Things You Should Know About the Z (Work) Visa in China
By: Seomul Evans
Submitted: 2009-08-23 15:56:27 | Word Count: 496
If you have plans to obtain employment in China, there are some things you should know about the Z type (work) visa in China. Certain things must happen before you even leave your own country in order to work legally in China. To gain entry into the country, you will need the following three things: a Z visa, Foreign expert/Work certificate, and a Residence permit.
Z visas are a single entry type of china visa issued to those intending to work in China. Before they are issued, some important paperwork must be submitted along with the application. This includes a letter of invitation from your employer, a work permit that your employer obtains for you, and, in some cases, a medical examination.
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It is important to know that China does not issue work visas to just anybody. In order to qualify, you must be considered an expert in your field. This typically requires a master s degree or higher, quantifiable professional work experience, and/or a professional accreditation in your field.
After you arrive in China, you will be required to register with the Public Security Bureau in the city you plan to live and work in within 48 hours. You will be given up to 30 days to take and pass a physical exam. A foreign expert/work certificate will be issued approximately a week after the report from the physical exam is received. Some cities may require you to meet with the PSB for an interview. Your employer must obtain a residence permit for you in order for you to work legally in the country.
In China, the rules and regulations governing Z type visas vary from city to city and district to district. This means that the steps needed to obtain your visa may be different for different jobs and locations. If a Z type visa needs to be extended for any reason (paperwork not done in time, etc), you will likely have to leave China and return to your home country to apply for the extension. Most employers will extend assistance with airfare and other travel expenses associated with extending one s China work visa.
These regulations concerning the Z type visa are subject to change without notice. However, it is important to know the rules and regulations governing your application for a work visa in China in order to avoid some very high fines for you and your employer as well as your immediate deportation back to your home country.
Being an expert in your field, knowing and obeying the rules governing the issuance of work visas in China and keeping the proper paperwork on you at all times while in China are the only ways to make arrangements to work legally in the country of China. Other business can be conducted using a type L (Business) visa if it does not require one to be employed by a Chinese company and work in the country of China for an extended period.
