Beijing Overseas Talents Center (BOTC), China's first specialized service agency at the municipal level for overseas talents, established in 2008 by the Beijing Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, is the main channel and service platform for attracting overseas talents to Beijing and is a vital link between outstanding overseas talents and Beijing. BOTC is committed to providing high-quality government services, career development services and life-related services for overseas talents who come to work in Beijing.

This guide mainly introduces relevant policies, application procedures and facilitation measures of Foreigner's Work Permit and Confirmation Letter for High Level Foreign Talents.

Application Requirements

According to Article 41 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China: Foreigners who work in China shall obtain work permits and work-type residence permits in accordance with relevant regulations. No entities or individuals shall employ foreigners who have no work permits or work-type residence permits.

1. Basic Requirements for Employers

Employers shall be established by law, without serious illegal and dishonest acts; the employment of foreigners shall be for special needs and the appropriate candidates are in short supply domestically in China; the salary or remuneration for those foreigners shall not be lower than the local minimum wage. For pre-approval by the industry competent authority by law, it shall be approved.

2. Basic Requirements for Applicants

Applicants shall be at least 18 years old, in good health, have no criminal record, have a certain employer in China to work for, have necessary professional skills or corresponding knowledge for the job. Applicants shall engage in urgently needed jobs in China and can make contributions to China's economic and social development.

Application Process

1. Application Process for Work Permit and Work-type Residence Permit 

Foreign talents who hold a valid visa or residence permit in China can directly apply for Foreigner's Work Permit, and they shall meet the corresponding requirements. For details, please refer to the Service Guide for Foreigner's Work Permit in China (Interim).

2. Online Application

Log in: "Service system for foreigners working in China" on the website of State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs,

https://fwp.safea.gov.cn

Facilitation Measures

1. One-Stop Application Service for Work Permit and Residence Permit

Beijing Overseas Talents Center and the Exit-Entry Administration of Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau have jointly launched one-stop service for handling foreigners' applications for the work permit and work-type residence permit. All foreigners working in Beijing are entitled to the one-stop application service for the two permits at the 15 one-stop service counters across the city. And foreigners can collect both permits in five working days.

2. The Overseas Professional Qualification Accreditation Catalogue in Beijing (Version 3.0)

For foreign talents with overseas professional qualification certificates listed in the Catalogue, academic qualification or work experience shall be relaxed when applying for work permits. The age can be relaxed to 65 years old (70 years old in advanced and sophisticated industries), and those who meet the conditions of foreign high-end talents (Category A) can apply for permits with a maximum validity of 5 years.

3. Foreign Outstanding Graduates Can Be Exempted from Two Years Work Experience

Foreign graduates of well-known universities at home and abroad can be exempted from two years related work experience requirement. In principle, graduates from the world's top 500 universities, domestic "double world-class" universities, key universities in Beijing, etc., with excellent academic performance can make the application.

4. Foreign High-End Talents Can Apply for R Visa

Foreign high-end talents (Category A) can apply for Confirmation Letter for High Level Foreign Talents, and then apply for R visa with a maximum validity of 10 years. Their spouse and minor children can also apply for multiple entry visas of the same validity period. Foreign doctoral graduates (with a doctoral degree obtained within 5 years) invited by universities, research institutions and high-tech enterprises in Beijing can also make the application.

5. Extend the Validity Period of Foreigner's Work Permit

The maximum validity of work permit is up to 5 years for foreign high-end talents (Category A). Foreign professionals (Category B) can be granted a maximum validity of 3 years for the first time, and a maximum validity of 5 years after extension.

6. Facilitation Measures for Foreign-funded R&D Centers

Foreign-funded R&D centers can apply for work permit of no more than the term of the labor contract, and work residence permit of no more than 5 years for foreign members of the team. In accordance with the relevant national pilot work requirements, personnel with senior management or technical positions in foreign-funded R&D centers are included in the scope of foreign high-end talents (Category A), and the certification materials required for their work permits can be handled by commitment.

7. Facilitation Measures for Innovative and Entrepreneurial Foreign Talents

Foreign talents who come to Beijing to start businesses can apply for work permits through the park or incubator during the start-up period, including national-level science and technology business incubators; university science parks, municipal entrepreneurship incubation demonstration base and municipal science and technology business incubators recognized by the competent authorities in Beijing.

8. Facilitation Measures on Foreigner's Work Permit in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region

First, application materials of work permits are mutually recognized. When foreign talents transfer to other employers in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and reapply for work permits, they will be exempted from repeatedly providing certificates of work experience (holding the same position), academic degree or related approval documents, professional qualification, as well as non-criminal record and physical examination certificate (foreigners have not left the Chinese mainland) and so on.

Second, a filing system for inter-regional foreign talents flow is piloted. It is piloted in key universities, research institutions, central state-owned enterprises and regional headquarters of multinational companies in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Foreign talents in the pilot employers flow internally within the same system or group shall be put on record, and their work permits can be exempted from reapplication within the validity period.

Third, standards of foreign high-end talents are mutually recognized. Foreign talents who meet the standards of foreign high-end talents in Beijing, Tianjin, or Hebei Province, can apply for work permits as foreign high-end talents (Category A) and enjoy the related convenience.

Fourth, the access conditions for the urgently needed talents are relaxed. Foreign innovational and enterprising talents, skilled talents, and outstanding foreign graduates urgently needed in the "Two Zones" of Beijing (Integrated National Demonstration Zone for Opening up the Services Sector, and China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone), the China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and the China (Hebei) Pilot Free Trade Zone can be relaxed to the age of 70, and can be exempted from providing certificates of a bachelor's degree or above, and 2 years or more relevant work experience. Foreign talents holding certificates stipulated in the Overseas Professional Qualification Accreditation Catalogue in Beijing and that in Tianjin can also enjoy the convenience listed above.