My previous post about Applying for the China Work Visa (Z-visa) seemed to generate some interest, so I thought I’d post a quick follow-up on transferring your visa/work permit over to another company when you change jobs.

If your company doesn’t handle it for you, you’ll most likely want to go through a visa agency. Apparently the process is a bit complicated, so you’ll probably want the guanxi that an agency has on your side to ensure that it goes smoothly.

You’ll need the following documents:

• Your passport (original and a copy)
• Five 2-inch passport sized color photos
• Work permit application form (stamped with your company’s seal/chop)
• A copy of your new labor contract
• A copy of your CV/resume (English and Chinese copy)
• List of your skills, qualifications, references, and any other relevant documents (English and Chinese copy)
• Copy of your academic qualifications
• Copy of your company’s Business License
• Copy of your company’s Enterprise Code License
• Copy of your company’s Approval Certificate (only for foreign investment companies)
• Temporary Registration form (that you receive from your local police station)
• Letter of Dismissal from your previous company (this is VERY important – your previous company must give you an official letter of release, stamped with their company seal/chop)

The process can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months, so be prepared to be without your passport for a while. The government fee for this is about 600 RMB, and agencies will add a service fee of anywhere from 1000 – 1300 RMB on top of this. It seems like a lot, but it definitely beats paying 8000 RMB or more for an F business visa.

When all is said and done, you’ll have a new work permit good for another year, and a new residence permit in your passport (that takes up another page, so be sure you have at least 1 or 2 available).

So I finally accepted a job offer and now it’s time to go through the fun-filled work visa process. The whole visa situation in China is arguably a bit of a grey area. The restrictions have been getting tighter every year and the process more confusing.

Long gone are the days when foreigners could easily get 1-year, multiple entry “business invitation” F-visas in Hong Kong for $80. These days you’re lucky to get an F/business visa at all, and most L/travel visas are single entry with a maximum stay of 90 days per entry. This results in costly visa runs out of the country every few months, not to mention the whole illegal alien status thing.

Here are the steps I took to get my Z-visa. As with many things in China, not everything is set in stone. Depending on your hiring company, your miles may vary.

Also see ShanghaiExpat’s guide to getting the Z visa.

Step 0: Initial Health Check

This initial medical check-up is not actually necessary for the visa, but some companies require it before they waste their time and money on having you complete the rest of the process.

The medical exam took place at Shanghai Ren Ai hospital on Caoxi Road, across the street from IKEA. As instructed, I didn’t eat anything and arrived at the hospital for my 9 AM appointment. After paying the 100 RMB fee, patients are given a book of receipts. You then go to each test station and give the doctor/nurse the receipt for that station that they fill out and keep. When you are out of receipts, you’re finished. The hospital will courier the results to you in a day or so.

First up, blood test. You sit down at a counter and put your arm on a pillow while the nurse takes your blood. It’s a bit weird because you have to rush to the front of the line, and there are 10 people behind you impatiently waiting. No privacy here.

Next, you walk over to a big scale where they measure your height and weight, followed by the blood pressure table. Again, all of this is out in the open.

Because I spoke some basic Chinese, I guess the nurses assumed I was fluent and started barraging me with questions using medical terminology. I did not have a clue. For all I know, I nodded ‘yes’ to having all sorts of allergies and diseases. Either way, they laughed and escorted me to the next tests, the rest of which were in semi-private rooms.

Next was an eye test. Interestingly enough, the eye chart only had E, 3, W, and M. At least it wasn’t full of characters I didn’t understand. After the eye chart, I had to do a color test (where you look at a fractal-like picture that is orange and has a greenish picture or number in it). Unfortunately, the first image had an embedded mosquito. I didn’t know the Chinese word for mosquito, so I made a buzzing sound and flapped my arms around. The lady looked a bit confused so she looked for another picture. The next one had a number. When I said the number in Chinese, she was amazed: “Wow! You speak Chinese so well!” I imagine an overseas Chinese in Canada going through the same test. I doubt they’d be complimented for their English use.

Then it was on to some test where I had to lay down and the lady started poking my ribs, and then I stood up and it felt like a police search. She said “OK” and gave me a thumbs up, so I guess I passed. Next test was a sonogram, and then finally downstairs to radiology.

The whole process took less than 30 minutes, and after all the tests they give you free breakfast.

Step 1: Obtain Alien Employment License and Invitation Letter

[View with PicLens]

After the initial health check, you must apply for an Alien Employment License and Invitation letter. The hiring company should take care of this, but you’ll need the following documentation:

• Copy of your CV

• Copy of degree, diploma, or other certification/documentation that shows you have some training or background in the field of the position you’re applying for

• Reference letters from past employers. If employed in China, you’ll need demission letters with company stamp/chop

• Copy of your passport

• Copy of your visa

• Abroad contact information

After submitting all of these materials, if all goes well the government will issue you the nicely laminated Alien Employment License and cheaply printed Invitation Letter in about 8 business days.

Step 2: Apply for the Z-visa in Hong Kong

Now to apply for the visa, which you must do outside of China. During the 2008 Olympics, you had to go back to your home country to apply for it. For now however, you can do it from Hong Kong. You can apply at the immigration building in Wan Chai or use a visa service.

I opted to go with a visa service since I wanted to go the quickest route possible. In either case, you need to provide them with:

• 1 x 2-inch passport photo

• Your passport (with at least 6 months remaining validity and 3 blank pages)

• Employment License

• Invitation Letter

• Hiring company’s contact information

Using a visa service agency, they should be able to give you your visa by the next day. If you opt for a rush service, they should be able to get it back to you in the afternoon if you drop off your passport in the morning. The agency I used charged 700 HKD for next day, 1250 HKD for same-day rush service. These prices are for Canadian passport holders; different countries have different fees, the most expensive being for US passport holders. Note that unlike travel visas, you can only apply for the Z visa between Monday and Friday, and rush service may not be available on Fridays.

So if all goes well again, you will receive the Z visa. The process still needs be to finalized by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) in China, so with your new visa you have 30 days to apply for the Work Permit and Residence Permit. Time to go back to the Mainland.

Step 3: Temporary Residence Form

By law, any foreigner who enters China must register with the PSB within 24 hours. Most don’t however, because 1) you’re never told this before you leave home, on the airplane, or on arrival, and 2) it only becomes a problem if you have to deal with the government (e.g. for visa issues). I got stuck with this a couple of years back when I overstayed my visa and ended up paying a 400 RMB fine. I had to go back and forth all over town between the local police station and PSB in Pudong. Not fun.

So, when you get back to China with your new Z visa you MUST go to your local police station within 24 hours and get an alien temporary residence permit. You will need this to complete the visa process with the PSB and may get fined up to 500 RMB if you register late.

To apply, go to your local police station and bring the following:

• Your passport with valid visa

• Your apartment lease and rental contract. If you don’t rent your own apartment, you need to bring in the rental contract of the person you’re staying with. If you’re staying at a hotel, any hotel that can legally rent rooms to foreigners can register for you.

• Photocopies of your passport and visa pages, and your rental contract

Step 4: Health Check

For the ‘official’ government health check, you’ll have to go to the Foreign Travelers & Overseas Chinese Medical Clinic in Hongqiao.

The medical exam I had here was virtually identical to the one mentioned above in Step 0. The only difference? This one was rushed, the staff were not friendly, there was no free breakfast and the location itself was not nearly as modern as Shanghai Ren Ai hospital. Oh, and instead of 100 RMB it cost 702 RMB plus a 40 RMB delivery fee for the results. I wonder what percentage some local official gets for making this one the ‘official’ health check location…

The only upside is that the not-so-friendly hospital staff are so used to (and sick of) dealing with foreigners, they’ve become experts at quickly leading you like cattle through each of the tests. The whole exam took less than 20 minutes.

You’ll need the following:

• Your original passport

• Photocopies of the passport and visa pages

• 3 x 2-inch passport photos

• Copy of your company’s business license (with seal)

Step 5: Apply for the Work Permit and Residence Permit

Public Security Bureau (PSB) in Pudong

This is actually two steps, but my company applied for the Work Permit for me. If you have to do it on your own, you’ll need:

• Your original passport with valid Z visa

• 2 photocopies of the Work Permit Application (including company seal)

• Work license

• Copy of your Health Certificate from the health check in Step 4

• Copy of your employment contract

• Copy of your company’s business license (with seal)

• Copy of the organization code certificate

• 3 x 2-inch passport photos

The Work Permit is a little book that contains your photo, some government stamp, and a validity period:

For the Residence Permit, you have to go to Pudong’s Entry Exit Public Security Bureau building at 1500 Minsheng Road 民生路 1500 号. The PSB is a large government building with a bunch of foreigners all applying for visas of some sort, and many others who have overstayed their visas looking confused and concerned. They also sell overpriced Nescafe coffee at 18 RMB a cup in their ‘cafe’.

For the Residence Permit, you’ll need the following:

• Completed Visa Application form with your company’s seal

• Your Work Permit

• Your Health Certificate

• Your Temporary Residence permit

• Copy of the business license (They may ask for the original document. It is very unlikely a company will give you this on your own,
  • as in China, this is almost like the ‘deed’ to a company. Your company should send a representative with you.)
  • Copy of the organization code certificate
  • Employment registration form
  • Your original passport with valid Z visa
  • 1 x 2-inch passport photos

  The police officer at the PSB who accepts your documents will also take a webcam picture with you. The Residence Permit fee is 400 RMB for one year. The whole process took about 2 minutes.

  After one week, you FINALLY have your 1-year Residence Permit, which replaces the canceled Z-visa in your passport.

  

  Congratulations. To renew it next year, the process is much easier. Unless you change jobs…

  After all of this, who the hell is ready to work? I need a vacation.