permit
Within 30 days of arriving, apply for a work-type residence permit at the local exit-entry administration. This, not the Z visa, is what lets you live in China long term. Your family can then apply for dependant residence permits.
Mistakes that cost time
- Starting work on a business or tourist visa. Working before your work permit and residence permit are issued can lead to fines and affect future applications.
- Authenticating documents through the wrong authority. The issuing authority and the authentication route must match. A mistake means starting that document again.
- Missing the 15- and 30-day deadlines. The Z visa is only for entry. Book the work permit and residence permit appointments as soon as you arrive.
- Assuming your own company makes you eligible. A company can employ you, but you still have to meet the work permit conditions. Read about owners without a degree.
Related questions
Can I get a work permit without leaving China?
Sometimes. Some cities allow eligible applicants who are already in China to apply for a work permit and change their status without leaving. Others require you to apply for a Z visa abroad. It depends on the city, your current visa and your category. Read about changing status inside China.
Do I still need an invitation letter?
In most cases, the work permit notification letter is the key supporting document for a Z visa. Some embassies and consulates have extra requirements, so check the list for the one where you apply.
Can my own company get me a Z visa?
Yes, if you qualify and the company genuinely operates. Your company applies for your work permit in the same way as any employer. Read what your company needs to maintain.
Can my family come with me?
Usually, yes. Your spouse and children under 18 normally apply for private-affairs visas and then dependant residence permits linked to yours. Dependant residence does not let them work.
Does a work permit guarantee a residence permit?
No. They are separate documents issued by different authorities. The work permit lets you work; the residence permit lets you live in China. In practice, a valid work permit is the basis for the work-type residence permit, but you must still apply for it on time and meet its requirements.
Sources: Applying for a work visa, Shanghai Municipal Government, updated August 2026; Work permit and residence permit flowchart, Beijing Municipal Government. This guide explains general practice. Requirements depend on your city, nationality and circumstances, and the authorities make the final decision.